4G mobile broadband was a hot topic at the recent Mobile World Congress expo in Barcelona. Delegates from Manx Telecom and other world leading operators attended the event along with representatives from major product manufacturers and suppliers. The congress is an annual international gathering for the mobile communications industry, and the future of superfast 4G mobile broadband was one of the most talked about subjects this year.
Mike Dee, Manx Telecom CEO, said the feedback about 4G from the Congress added even more impetus to the company’s commitment to introduce the new technology as soon as possible. He said:
“4G represents a massive leap forward in technology which can bring significant benefits for businesses and consumers. Our commitment to 4G began in November 2011 when we held successful trials here on the Island. The trials were very impressive and it’s no surprise to us that 4G was high on the agenda at this year’s Congress. It continues to be high on Manx Telecom’s agenda too, and with our long history of innovation and investment we’re determined to do everything we can to bring the benefits of 4G here as soon as possible.”
He added that the success of Manx Telecom’s Ultima broadband service - which provides the fastest fixed line speeds available on the Island - showed there was a huge demand among consumers for the latest broadband technology. Currently, there are around 1,500 customers using Ultima which is available to 70% of homes on the Island.
4G offers the potential to provide super-fast mobile broadband with speeds comparable to those currently only available on fixed line broadband. An example of the advantages that 4G will offer businesses is the ability to run video conferencing on location and being able to upload massive files in a fraction of the time it takes at present. For consumers, 4G would enable HD video streaming to mobiles and tablets, an enhanced experience for interactive gaming and for any application that users currently experience at home or in the office. Manx Telecom says that technical preparations for 4G are already well advanced and, depending upon the allocation of radio frequencies, plans to launch a 4G network later this year.
