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21/08/2012
Ofcom Gives Go-Ahead For 4G Mobile Services
4G mobile services could appear much sooner than expected after Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, has allowed Orange and T-Mobile to use its existing bandwidth to launch the fourth-generation (4G) services.
Ofcom said the move would deliver "significant benefits" to consumers that outweigh any competition concerns.
Everything Everywhere, the owners of the Orange and T-Mobile networks, will be allowed to offer 4G services from 11 September, but, as the regulator pointed out, the timing will be a commercial decision for the company itself.
Other networks will have to wait until next year for an auction of 4G bandwidth.
Vodafone and O2 expressed surprise and disappointment at the announcement.
Everything Everywhere itself said the regulator's decision was "great news for the UK".
"4G will drive investment, employment and innovation and we look forward to making it available later this year, delivering superfast mobile broadband to the UK," the company said.
Competitors however were less pleased at the news.
A spokesperson for O2 said: "We are hugely disappointed with today's announcement, which will mean the majority of customers will be excluded from the first wave of digital services."
Vodafone said it was "shocked" at Ofcom's decision.
"The regulator has shown a careless disregard for the best interests of consumers, businesses and the wider economy through its refusal to properly regard the competitive distortion created by allowing one operator to run services before the ground has been laid for a fully competitive 4G market," a company spokesperson said.
(H)
Ofcom said the move would deliver "significant benefits" to consumers that outweigh any competition concerns.
Everything Everywhere, the owners of the Orange and T-Mobile networks, will be allowed to offer 4G services from 11 September, but, as the regulator pointed out, the timing will be a commercial decision for the company itself.
Other networks will have to wait until next year for an auction of 4G bandwidth.
Vodafone and O2 expressed surprise and disappointment at the announcement.
Everything Everywhere itself said the regulator's decision was "great news for the UK".
"4G will drive investment, employment and innovation and we look forward to making it available later this year, delivering superfast mobile broadband to the UK," the company said.
Competitors however were less pleased at the news.
A spokesperson for O2 said: "We are hugely disappointed with today's announcement, which will mean the majority of customers will be excluded from the first wave of digital services."
Vodafone said it was "shocked" at Ofcom's decision.
"The regulator has shown a careless disregard for the best interests of consumers, businesses and the wider economy through its refusal to properly regard the competitive distortion created by allowing one operator to run services before the ground has been laid for a fully competitive 4G market," a company spokesperson said.
(H)
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02 April 2004
Marks & Spencer poised to axe 1,000 jobs
Under restructuring plans announced on Friday, Marks & Spencer is to axe around 1,000 jobs following a review of head office operations and the financial services division. The company said the decision formed a "major part of Marks & Spencer's ongoing plan to accelerate business transformation".
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20 September 2012
BSkyB Ruled 'Fit And Proper' By Media Regulator
BSkyB has been ruled as a "fit and proper" company to hold a broadcasting licence, by the UK media regulator. Ofcom investigated the broadcaster in the wake of the phone hacking scandal that engulfed Rupert Murdoch's media empire, which owns 39% of BSkyB.
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07 August 2013
Vodafone And O2 To Launch 4G On Same Day
4G services will be available to Vodafone customers in London from August 29, the mobile provider has announced. Following this the service will be rolled in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield by the end of 2013. The company has said the prices for a SIM only deal will begin as £26 per-month, on a 12-month contract.
Vodafone And O2 To Launch 4G On Same Day
4G services will be available to Vodafone customers in London from August 29, the mobile provider has announced. Following this the service will be rolled in Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield by the end of 2013. The company has said the prices for a SIM only deal will begin as £26 per-month, on a 12-month contract.
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