• VodafoneThree will use Ericsson and Nokia tech to upgrade its networks
• 4G customers have already seen boosts of up to 40%
• 5G should be almost everywhere by 2034

VodafoneThree has announced a multi-billion pound deal with Ericsson and Nokia to expand and improve its UK networks.

The collaboration, which comes weeks after the official completion of its mega-merger, marks one of Europe’s largest privately funded infrastructure builds, and will cover over 17,000 sites across the UK.

This will consist of 10,000+ sites benefitting from Ericsson’s RAN and core network solutions, and a further 7,000+ sites getting Nokia’s RAN equipment.

Ericsson and Nokia will help improve VodafoneThree’s network

The company declared that 4G speeds have already been boosted by up to 40% for the seven million Three and SMARTY customers using its networks, and just three months into the merger, customers are already able to automatically use each other’s network and roam at no extra cost.

Looking ahead, VodafoneThree has plans to tackle 16,500 square kilometers of not-spots across the UK. By the end of the first year after merging, nearly three in four customers should have access to the company’s fastest 5G speeds, expanding to 90% by year three and 99.95% by 2034.

Network expansion plans are also slated to deliver economic benefits, with the UK economy set to be boosted by up to £102 billion between 2025 and 2035 thanks to better infrastructure access for energy, financial services, manufacturing, security and technology companies.

To help with the expansion, VodafoneThree has signed up a further four partners to support site builds nationwide: Beacon, Circet Wireless, M Group and WHP Telecoms.

VodafoneThree also anticipates generating up to 13,000 jobs as part of its expansion, across engineering, construction and maintenance over the eight-year roadmap.

Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm welcomed the partnership as an opportunity to “power [VodafoneThree] with the most advanced programmable network products, software and solutions in the world.”

Nokia CEO Justin Hotard noted the chance to provide the UK with “industry-leading network solutions” to meet customer and growing AI demands.

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• UK CMA gives the go-ahead for Vodafone and Three’s £15 billion merger deal
• The companies must invest in the UK network and cap their prices
• Together with VMO2, they expect to support 50 million customers

After a year-long investigation, Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given approval to the Vodafone-Three merger, a deal worth £15 billion ($19 billion).

By consolidating their UK operations, Vodafone and Three hope to become a market leader with 29 million customers, making the merged firm even bigger than EE, which claims to have 25 million customers.

As part of the process, the CMA stipulated that the two companies must “sign binding commitments to invest billions to roll out a combined 5G network across the UK.”

Vodafone-Three merger given the go-ahead

Under the agreement, Vodafone will have a 51% stake, with Three owner CK Hutchison taking the remaining 49%.

Previously concerned about the potential for higher prices due to decreased competition and less advantageous terms for virtual network providers, the CMA concluded: “The group has confirmed it is now satisfied that the proposed network commitment, supported by shorter term protections for both retail and wholesale customers, resolve its competition concerns.”

The CMA says that by upgrading their networks over the course of the next eight years, Vodafone and Three’s work would actually boost competition. As a component of the terms set out by the CMA, Vodafone and Three must also cap their mobile tariffs and data plans for three years to protect customers against sharp price rises in the early years of the merger.

Stuart McIntosh, chair of the independent inquiry group leading the investigation, commented: “Having carefully considered the evidence, as well as the extensive feedback we have received, we believe the merger is likely to boost competition in the UK mobile sector and should be allowed to proceed – but only if Vodafone and Three agree to implement our proposed measures.”

Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle said: “Consumers and businesses will enjoy wider coverage, faster speeds and better-quality connections across the UK, as we build the biggest and best network in our home market.”

Given that Virgin Media O2 agreed earlier in 2024 to a long-term network-sharing agreement with Vodafone and Three, subject to the now-approved merger, an anticipated 50 million UK customers will see the benefits.

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• Vodafone and Three hit out at UK competition watchdog over further merger delays

The planned merger between Vodafone and Three is set to face an "in-depth investigation" from the UK's competition watchdog over fears the deal may negatively affect the market.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has confirmed it will be holding a further probe into the planned £15bn/$19bn merger.

In its announcement, the CMA said the action was taken after an examination of current information which it says brought it to the conclusion that the deal, "may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom."

Vodafone-Three probe

The announcement follows a warning in March 2024 that the CMA was set to launch a further investigation into the deal unless Vodafone and Three could provide "meaningful solutions" to initial concerns surrounding the deal.

Chief among the worries is that the deal, which would take the number of major mobile operators in the UK from four to three, would particularly harm smaller MVNOs, who may find it harder to negotiate good deals for their customers from a shrinking pool of providers.

The two networks had anticipated the CMA's move but said they remained confident the merger will deliver "significant benefits for competition, customers and the country."

The CMA has set a deadline of September 18, 2024 to complete its investigation.

The merger was announced in June 2023, with plans to form a new £15bn-valued telco giant and "create one of Europe's leading 5G networks."

Vodafone was set to be the slight majority owner of the new combined group, currently known as MergeCo, controlling 51%, with CK Hutchinson keeping the remaining 49%. 

The two companies were also keen to highlight the advantages of combining their two 5G networks for consumers and businesses alike, with MergeCo intending to invest over £6 billion in the first five years, and £11 billion over a ten year plan, to create a best-in-class 5G network, supporting between 8,000 and 12,000 new jobs in the wider economy.

MergeCo also expects to deliver up to £5 billion per year in UK economic benefit by 2030, supporting the digital transformation for schools, hospitals and businesses, with its standalone 5G network will cover every school and hospital in the UK by 2030, helping deliver the Government’s stretch ambition as set out in the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy.

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As Vodafone prepares for its big merger with Three, it has revealed strong financial results and announced a brand new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Reporting on its finances, Vodafone says it experienced revenue growth of 3.7% for the year, or 1.8% if Turkey is excluded. For the fourth quarter of the year, the growth was 1.9% or 0.5%, respectively. 

When it comes to foreign markets, Vodafone reported broad-based service revenue improvement across almost all European markets, with service revenue significantly improving in Germany (-1.3% for the year, or -2.8% for the quarter), mostly supported by broadband price increases.

New CFO

For Vodafone Business, service revenue growth accelerated to 4.5% for the year, driven by a strong performance in digital services (Q4: 2.9%).

At the same time, the company announced that its search for a new CFO is finally over and that Luka Mucic will take the helm starting September 1, 2023. 

Margherita Della Valle, soon-to-be ex-CEO, said she was thrilled about the news: “He has a strong track record of international leadership, corporate repositioning and value-creation. Luka is joining us at a critical time as we undertake the transformation of Vodafone,” she said.

Mucic was the CEO of SAP SE between 2014 and 2017, and the company’s CFO from 2014 until March 31, 2023. He is also a member of the Supervisory Board of Heidelberg Materials AG. He was previously a non-executive director of the Board of Qualtrics International.

One of Mucic’s biggest tasks in the near future will be the transformation of Vodafone. Recently, the company announced plans to cut 11,000 jobs and restructure into a leaner, more agile business.

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Vodafone and Three have officially announced plans to merge in a move that is set to hugely shake up the UK mobile market.

In a statement, Vodafone and CK Hutchinson, the owner of Three UK, confirmed a deal that should see the formation of a new £15bn-valued telco giant and, "create one of Europe's leading 5G networks."

Vodafone is set to be the slight majority owner of the new combined group, known for now as MergeCo, controlling 51%, with CK Hutchinson keeping the remaining 49%. 

Vodafone-Three merger

Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group Chief Executive, described the merger as being “great for customers, great for the country and great for competition.”  

“The merger is great for customers, great for the country and great for competition. It’s transformative as it  will create a best-in-class – indeed best in Europe – 5G network, offering customers a superior experience," she added. 

"As a country, the UK will benefit from the creation of a sustainable, strongly competitive third scaled operator – with a clear £11 billion network investment plan – driving growth, employment and innovation. For Vodafone, this transaction is a game changer in our home market. This is a vote of confidence in the UK  and its ambitions to be a centre for future technology.” 

“Today’s announcement is a major milestone for CK Hutchison and for the UK," added Canning Fok, Group Co-Managing Director of CK Hutchison. "Three UK and Vodafone UK  currently lack the necessary scale on their own to earn their cost of capital. This has long been a challenge  for Three UK’s ability to invest and compete." 

"Together, we will have the scale needed to deliver a best-in class 5G network for the UK, transforming mobile services for our customers and opening up new  opportunities for businesses across the length and breadth of the UK. This will unlock significant value for  CK Hutchison and its shareholders, realise material synergies, reduce net financial indebtedness and further  strengthen its financial profile.”

In a press release, the two companies highlighted the advantages of combining their two 5G networks for consumers and businesses alike.

They expect MergeCo to deliver up to £5 billion per year in UK economic benefit by 2030, supporting the digital transformation for schools, hospitals and businesses, with its standalone 5G network will cover every school and hospital in the UK by 2030,  helping deliver the Government’s stretch ambition as set out in the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy.

MergeCo also intends to invest over £6 billion in the first five years, and £11 billion over a ten year plan, to create a best-in-class 5G network, supporting between 8,000 and 12,000 new jobs in the wider economy.

Analysis: A major disruption - for better or worse?

Rumors of Vodafone/CK Hutchinson merger have been ongoing for quite some time now, and triggered major moves in the market, with Della Valle's predecessor Nick Read, stepping down due to not being able to consolidate the UK market, which frustrated shareholders.

Less than a month ago, Della Valle announced the company would be cutting 11,000 jobs in an effort to become more agile on the market.

The deal is still pending regulatory approval in both the UK and CK Hutchinson's home nation of Hong Kong, with some observers not viewing the further reduction of the number of UK network operators very kindly.

If the deal does end up going through, the resulting group will become the biggest mobile operator in the UK, with some 27 million customers. That would place it above BT’s EE and VM O2, as well as Liberty Global, which some analysts have predicted could disrupt the UK market significantly.

“This long-awaited mega merger represents the biggest shake-up in the UK mobile market for over a decade," noted Kester Mann, Director, Consumer and Connectivity, CCS Insight. 

“The deal makes plenty of sense as both providers are sub-scale. As separate entities, it would have been near impossible for either to grow enough organically to come close to challenging BT or Virgin Media O2 for size. Inevitably however, there will be widespread fears over job cuts.”

 “An £11 billion network investment plan will seek to allay regulatory concerns. But this deal will still face a major challenge to win approval. At this stage, I believe it is too difficult to call either way.”

 “The prospect the deal leads to higher prices will be a major concern for the CMA. Vodafone and Three may have shot themselves in the foot by recently hiking tariffs by up to 14.4%.”

 “My view is that the deal should be approved. It is better to have three strong providers than two that are dominant and two that are sub-scale. Blocking it could thwart the long-term development of the UK’s telecoms infrastructure.”

 “A marriage of convenience makes sense. Scale is key to help lower costs and improve margins," noted Paolo Pescatore from PP Foresight.

"It will take years before we see the real fruits of this deal come to fruition. The question is, can the UK wait that long? However, convergence still remains the achilles heel if this does get over the line. It would create a mobile champion that could increase competition in the wholesale segment of the market and become a partner of choice for MVNOs.”

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Vodafone and CK Hutchinson - the owner of Three - are about to announce a merger in the UK, according to a report from Reuters. The news agency said the deal could be announced either this Friday, or early next week.

Apparently, the deal will be in line with what was reported in October last year - namely that Vodafone would own the majority of the combined group (51%), with Hutchinson keeping the remaining 49%. 

It was also said that the new company would be valued at approximately $18.6 billion, debt included. 

Shareholder pressure

The story of the Vodafone/CK Hutchinson merger has been ongoing for quite some time now, and triggered major moves in the market. 

Some argue that former Vodafone CEO, Nick Read, stepped down due to not being able to consolidate the UK market, which was one of his major goals. This inability frustrated shareholders, which resulted in the change at the helm.

The new CEO, Margherita Della Valle, stepped in and has been feeling the pressure to improve the company’s performance. Less than a month ago, Della Valle announced the company would be cutting 11,000 jobs in an effort to become more agile on the market.

The deal also raised some concerns, as the regulators did not view the idea of reducing the number of network operators in a major market such as the UK kindly. The deal is still pending regulatory approval, Reuters added. 

On the other hand, Hutchinson’s CFO, Frank John Sixt also said that finalizing the deal was “extremely difficult.”

If the deal does end up going through, the resulting group will become the biggest mobile operator in the UK, with some 27 million customers. That would place it above BT’s EE and VM O2, as well as Liberty Global, Reuters claims.

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Via: Reuters

Several major UK mobile operators are waiving charges for calls made to and from Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country.

EE, O2, Three and Vodafone have all confirmed that calls made from the UK to Ukraine will be free of charge, while anyone roaming in the country will not be subject to any additional fees for making calls or texts or accessing mobile data.

“Effective immediately, Vodafone UK is crediting all calls to Ukraine and waiving any roaming charges for Vodafone UK customers currently in Ukraine,” tweeted Vodafone UK CEO Ahmed Essam. “We stand in solidarity with all Ukrainian people at this worrying time.”

Mobile operators Ukraine 

“We are deeply troubled by the events taking place in Ukraine and know that some of our customers or their loved ones and friends may be directly affected,” confirmed Virgin Media O2 Lutz Schueler. “As the situation continues to unfold, we recognise that connectivity will play a crucial role and we want to provide support to those who need it.

“To help any of our customers in Ukraine and ensure customers in the UK that need to contact someone in the country can do so, we have removed charges for data use in Ukraine and will also credit charges for calls and texts to and from Ukraine and the UK.”

BT Consumer CEO chief executive Marc Allera also confirmed that a similar arrangement would apply to customers on BT, EE and Plusnet, while Three has also confirmed it will not apply any additional fees.

Some of the operators have specified the arrangement lasts for a certain period but that this will be under constant review.

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The relaxation of Covid-19 related restrictions is driving a revival in in-store smartphone sales according to figures from Kantar, which also show that 5G is an increasingly important factor in consumer purchases.

Like many other businesses, electronic retailers and mobile operator stores were forced to close during the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, with many only re-opening their doors once government lockdown and social distancing measures were eased.

As a result, smartphone sales shifted to retailer’s online channels and online specialists. However, the closure of physical stores was one of several key factors that saw the mobile phone market contract last year.

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Smartphone sales

Kantar says the proportion of in-store sales versus other channels grew by at least 10 percentage points in the US and most key European markets in the second quarter of 2021. In the UK, the figure was 13 points quarter-on-quarter, and the US recorded a 7-point increase.

“As Covid-19 vaccinations continue to roll-out, and businesses open with reduced restrictions, more consumers are high-street shopping,” said Jennifer Chan, Insight Director for Kantar, who explained different kinds of shoppers exhibited different behaviours.

For example, in-store shoppers are more likely to hold onto their device for as long as possible and prefer to buy brands they are familiar with when compared to online customers. Unsurprisingly, the former group are also more likely to want someone to show them how to use their device – something that is far easier in store.

In the UK, all four major operators have made adjustments to their stores to make them as safe as possible for returning customers.

Kantar also noted that 5G is becoming a much more important driver in new handset sales.

Operating market share is fairly stable in Europe and Australia, however iOS was able to increase its share of the American and Chinese markets by two percentage points, while Japan – traditionally a strong market for Apple – saw Android increase its share by five points thanks to strong performances from Oppo and Sharp.

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CK Hutchison’s plans to sell Three’s mobile towers in the UK have hit a stumbling block after competition watchdogs expressed concerns about the deal.

The company hopes the sale of its European tower assets will release capital to invest in 5G networks and struck a €10 billion deal for CK Hutchison’s masts in Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, and the UK last year.

The transactions in the five other countries have gone ahead, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) fears Cellnex will command too much of the market for independent mobile infrastructure.

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Cellnex Three

“It’s important that services provided to mobile networks remain competitive so that the millions of businesses and consumers across the UK that use mobile phones can enjoy lower prices,” said Mike Walker, Chief Economic Adviser at the CMA.

“Cellnex is already the largest independent supplier of mobile towers in the UK. We’re concerned that this deal could help to lock in this position and prevent the emergence of new direct competition.”

Spanish-based Cellnex leases out access to ‘passive’ infrastructure such as mobile towers to mobile operators so they can install their active equipment such as antennas to power their services. As an independent operator, Cellnex can maximise the value of these assets by securing arrangements with multiple providers.

The company completed a series of transactions over the past year to strengthen its offering, most notably the acquisition of Arqiva’s masts in 2020. The CMA fears that the combination of Arqiva and Three’s masts would give Cellnex a huge advantage in the UK that could ultimately impact consumers and businesses.

It believes that CK Hutchison could have secured an alternative buyer for its assets – a move that would have maintained competition in the UK market.

The authority has given both parties five days to suggest remedies its concerns or the deal could be referred to a ‘Phase 2’ investigation.

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Three’s parent company has agreed to sell its European mobile mast network for €10 billion to Cellnex.

CK Hutchison’s mast assets and businesses in Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Sweden and the UK will all be transferred in six separate deals which will close whenever the local regulatory requirements are met.

The first transaction is expected to close by the end of the year with the remainder concluding in 2021.

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Three tower sale

Once completed, the two parties will enter into a long-term 15-year agreement in each country, which can be extended by the same length, and will also collaborate on the construction of 6.700 additional sites across the six countries.

CK Hutchison’s operators currently require funding to build 5G networks while the conglomerate’s other businesses in ports and retail are suffering from the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. The sale will raise much needed capital and unlock significant gains for shareholders.

"We are pleased to gain a long-term partner in Cellnex while unlocking value in our telecom assets for our shareholders,” said Mr Canning Fok, CKHH’s Group Co-managing Director. “This will improve our operational efficiency and accelerate 5G rollout, put us in a very good position if the right opportunities arise, and provide us an opportunity to enhance our shareholders’ returns."

There has been a flood of investments in the sector by private equity firms in recent years because of the predictable, stable revenues promised by assets such as fibre networks and mobile masts. Meanwhile demand for ultrafast broadband and 5G means there is scope for growth.

This long-term view contrasts with the short-term pressures that network investment imposes on mobile operators who are in the middle of expensive network builds. An independent operator would also be able to agree deals with multiple operators, increasing revenues.

Spanish-based Cellnex has snapped up a vast array of infrastructure assets over the past few months, recently securing deals for towers in Portugal and Poland. Earlier this year it also concluded a deal to with Arqiva to buy masts the UK’s largest independent network infrastructure operator.

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Three UK’s parent company CK Hutchison has confirmed it is in “advanced talks” to sell its European mobile masts for €10 billion to Cellnex but has yet to reach a decision on whether to go ahead with the deal.

There has been a flood of investments in the sector by private equity firms in recent years because of the predictable, stable revenues promised by assets such as fibre networks and mobile masts.

Meanwhile demand for ultrafast broadband and 5G means there is scope for growth.

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CK Hutchison towers

This long-term view contrasts with the short-term pressures that network investment imposes on mobile operators who are in the middle of expensive network builds. An independent operator would also be able to agree deals with multiple operators, increasing revenues.

CK Hutchison’s operators currently require funding to build 5G networks while the conglomerate’s other businesses in ports and retail are suffering from the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. A sale of towers would raise much needed capital.

In a submission to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, CK Hutchison confirmed the talks but added the caveat that “no decision has been taken to proceed with any transaction and there can be no certainty that any transaction will proceed or, if it does, what the scope or terms of such transaction would be.”

Spanish-based Cellnex has snapped up a vast array of infrastructure assets over the past few months, recently securing deals for towers in Portugal and Poland. Earlier this year it also concluded a deal to with Arqiva to buy masts the UK’s largest independent network infrastructure operator.

Vodafone has also spun off most of its European tower assets into a separate entity and is planning an IPO for 2021.

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UK mobile operators will be banned from buying telecoms equipment from Huawei by the end of the year and will also have to strip out existing 5G kit made by the company by 2027.

In a dramatic reversal of previous policy, the government said it expected the ruling to delay 5G rollout by up to three years and add £2 billion of additional costs to operators.

This could mean higher bills for customers and will inevitably threaten the UK’s bid to be a leader in 5G, which had been boosted by early launches by EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden did confirm, however, that existing 2G, 3G and 4G kit can remain in place until it must be replaced.

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Huawei UK

Although Huawei has long been frozen out of the US market on national security grounds, the company has had a presence in the UK for two decades and is a supplier for all four operators. It had been expected that these relationships would continue into the 5G era despite the US government’s calls for its allies to follow its lead and ban Huawei from their mobile infrastructure.

The UK had resisted such calls and in January confirmed that although Huawei gear would be banned from 5G cores, operators could continue to use the firm’s radio gear – effectively preserving the status quo.

However Washington’s ongoing hostilities towards Huawei and recent sanctions that affect its ability to source microchips appear to have finally turned the tide. The decision is a huge blow for Huawei which will now fear other Western governments might follow suit and exclude it from their 5G rollouts.

Ed Brewster, a spokesperson for Huawei UK, said:

"This disappointing decision is bad news for anyone in the UK with a mobile phone. It threatens to move Britain into the digital slow lane, push up bills and deepen the digital divide," said Ed Brewster, Huawei UK spokesperson. "Instead of ‘levelling up’ the government is levelling down and we urge them to reconsider. We remain confident that the new US restrictions would not have affected the resilience or security of the products we supply to the UK.

"Regrettably our future in the UK has become politicized, this is about US trade policy and not security. Over the past 20 years, Huawei has focused on building a better connected UK. As a responsible business, we will continue to support our customers as we have always done.

"We will conduct a detailed review of what today’s announcement means for our business here and will work with the UK government to explain how we can continue to contribute to a better connected Britain."

Earlier in the day, Huawei UK chairman Lord Browne stepped down from his position ahead of the ruling.

Operators had argued that a ban on Huawei kit would increase costs, reduce innovation, and cause serious disruption to 5G rollouts. An independent assessment from Assembly Research had suggested the a delay in roll out could cost the UK economy up to £6.8 billion and lead to delays of up to two years.

However most carriers seemed resigned to the fact that a ban would be issued and more recently turned their attention to minimising the impact of any restrictions. Given that telecoms equipment has a limited shelf-life of less than a decade, it was hoped that any requirement to remove kit could be integrated into planned upgrade programmes, minimising costs and disruption.

Vodafone had claimed the bill for stripping out networking equipment could run into the billions, while BT CEO Philip Jansen had warned an accelerated timeframe could harm 5G and fibre rollouts, exacerbate potential security issues and even cause service interruptions.

“If we get in a situation where things need to go very, very fast then you’re into a situation where potentially service for 24 million BT Group mobile customers is put into question,” he told BBC Radio 4. “Outages would be possible.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden accepted the difficulties of an accelerated timetable and the additional cost and gave these as reasons for the 2027 deadline. Whether this explanation is enough to placate Tory backbenchers remains to be seen.

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Delays to the rollout of 5G in the UK as a result of the coronavirus outbreak are inevitable, according a report from PwC.

Britain has been a leader in 5G so far, with all four operators launching commercial services and having plans in place for nationwide rollouts.

However social distancing measures amplify the challenge of building and upgrading infrastructure, while lockdown measures in China have disrupted the supply chain for new equipment.

Industry standards body 3GPP was due to release a new standalone variant of 5G this summer but work on future releases of the technology has been delayed.

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UK 5G delay

The crisis has elevated the role of communications in society. Mobile and broadband networks have been essential for communicating with colleagues and loved ones, accessing business applications or education resources, and for entertainment purposes that lessen the constraints of restricted movement.

The focus among operators has shifted towards essential repairs and ensuring business continuity as customers become increasingly reliant on connectivity. Operators have offered additional data allowances, offered free access to education and health resources, and pledged not to leave anyone disconnected. 5G rollout has taken a backseat for the time being.

Such warnings echo those made by Ericsson last month.

“The need for 5G might seem more urgent than ever, not just for the faster speed of communication but because of the promise of low latency connectivity and ability to enable large numbers of objects to communicate simultaneously,” said PwC. “Though neither are available yet, these capabilities can enhance productivity in industry, healthcare and transportation, and may aid the recovery from the pandemic and any subsequent financial downturn. But a significant delay appears inevitable.”

The report suggests lockdown will have a long-term impact on user behaviours and operators may have to adjust investment strategies accordingly. Mobile revenues may decrease because customers are spending less time away from home and more time on their Wi-Fi networks. Business revenues and roaming income will be particularly hard hit. On top of this, reduced demand for new smartphones will make it more difficult to shift 5G data plans.

PwC says an increase in remote working is likely even after restrictions are lifting and operators will need to offer new tariffs that take into account mixed use cases. For example, a combination of consumer data services alongside enterprise security and collaboration tools could help offset declining business revenues.

Analysts say telcos should be on the lookout for acquisitions that can diversify revenue income – and redirect 5G budget if necessary: “If the further roll-out of 5G is postponed until the latter half of 2021 the telecoms industry will need to make some tough, pragmatic decisions. Operators may need to consider reallocating some of the money earmarked for 5G to other areas in the interim.”

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Three has signed a deal to become the official shirt sponsor of Chelsea FC from next season, providing the mobile operator with greater visibility and marketing clout as it continues its 5G rollout.

The company’s logo will adorn the kits of the senior men’s and women’s teams, as well as the club’s academy sides from the start of the 2020-2021 campaign. By that point, Three would have hoped to have launched 5G mobile services.

A 5G-enabled Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband service was made available in central London last August and Three had planned to go live with 5G mobile in 25 towns and cities before the end of 2019. However it has delayed this window until Q1 2020, saying it needed more time to get everything ready.

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Three Chelsea

The Chelsea partnership will be a significant boost to its marketing efforts as it looks to win market share from the likes of EE, O2 and Vodafone.

“Chelsea FC is many teams in one club – and it is important to us that this sponsorship covers not only the men’s team, but also the women’s and the Academy as well,” said Three CEO Dave Dyson. “Three UK has enough 5G spectrum to put us in the top 10 holdings in the world and give our customers the very best 5G service, and we want to be with the team that can drive that winning message over the next few years.”

Although Three’s logo has adorned the shirts of the Ireland national rugby union team and the Australian cricket team, the UK division has never sponsored a Premier League team before. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, tie-ups were common with O2 sponsoring Arsenal, Vodafone teaming up with Manchester United and One2One securing an agreement with Everton.

This latest agreement will be more of an integrated partnership, as is common with modem major commercial deals, as Chelsea seeks to accelerate its digital efforts.

“Mobile technology has revolutionised the way football clubs and supporters interact with each other which makes Chelsea FC and Three such natural partners,” added Guy Laurence, himself a former Vodafone UK CEO.

“We have a social media following of over 100 million and the official app, The 5th Stand, has had nearly four million downloads. We stream live women’s and Academy football with men’s first team highlights available soon after matches. 

"It truly is an area from which regular fans are benefitting and as communications technology develops in the coming years, Three will be at the forefront of the advances with the exciting roll out of 5G networks, helping to enhance and expand the experience of being a Chelsea supporter in the modern digital age.

 “With Three, we have found a partner, who share our passion for innovation and we are delighted to have them on board and on our shirts.”

• Here are the best Three mobile phone deals for January 2020

Huawei has opened a 5G Innovation and Experience Centre in London as it steps up its efforts to promote the virtue of next generation networking – and its own technology in the process.

The Chinese firm describes the facility as a “base for knowledge and skills sharing” with the stated ambition of promoting collaboration between business and innovators in the development of 5G ecosystems.

It also offers visitors a chance to experience 5G applications, including Virtual and Augmented Realities (VR and AR), as well as new innovations in industry.

• What does Huawei US ban mean for you?
• What is 5G? Everything you need to know
• US has 'no evidence' for Huawei claims

Huawei 5G UK

“With the opening of our 5G Innovation and Experience Centre in London we, as a leader of 5G, are taking another important step,” said Huawei’s Victor Zhang. “What we have opened today will enable true collaboration amongst UK businesses and technologists and showcase the huge potential of 5G applications for both the private and business sectors.”

The opening forms part of Huawei’s ongoing mission to promote 5G and the importance of its role in the deployment of networks and the economic value it can deliver to industries such as healthcare and manufacturing.

The company has so far signed 60 commercial 5G contracts, including with all four UK mobile operators.

However its future in the UK is uncertain due to ongoing political pressure from the US to ban the use of Huawei kit in 5G on national security grounds. Huawei has denied any allegations of wrongdoing, while Washington has not produced any evidence to supports its allegations.

US pressure has had limited effect on Europe, where Huawei has a significant presence. There is little support for a ban because of concerns that costs would rise and innovation would decline as a result. Meanwhile Huawei has called for a cross-industry approach to security – hence its emphasis on collaboration.

In the UK, it was suggested that Huawei would be banned from the core layer of 5G networks – but not the radio layer. This would, in effect, maintain the status quo. However the government has still not reached a final decision with reports suggesting Prime Minister Boris Johnson is inclined to follow the US’s lead.

• Here are the best deals for Huawei mobile phones in November 2019

5G networks powered by mid-range spectrum offer speeds close to those enabled by higher capacity millimetre Wave (mmWave) frequencies, Opensignal’s latest figures have suggested.

5G will use a mixture of low, mid and high-band spectrum, each of which offers a combination of range and capacity.  

The US, which is using mmWave spectrum, still has the world’s fastest maximum speed of 1.8Gbps – however this remains unchanged from Opensignal’s first round of 5G testing back in July.

• 5G in the UK: the what, where and how much
• 5G phone deals - the best prices and contracts
• BT is switching on its 5G network in Autumn

5G network speeds

However Australia has witnessed a huge increase of 500Mbps from 792Mbps to 1.29Gbps, while Switzerland and South Korea also improved speeds. The UAE is fifth after increasing its maximum from 665Mbps to 961Mbps. All are using mid-range frequencies between 3.4 and 3.8GHz.

Opensignal, which records ‘real life’ readings from user smartphones, first tested maximum 5G speeds back in July. It assessed networks in eight countries – including the UK – and has expanded this to 12 for its most recent report.

Finland with 933Mbps, and Kuwait with 890Mbps now have faster 5G speeds than Italy, while Germany’s 740Mbps and Romania’s 712Mbps are superior than Spain and the UK. Indeed, Spain increased its number by 64Mbps to 666Mbps – overtaking the UK in the process.

The UK’s modest increase from 569Mbps to 599Mbps means it was last overall.

However 5G deployment is still at an early stage. Operators are at the start of their technological roadmap and coverage is still limited. Network upgrades will see maximum speeds increase over time, especially when Stand Alone 5G is commercially available.

“It’s still very early days for 5G, and coverage is still limited. There are only a handful of 5G smartphone models available. And, the version of 5G operators have deployed is the very first version of 5G which still relies on a smartphone connecting simultaneously to a 4G signal — non-standalone mode. All of this will change and improve with the upcoming second version of the 5G standard.”

• Here are the best Three mobile phone deals for September 2019

Revenue generated from 5G infrastructure will nearly double to $4.2 billion next year, as operators around the world begin to launch next-generation network services, says Gartner.

The first commercial 5G services went live last year in the US, with South Korea, the UK and Switzerland among several nations to follow suit. In the UK, EE and Vodafone offer mobile 5G networks, while Three has a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband services.

Globally, Gartner believes seven per cent of operators have already deployed 5G infrastructure in their networks ahead of expanded rollouts over the next two years

• 5G in the UK: the what, where and how much
• 5G phone deals - the best prices and contracts
• BT is switching on its 5G network in Autumn

5G Revenues

Last year, just $613 million was generated by 5G, a figure that is expected to increase to $2.2 billion in 2019. By 2021, revenues will reach $6.8 billion, say analysts.

Investments have so far focused on 5G New Radio (5G NR) equipment, which uses the same core infrastructure as LTE. However starting next year, operators will start to deploy ‘standalone’ 5G that uses a new core network.

The use of a 5G core will reduce operating costs for telcos and significantly lower latency – a development which will enable a whole host of new enterprise applications and revenue opportunities.

 “5G wireless network infrastructure revenue will nearly double between 2019 and 2020,” said Sylvain Fabre, senior research director at Gartner. “For 5G deployments in 2019, CSPs are using non-stand-alone technology. This enables them to introduce 5G services that run more quickly, as 5G New Radio (NR) equipment can be rolled out alongside existing 4G core network infrastructure.”

Gartner believes 5G will account for six per cent of telco revneues in 2019, before increasing to 12 per cent in 2020. However, although coverage will expand significantly, analysts believe rollout will be slower than 3G and 4G.

“National 5G coverage will not occur as quickly as with past generations of wireless infrastructure,” added Fabre. “To maintain average performance standards as 5G is built out, CSPs will need to undertake targeted strategic improvements to their 4G legacy layer, by upgrading 4G infrastructure around 5G areas of coverage.

“A less robust 4G legacy layer adjoining 5G cells could lead to real or perceived performance issues as users move from 5G to 4G/LTE Advanced Pro. This issue will be most pronounced from 2019 through 2021, a period when 5G coverage will be focused on hot spots and areas of high population density.”

• Compare the best Vodafone deals

Britain will rethink the future role of Huawei in its telecoms infrastructure, a leading US politician has said.

US national security adviser John Bolton, who is visiting the UK in a trade capacity, has said British officials had told him that they planned to revisit the issue following the appointment of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.

Huawei has long been excluded from US mobile and broadband networks on national security grounds and Washington is urging its allies to follow suit.

UK Huawei

• What does Huawei US ban mean for you?
• What is 5G? Everything you need to know
• US has 'no evidence' for Huawei claims

“They were very concerned about not having any compromise in security of telecommunications in the 5G space,” Bolton is quoted as saying by the Financial Times. “What they said was ‘we would like to review this and be very sure about our decision and we too are concerned about the security of our 5G telecommunications network’.”

The Chinese vendor has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and the US has provided no evidence to support its claims. Nonetheless, the US has persisted with its calls for Huawei to banned in the other nations.

The UK has been conducting its own review of Huawei and a conclusion had been expected earlier this year. Leaks suggested Huawei would be banned from core network infrastructure but not the radio element of 5G networks – effectively maintaining the status quo.

All four major UK networks are Huawei customers and there is no desire for any ban as they believe such action would reduce innovation and increase prices.

However when a wider review of the UK telecom sector’s supply chain was finally published last month, a final decision was omitted.

Since then, Boris Johnson has replaced Theresa May as Prime Minister and is understood to be more favourable to many of US President Donald Trump’s views and policies.

The role of Huawei in the UK could impact trade discussions between the US and UK after Brexit and also intelligence sharing. A number of US officials have said that the latter could be limited if Huawei equipment was continued to be used in the UK.

• Here are the best deals for Huawei mobile phones in July 2019 

Via FT

Three is starting to migrate customers to a brand-new cloud-based core network ahead of the launch of its 5G service in August.

The core network has been tested with more than 3,500 staff since February and is now ready to handle commercial traffic. 4G customers will also be moved onto the new core, meaning all users will benefit.

The infrastructure, delivered by Nokia, is a key component of Three’s £2 billion 5G investment programme, which also includes new equipment, spectrum and an IT transformation.

• Three CEO: Capacity not speed is benefit of 5G
• Three bigs up 5G FWA
• What is 5G? Everything you need to know

Three 5G core

5G networks will deliver improved speeds, greater capacity, and ultra-low latency that will enable a raft of new consumer and business applications. Three’s new core network will make it easier and quicker to rollout new services, while also improving the cost-effectiveness of its infrastructure.

To improve latency even further, Three has moved away from using just three data centres in London and the Midlands to 21 dotted around the country. This means that data processing in the core is performed closer to the point of collection.

All data centres have also been connected to fibre to reduce the time it takes to send data between mast and core. All of Three’s mobile sites have been connected to the core since December.

Three says the combination of the core network and its significant spectrum holdings will allow it to deliver enhanced capacity for customers and the UK’s fastest 5G speeds.

“UK consumers have an insatiable appetite for data as well as an expectation of high reliability.  We are well positioned to deliver both as we prepare for the launch of the UK’s fastest 5G network,” said Three CEO Dave Dyson.

Three sees 5G as its opportunity to transform from the UK’s smallest mobile operator into the market leader thanks to its significant spectrum holdings boosted by auction victories and the acquisition of UK Broadband (which operates the Relish Fixed Wireless Access broadband service).

In addition to a 5G FWA, Three will launch 5G mobile services in 25 towns and cities before the end of the year.

•  Here are the best Three mobile phone deals for July 2019

The parent companies of Three and O2 in the UK are partnering to offer fixed, mobile and other digital communications services to large enterprises and multinational organisations.

CK Hutchison and Telefonica say their complementary network and sales footprints will enhance their ability to offer connectivity to more parts of the world and help drive Digital Transformation projects.

Last year, CK Hutchison created an Innovations Opportunities Development unit (CKH IOD) to identify and create digital services across the various businesses under its control. It joins ten other mobile operators in Telefonica’s Partners Program, which now covers 65 nations and 1.8 billion users.

• Three creates IoD unit
• FC Barcelona gets first 5G stadium
• O2 5G to go live in 2019

CK Hutchison Telefonica

The first territory to be covered by the new arrangement is Italy, where CK Hutchison owns Wind Tre, with Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden set to follow.

The UK is not covered by the partnership and the two companies will continue to compete in the market. If a customer requests a solution in a market where both operators are present, then they will offer two separate proposals.

A merger between O2 and Three was blocked in 2017 amid concerns the reduction from four operators to three would distort competition and negatively impact consumers.

“This partnership with Telefonica is key to [our] growth strategy,” said Susan Buttsworth, CEO of CKH IOD. “It enhances our own capabilities across our territories, gives us access to a world-class suite of digital solutions and enables our customers to access services through Telefonica’s footprint in the rest of Europe and Latin America as well as through the other operators in the Partner Program.”

“We are very pleased with the alliance with CKH IOD, its amazing track record and the synergies that will create,” added Jacobo García-Palencia, global director of Strategic Alliances at Telefónica.

“It will reinforce our Partners Program as a way to jointly capture the opportunities that digital transformation offers our customers. We are confident that this agreement will bring important benefits to both our Groups and continue to enhance our strong network of telco partners across the world”.

•  Here are the best O2 mobile phone deals for 2019

Speed isn’t everything when it comes to video performance on mobile networks, says OpenSignal, which found that European operators in general deliver a superior experience to their global rivals.

With video a major source of mobile traffic around the world, streaming is becoming an increasingly important metric for network benchmarking and in terms of how consumers choose an operator.

OpenSignal, which aggregated data from more than eight million devices, ranked countries out of 100 based on how quickly video loaded and how it stalled or stuttered at various resolutions.

•   Everything you need to know about 5G  

Mobile video performance

The most interesting finding is that once a threshold of 15Mbps is reached, speed has little impact on the quality of video performance.

This means that South Korea, which has the world’s fastest mobile networks, ranks only 16th in the video index, while European nations concerned about falling behind in the race to 5G, perform well. Eight of the top ten nations are European, with the Czech Republic occupying the top spot.

However France was the bottom ranked European nation, while Germany, Italy and the UK all finished in the bottom half. OpenSignal says this reflects a wider trend in more ‘developed’ European countries where 4G speeds and availability are stagnating and even falling.

It says that the prevalence of unlimited data plans, the availability of new spectrum, aging infrastructure and low levels of investment amid intense competition and declining revenues could be contributory factors in some of these countries.

In the UK, EE and Vodafone offer the best video experience with a rating of 62, while O2 scored 58 and Three 56.

However no country achieved a rating of ‘Excellent’, which was 75 or above.

“Europe put in a particularly impressive performance in our video experience analysis, beating the East Asian mobile powerhouses at their own game. But none of the countries we analysed made it into the Excellent range, meaning the mobile industry still has work to do when it comes to a great user video experience,” concluded OpenSignal.

“We've seen that countries with extremely powerful LTE networks in terms of speed and availability aren't necessarily providing the best video experience, and if Europe's operators want to break into the Excellent category, then building out faster and faster LTE-Advanced networks isn't necessarily the answer.”

•   Here are the best mobile phone deals for October 2018 

4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks have been available in the UK since 2012, offering a significant improvement over the 3G networks that were struggling to satisfy growing appetites for mobile data.

Over the past six years, 4G has enabled a data revolution with its superior speeds and greater capacity allowing for new types of application and services. 3G has long been relegated to a fall-back option should no 4G signal be available

But what is 4G? How do the networks stand-up against each other? And what developments are taking place?

What are the differences between 4G frequency bands?

Multiple frequency bands power 4G in the UK, each offering different characteristics.

The 2.6GHz band is one of the two frequencies that were auctioned off by Ofcom in February 2013. 

It has a greater data capacity than the other two bands so it can deal with loads of people connecting at once, but it doesn't fare so well over long distances, making it ideal for cities and other compact, densely populated areas but not so good for rural locations.

The 800MHz band is the other spectrum that was sold at the same time. It was used to provide analogue terrestrial TV, but has been freed up since the big Digital switchover.

While it doesn't provide the same data capacity as the 2.6GHz band, the 800MHz frequency can easily travel over long distances and will be used to provide broadband speeds to rural areas where telephone exchanges can't reach.

Being low frequency it's also better at penetrating walls than the 2.6GHz or 1800MHz bands, so it will provide an improved signal when indoors.

The 1800MHz band is used by EE and Three and strikes a balance between coverage and capacity (falling between the extremes of the 2.6GHz and 800MHz bands) which makes it a good 'middle-ground' for getting 4G around the country.

The most recent developments have seen 2100MHz spectrum EE uses for 3G refarmed for 4G ahead of a future 5G launch, and O2 win 2.3GHz airwaves at an auction earlier this year. 

Ofcom's 2013 4G spectrum auction laid the foundations

The 4G spectrum auction held by Ofcom at the beginning of the 2013 saw winning bids from O2 (Telefónica UK), Vodafone, Three (Hutchison Whampoa) and of course EE. BT also came away with some spectrum of its own, before it acquired EE in 2016.

Remember, more MHz means a better connection, so the more 'x GHz' of spectrum, the more widespread and robust a network can be.

Vodafone spent the most at the auction- a whopping £790,761,000 and came away with 2 x 10MHz of 800MHz spectrum, 1 x 20MHz of 2.6GHz spectrum and a further 1 x 25MHz of 2.6GHz spectrum.

EE spent £588,876,000 and secured 2 x 5MHz of 800MHz spectrum and 2 x 35MHz of 2.6GHz spectrum, which is less spectrum overall than Vodafone has.

Don't forget that EE can also call upon the 1800MHz spectrum that it's been using since before the other networks even launched a 4G service though.

O2 spent £550,000,000 on 2 x 10MHz of 800MHz spectrum. The company completely neglected the 2.6GHz band which may hurt its inner city performance, but with its extensive network of Wi-Fi hotspots in cities the bubbly brand thinks it will be OK without it.

Three spent £225,000,000 on 2 x 5MHz of 800MHz spectrum. Like O2, the company passed on the 2.6GHz band, however Three also has access to some 1800MHz spectrum, as noted above.

BT was something of a surprise bidder and secured 2 x 15MHz of 2.6GHz and 1 x 20MHz of 2.6GHz spectrum. While it was unclear what BT planned to use it on at the time, it appeared as though it was intended to be used with an 'inside-out' MVNO before it opted to purchase EE.

EE 4G's route to leadership

It’s hard to imagine now, but the arrival of 4G was delayed by legal arguments about the format of the Ofcom spectrum auction detailed above.

However, EE, formed by the merger of T-Mobile and Orange in 2010, wanted to launch 4G using its significant combined spectrum assets and was granted permission by the regulator to launch LTE on 1800MHz on 30 October 2012.

For almost a year EE was the only provider of 4G services in the UK and in 2018 it is the UK's largest LTE operator in terms of coverage and capacity. Its network covers 90 per cent of the country's landmass and there are plans to cover 95 per cent by the end of the decade.

Tariffs were initially launched at a premium but although they are now generally more competitive amid stronger competition in the market. It divides its price plans into 'EE Essential' and 'EE Max', the latter of which offers EE's fastest available speeds.

EE's network is frequently named as the UK's fastest, with the operator offering speeds in excess of 450Mbps in certain parts of the country to those with a compatible smartphone.

Recent figures from OpenSignal suggest that EE offers an average of 29Mbps on 4G and 25.9Mbps across 3G and 4G.

In terms of extras, EE may no longer offer two for one cinema tickets every Wednesday, but it will give you access to BT Sport and Apple Music.

• Here are the best EE mobile deals

O2 4G

O2 launched its 4G network on August 29 of 2013 and it now reaches 99 per cent of the UK population.

This means it has gone beyond the obligation attached to its 800MHz licence, which required it to deliver a signal to 98 per cent. 

However there have been concerns that its lack of 2.6GHz spectrum would limit capacity and O2 has regularly finished at the bottom of several independent tests. According to OpenSignal, average speeds are 14.6Mbps - the slowest of any UK network.

It has worked hard to improve service by investing £2 million on its network every day and it has eased capacity concerns by winning 2.3GHz spectrum at the Ofcom auction earlier this year.

It is also testing out 5G and is densifying its network in London through a small cell partnership with Arqiva.

It has embarked on a customer-centric strategy that has seen it voted best network for coverage by uSwitch users, while subscribers still have access to exclusive deals, competitions and vouchers as well as the ability to purchase gig tickets early through O2 Priority.

• Here are the best O2 mobile deals

Vodafone 4G

Vodafone also launched its 4G network on August 29 2013 (the two have a infrastructure sharing agreement known as 'Project Beacon') with its service initially available only in London before expanding to to other major UK cities.

With sizeable chunks of both the 800MHz and the 2.6GHz band, Vodafone should have the capacity to deliver a fast, reliable 4G connection to customers in both urban and rural locations.

Coverage has since increased to 99 per cent of the UK population, while OpenSignal says its average 4G speed is now 21.92Mbps.

In terms of extras, Vodafone offers customers a choice of Spotify Premium, Netflix or Sky Sports Mobile TV to sweeten the deal.

• Here are the best Vodafone mobile deals

Three 4G

Three was the last UK operator to roll out 4G in December 2013. It had long argued that 4G was simply a technological upgrade and that it preferred to focus on customer experience rather than generational shifts.

This was reflected in its pricing policy: 4G was made available to any Three customer with a compatible handset at no extra cost. This differed significantly from its rivals, all of whom offered a premium for LTE.

Three now has 10 million customers who consume an average of 7GB of data a month – 3.5 times the industry average - while it has 99 per cent population coverage thanks to 14,500 sites

The combination of Three’s generous data allowances and competitive prices have made it a popular choice for mobile users, but there’s no escaping the fact that Three’s 4G has its downfalls.

Over the past few months, OpenSignal saw Three’s average 4G speed fall by 3Mbps to 18.8Mbps but its 3G speeds continue to impress, rising by 1Mbps to 7.8Mbps.

Three has a keen interest in 5G as it believes its spectrum holdings mean there is the opportunity to lead the UK market for the first time.

• Here are the best Three mobile deals

4G coverage: Can all of the UK get it?

Initial rollout of 4G focused on urban areas with large populations, but significant investments by all four operators in their network infrastructure means that 99 per cent of the UK population can now receive 4G.

There has also been investment in 3G networks, with EE and Three among those to roll out DC-HSPA.

Attention has now turned to geographic coverage, with EE promising to deliver 4G to 95 per cent of the UK's landmass. Any further expansion of coverage may depend on spectrum licence obligations or public subsidy.

Ofcom’s most recent figures suggest 64 per cent of the UK’s geographic area is completely covered by all four operators, while 11 per cent is uncovered by any operator at all. 

What are 4G download speeds in the UK?

The answer to this question depends on where you live in the country and what network you're on.

EE promises speeds of up to 60Mbps on its 'Essential' plans and up to 150Mbps on its 'Max' tariffs although in some extremely limited areas, 429Mbps is on offer. OpenSignal claims the average speed is 29Mbps.

The same report suggests Vodafone has 21.92Mbps, Three 18.8Mbps and O2 14.6Mbps. But again, these speeds will vary wildly depending on location.

Speed increases have been static over the past few months although this can be partly attributed to the fact that operators have been working on availability by expanding coverage and densifying infrastructure in urban areas.

Why is 4G so fast?

4G's impressive speed increase is achieved with the use of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Divison Multiplexing), a transmission technology used by the likes of ADSL, Wi-Fi, DVB-T, DVB-H and DAB.

Not only does it reduce latency (the amount of time taken to buffer and connect to webpages), but it also minimises interference and is able to cram greater amounts of data into the same slice of radio bandwidth.

Simply put, this enables 4G/LTE phones and tablets to stream video and play online games like never before, largely because 4G has been designed primarily as a data network, rather than a voice one and it uses the same TCP/IP protocols that underpin the internet.

The upshot for you is that the data is 'flatter', as in it's easier for the networks to stream, so should theoretically be cheaper. 

Speeds have been advanced through technologies like  MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology, which uses multiple antennas on transmitters and receivers like 802.11n Wi-Fi equipment, and Carrier Aggregation, which binds multiple spectrum bands together.

LTE-A and the future of 4G

Although 5G is on the horizon, operators around the world are still investing significant amounts in their 4G infrastructure. Not only will it take time for 5G to become mainstream, but many of the early services will use new radio technologies on top of the 4G core network.

As mentioned above, Massive MIMO and Carrier Aggregation are the primary methods of improving speeds and the theoretical maximum of LTE-Advanced (Or 4G+ as some people like to call it) is close to that of 5G.

Some countries, most notably Japan, South Korea and the US, have enjoyed LTE-A for some time but several operators in the UK have been boosting their networks over the past few years, and we won’t be that far behind the curve with 5G.

5G networks are expected to go live in the UK in 2019 – with EE possibly first to market again – offering faster speeds, greater capacity and lower latency.

• If you're keen to know about the next generation of networks, check out our guide to everything you need to know about 5G

Superdrug is to launch its own Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), offering discounted connectivity to members of its loyalty programme.

The service is exclusive to holders of a Superdrug Health and BeautyCard and costs £10 a month for 4GB of data and unlimited calls and texts. Any unused data can be rolled over the following month and if it is used up, then there are top ups on offer.

Several other retailers have their own MVNO, but Superdrug’s attempt to use one to foster customer loyalty and acquire more marketing data is novel. Indeed, any card holder on the network will get double points when they make purchases in-store.

Superdrug Three

The network is powered by Three, which is also used by Carphone Warehouse’s iD Mobile and SMARTY – an online only MVNO from Three itself. Indeed, Three and Superdrug are both owned by CK Hutchison and there are several Three concessions in Superdrug stores.

“We are very excited about Superdrug Mobile, which is a great example of an already strong brand further strengthening its customer engagement model through a mobile offering,” said Three’s director of wholesale, Lynda Burton.

“We worked closely together on the complex task of integrating their loyalty scheme into a mobile offering to deliver a great product. We understand that brand owners are not always telecoms experts, so we make things simple so that our partners can focus on managing their customers while we take care of everything else.”

Last month CK Hutchison announced a Europe-wide agreement with Xiaomi to sell its smartphones. Both Three and Superdrug were mentioned as stockists for the devices.

• Check out the best mobile deals for June 2018 

‘Binge-watching is the new mindfulness.‘

That was a theory posited at a recent panel debate on the growing trend of hammering through ‘box-set‘ TV series in marathon viewing sessions, and it immediately set off an alarm in my mind.

Mindfulness? Really? Should we class binge-watching as a chance to switch off, meditate and calm our minds… or as another form of addiction that’s being spread across all demographics as access to online streaming platforms grows at a rapid rate?

According to a recent report by UK telecoms regulator Ofcom, there are 40 million people in the UK alone using online services to watch multiple episodes in one sitting, so there’s clearly an appetite for this ‘new’ way of consuming content.

The panel that was convened to discuss the topic of binge-watching was certainly well qualified. It featured key players from Samsung, UK mobile network Three and Netflix, all of whom have a decent idea of how the streaming market looks at the moment, at an event to promote the network’s new unlimited media streaming plan.

An interesting question was posed: should Netflix come with a warning before streaming begins, in the same way as news programming warns of flashing images?

The case was made that streaming services are possibly having harmful effects on health, for example by altering the sleeping patterns of people desperate to watch ‘just one more’ episode of their favorite shows… and that making content even more accessible on the mobile could only compound that issue.

That theory was backed up in the Ofcom report, which said a third of adults using the streaming services were caving into the temptation of watching another episode, and that this was costing them sleep. As a result many were trying to ration their viewing, find something else to do or even canceling their access altogether.

How much is too much?

The question of whether binge-watching is harmful to health isn’t something that can be easily or conclusively answered. It’s incredibly subjective, and depends in part on how you define bingeing.

Some people will stream a series over several weeks, their self-rationing automatic. For others, the craving to devour a series in one sitting is all-consuming, meaning they’ll push the boundaries to watch it as quickly as possible. That can include forgoing sleep – and that’s something that does carry associated health risks.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has issued advice on making sure binge-watching doesn’t affect your daily life – although Netflix apparently treats the fact that people will lose out on sleep as a positive, rather than a risk factor.

Chris Whiteley, Director of Partnerships at Netflix and Three CEO Dyson agreed that most users are aware of their limits when it comes to binge-watching, but emphasized that self-regulation was important.

Whiteley went on to say that he didn’t see over-consumption as a huge problem, pointing to the fact that the streaming platform encourages people to “binge responsibly”, that the platform is “giving freedom and putting choice in people’s hands“ and that the brand is trying to use ratings and content warnings to allow people to decide when and how much to watch.

“We’d much rather people made the decision themselves (whether or not to binge),“ he said. “People are pretty smart.“

David Dyson, CEO of Three UK, also pointed out that online streaming services like Netflix aren’t the beginning of bingeing.

“I didn’t see [such] warnings on the front of a book, saying excessive reading could make you blind by 18,” he said. “People will generally know their limits.”

Born to binge?

This is one of the key points in the debate over whether binge-watching offers a positive or negative effect on health – people will always be drawn to what they enjoy. 

Video games, after all, can come with a warning about excessive use despite being something you’d imagine people would self-regulate – and yet books don’t.

However, until recently TV had never offered the same all-or-nothing consumption option as books, with weekly scheduling dictating how quickly you’d move through a storyline. It wasn’t until the DVD box set appeared that people started to gorge on content.

Hilda Burke, who's an integrative psychotherapist, couples counsellor and life coach, says the shift in how series are being delivered could be giving rise to a new kind of temptation.

“I think it's simply the 'supply'. If you only have one episode per week shown, like in the old days, your consumption is naturally limited to that one episode per week,“ she says. “With a whole bunch of episodes dropped at once, the only thing between yourself and bulk consumption is your self-control.“

But there’s a key difference between the way books and TV are consumed: reading is something you need to actively engage in, whereas lying back on a sofa and letting pixels fall into your eyes requires no effort at all. 

You can even fall asleep and it’ll still rumble on – whereas with a book the only thing that might happen is you’re startled as the heavy tome strikes you in the face.

Even a DVD marathon has an active element within it – when your disc is finished, you need to decide whether to get off the sofa/out of bed and load the next one.

With Netflix not only is that proactive element removed, but the new autoplay feature is an ever-present temptress, cajoling you to move to the next episode without needing to do a thing, aside from tapping a button after a while to ensure you’re still watching.

And it's this that’s raising questions over our shifting viewing habits – that fact that we can be fed endless excitement by literally just sitting there.

A shifting future

It’s hard to say what place services like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and other online services have in the digital, always-connected world more and more, of us inhabit these days. 

But the recent fall in levels of mental well-being in the UK is a worrying trend, and it’s been hypothesized that our connected lives are to blame.

While boredom is generally perceived as a negative thing, it’s also the time when the brain switches off from constantly searching for the next reward, and that’s crucial to mental wellbeing.

Andy Puddicombe, co-founder of online meditation and mindfulness service Headspace, says that the increase in digital stimulation is causing users to seek counterbalance.

“It means that for many, the mind is in a constant state of activity, stimulation and distraction,” he adds. ”We might be able to manage this for short periods of time, but over an extended period the mind is simply unable to keep up, it gets tired and may even burn out. This is why it’s so important to build in some time to rest the mind.”

“Obviously meditation is a great way to do that, and many of the people who try Headspace do so at first as a way to cope with digital overload.”

The Ofcom study mentioned above proves that – in the UK at least – binge-watching is enjoyed far more by the younger generations, with 53% of young teenagers enjoying long sessions of series watching, compared to the 16% of  over-65s.

Just what this access to so much content is doing to the human psyche still needs to be studied, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that today’s generation is being exposed to vastly more information than any that’s preceded it, and enjoying instant gratification through content. But why is that happening?

Are smartphones making us dumb?

The fact that our smartphones are the portal to all this content and information is creating some potentially excessive behaviours, with studies showing that social media especially is causing Pavlovian reactions amongst users; the constant scrolling and responding to the buzz or ping of a notification, and the sheer immediacy of connection to others, mean boredom is increasingly hard to achieve.

Some characterize this action as triggering the ‘pleasure chemical’ of the brain (often – mistakenly – referred to as dopamine), and our dependence on smartphones as a constant desire to trigger the sweet hit of that neurochemical.

While that’s been proved to be a myth, dopamine could still be to blame for the current decline in mental health, as its presence in the brain causes a ‘seeking’ effect in the subject. That seeking could be for food, information, movement, comfort, distraction… it’s a key motivator in how we live our life, and its absence has been linked to depression.

And constant access to information is only going to stimulate that seeking mechanism, with so much available and so readily, the tantalizing thought of learning, happiness or laughter always around the corner.

There's the suggestion that we’re all becoming devoid of self-control, the lack of enforced quiet meaning we never let our brains switch off and rest – which is an intangible need but one that you feel would be dangerous to lose.

Alastair Mordey is programme director at The Edge, an addiction rehabilitation center in Thailand. He says that device addiction is something the center encourages young men that seek help to break, asking them to leave their phones at the door when entering the facility.

“We encourage our young men to put down their mobile devices and engage in meditation and sports such as triathlon and kickboxing,“  he says. “Cardio[vascular] exercise encourages the growth of new brain cells, lowering depression and anxiety, and meditation increases the density of grey matter in the brain which increases the ability to concentrate.“ 

In researching the dopamine myth, we came across a viral video featuring Simon Sinek, one which mistakenly blames dopamine as partly to blame for it being so hard to manage the millennial generation.

While that’s been proven incorrect, the video does make a valid point: newer generations are being imbued with the belief they can achieve as much as they want, that they can be as socially mobile as they can handle, and with so much pleasurable information and entertainment around, it’s a feeling that quickly gets confirmed – but could leave them susceptible to struggling with failure in adult life.

So what does this all have to do with online streaming? Well, in order to deal with this information overload and the stress it can bring, many look to extreme escapism – ironically using the very device that could be causing it in the first place.

Binge-watching becomes an instant form of digital distraction, a chance for the mind to rest while digesting simple and enjoyable stories. Just because Netflix or Spotify is as instantly accessible as scrolling through Twitter, it doesn’t mean it’s the cause of the problem though.

A positive activity

There are undoubtedly positives to binge-watching and this instant access to so much content. Headspace’s website even has blogs on the positive effects of enjoying a series session with a loved one, enjoying shared laughter or engaging emotionally with a character and that providing insight into your own relationship.

In fact, it’s impossible to classify binge-watching as positive or negative - something Headspace’s Puddicombe believes is more to do with the binger than the activity: “We are all different, and what works for one person may well not work for another. 

“If it makes us feel overstimulated, is a cause for insomnia, or means that our relationships start to suffer in some way, then that’s not going to be great for our health. 

“But if you have the time, the freedom, the inclination, and you enjoy it, then I don’t see any real harm in it at all.”

It’s clear that mindfulness and the ‘always-on’ culture are at opposite forces, even if neither is necessarily detrimental to health. So to classify online streaming as mindful isn’t something the experts agree with.. 

“Under no circumstances could sitting down watching TV for hours on end while distracted by an engaging and exciting storyline be considered a form of mindfulness. Nice try though!” laughed Puddicombe.

That’s a view echoed by Smita Joshi, a mindfulness and meditation expert.

“Mindfulness requires that you focus in a way that soothes the mind as well as increases awareness. Binge-watching is more akin to escapism and deferral of the ‘what's so’ rather than becoming more ‘present’ to the entirety and lushness of the moment,” she said. 

“So binge watching and mindfulness are not comparable and indeed, are quite opposite to each other. That said, binge watching is sometimes good to do, providing it's done in moderation, because it can help to mentally ‘switch off’. However, it should not in any way be confused with mindfulness or meditation.”

And it’s not like spending hours glued to entertainment is a new phenomenon - we’ve all spent hours mindlessly flicking through TV channels looking for something to watch. 

Instead of that people are now being given things to watch they actually are looking forward to devouring. Netflix’s Whiteley says the company has seen a three day gap between users finishing one series and starting another, the time in between often filled with standalone shows, including documentaries or shows related to the series just watched.

The data created using online services allows the platforms to serve up ever-more relevant and enjoyable content to users when they want it, and giving platforms to filmmakers that wouldn’t have had access to such an audience.

“We’re giving people the freedom to watch what they like, when they like,” says Whiteley. “We get [content creators’] stories across - Netflix wants to be a global platform for storytellers to come and tell their stories.

“These stories are commissioned from all around the world - why should people wait three, six or 12 months [to watch it]?. 

“Why shouldn’t someone be able to tell that around the world instantly? We can translate it into different languages - it might not have fitted into commercial broadcaster’s [preferences], but if you’re interested, we can get that in front of you.”

Kids are still the future

Perhaps the issue is simply just too recent to understand. Access to information has accelerated exponentially for the last 70 years, meaning each generation is faced with ever-greater opportunities for entertainment… which also brings a challenge for parents trying to ensure their children are growing up with healthy limits.

The worry exists that the younger generation doesn’t have to ‘graft’ for their entertainment or information in the way their elders did, and that will bring a reduction in boredom, stillness or the things that some believe offer our brains the chance to switch off or grow in creativity.

But the same accusation has been levelled at many different activities over the years, and used to demonise the activity rather than consider what it’s actually doing to society.

Hilda Burke agrees that the parent is still the key guardian in the development of children’s mental well-being: “I think there's always some sort of perceived threat to the 'youth of today'. Two generations ago the challenge was TV, then computer games, with a lot of doom-mongering around each in turn would be the ‘downfall of kids’. 

“The fact is, there'll always be something that 'threatens' children's well being or might turn them into lazy couch potatoes unfit for work or to just 'graft' more generally. It's nothing new. 

“But by parents setting firm boundaries and modelling a more balanced way of consuming TV, children are likely to pick that up.”

The thing is - we are irreversibly plugged into this digital world as a society. We’re not all going to give up our smartphones to see how it makes us feel, we’re not going to stop checking social media no matter what health organisations warn and services are still going to keep offering high-quality entertainment with almost no barriers to consumption.

But that doesn’t mean it will be a bad thing - just a new thing, only our own guilt at taking such pleasure causing us to worry.

“We are so early in the evolution of this technology. I don’t think we have even come close to finding a healthy balance of how to use it yet,” says Puddicombe.

“Like so many things, we often have to see the two extremes before we find the middle. Part of the challenge right now is that we want everything immediately, but we don’t like how it makes us feel. It’s a bit like eating 10 tubs of ice cream, just because it’s in the freezer, but knowing that it’s not going to feel so good after. 

“So this dynamic creates a lot of tension in our life. But I think in the future, there will be a better understanding, whereby people enjoy the convenience of instant, whilst aware of the dangers of overconsumption. That’s the best of both worlds.”

The positives are clear too - whether it’s children being able to virtually interact with a concept through a headset rather than reading it in a dusty old book, or being able to watch documentaries from the other side of the globe as easily as switching on the television, we shouldn’t instantly demonise things like binge-watching just because it seems ‘too easy’.

It’s impossible to predict how we’re going to consume media in the future, or the effect all this information is having on each subsequent generation. But as long as we don’t all live in individual cabins tailored to popular Netflix shows… we should be OK.

Outages of the Three network on April 22 meant some customer’s SMS messages went to random recipients and have been read by the wrong person, but the UK network won't be contacting customers affected by the issue.

A Three spokesperson told TechRadar, “We’re aware that some customers have reported receiving misdirected texts or texts from unknown numbers. We are investigating these incidences [sic] but if any customer is concerned about this they should contact Three customer services.”

That means any customer will need to contact Three directly to know if messages went to the wrong places.

TechRadar asked Three direction what the network will be able to do for customers affected and were told: “If customers have any concerns about misdirected messages they should contact customer services who will address each situation on a case-by-case basis.”

However, customers are now complaining that the outage has caused confidential accounts to be compromised, and now the Information Commissioner's Office has confirmed to Ars Technica that it will be 'making enquiries' into the incident.

It's not clear if there will be compensation for your messages going to the wrong people, but it may happen if you use the customer service line.

TechRadar also asked for a gurantee this wouldn’t happen again on the network, but Three did not provide one.

No guarantee

It’s thought the problems came from a technical network issue rather than any other external factors, so whether Three will be able to stop this happening in the future is currently unclear. 

Customers who sent messages may not know if they reached a wrong number as Three isn't actively telling those affected, while those who received strange messages have been told by Three "to ignore all text messages that you deem incorrect."

If you think you’ve sent personal or confidential data from your Three phone and want to know if your message was received by the right person, you should contact Three’s customer services at 333 from your Three phone or 0333 338 1001 from another device.

Drawers around the world are full of old, out of date and unloved mobile phones that people have forgotten to – or can’t be bothered to – sell or pass on. But one UK network wants to give these phones a new lease of life.

Three is encouraging people to rid themselves of idle phones, but instead of selling them on for a small profit, it’s asking them to donate them to people who desperately need access to a phone and the internet.

Mobile recycling company CompareMyMobile found that in the UK there were £13 billion worth of phones lingering in people’s homes at the start of 2016.

The new Three scheme, called Reconnected, takes these devices and gives them to people struggling with their finances, or who have experienced some kind of trauma in their lives, and provides them with free access to the Three network for 90 days to help them get back on their feet.

Helping out

The scheme, which is limited to the UK right now, donates phones to homeless people, domestic abuse victims and many other groups who don’t necessarily have easy access to the internet or a phone line.

Celina Benedict, Responsible Business Manager at Three, told TechRadar: “We think we’ve come up with a smart idea to get handsets into the hands of people who could really make the most of them.

 “That’s either to help them get jobs, reconnect with family or even just enjoy using a mobile, which we sometimes take for granted.”

The internet has become an indispensable tool that, as Benedict points out, many of us take for granted. In June 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Council even declared internet access to be a human right.

If you donate your phone to the Reconnected scheme, Three will ensure the phone isn’t broken, update it to the latest software, make sure it can access the internet and pair it with the relevant accessories, such as a charger and microUSB cable.

The new user will then be given 12GB of data, 300 minutes and 3,000 texts to use each month for three months, while the phone is theirs to keep. If the person wants to continue using it after that period they’ll have to pay for network access though.

Not every recipient will be able to afford to maintain the network access, but Three’s thinking is the 90 days should give them enough time to reconnect with services and people they need to help them turn things around, such as a Job Center, or family members in another part of the country.

Benedict adds: “We couldn’t not give data, we live on data – it’s one of the most important aspects. The idea was to give them more than they needed, but give them a cap so they could see what real usage is like and set them on the right path for later.”

People in need won’t be able to apply for this scheme directly though. Three is partnering with a number of different organisations to find people who can benefit from Reconnected.

Benedict says: “What they all have in common is they don’t have access to the internet, they don’t have a smartphone. The scheme is to help them get back on track and overcome issues.

“It may be they’re at risk of homelessness or need to get employment, or even just better digital skills. They’re all just trying to improve their lives, but they’re missing this one valuable tool that most of us have and can’t even imagine living without.

Not everyone is in a situation to recharge a device, however. For example, homeless people without access to electricity won’t benefit from this scheme.

“Often people in the scheme are at risk of homelessness, so they’re staying in shelters or in provided accommodation so charging is possible there,” adds Benedict “It’s more about giving them the kit and getting them started really.”

There’s also a concern that a donated phone could be sold on by the person who receives it – and Three hasn’t put a process in place for addressing this problem yet.

“We have to rely on the community groups we’re working with,” says Benedict. “We have to trust them to understand the individuals they’re supporting, and for them to decide the individuals who would make the most of the experience and will be able to carry on using a device afterwards.”

Three ran an internal pilot for the Reconnected scheme last year, encouraging its employees to donate their old phones. It received over 1,500 handsets and managed to donate 99 to people in need.

The hope is that, by opening the scheme to the public, Reconnected will receive newer phones. More modern devices will enable the scheme to be more effective, but Three will take any phone, even if it can’t connect to the internet.

If your phone isn’t suitable for the scheme, Three will recycle the parts instead of giving it away – and that means you can clear your drawers no matter how old or damaged your phone is.

Like to take part in the scheme? You can donate your phone at any Three store around the country right now – hopefully your unloved old, handset will be good enough to make a real difference to someone less fortunate.

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Update: Services have no resumed as per normal for all customers and Three has apologised for the outage.

A spokesperson for Three said, "Internet services have now been restored for affected customers. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the issue this morning."

Original story: Social media is alight right now with people complaining about Three UK and how the internet is currently down on the network.

Some people in our office are experiencing the problem too, with internet dropping out entirely or switching back to 3G rather than using 4G. However, it seems some customers are unaffected.

Three told techradar: "We apologise that some customers are experiencing problems with data services currently. Our engineers are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible."

So there's no official word on when the issue will be resolved – it's been going on for a few hours so it's clearly not something that can be fixed with the flick of a switch.

• How Apple plans to tackle out of control iPhone roaming charges

Three has launched 4G Super-Voice, a network enhancement which promises its customers improved mobile coverage while indoors and in rural locations.

4G Super-Voice is actually VoLTE (Voice over LTE), and has been made possible by the implementation of the network's 800MHz spectrum. This low frequency spectrum is better at penetrating buildings and can travel greater distances - meaning it can reach into areas of the countryside currently not touched by the network.

It also means you phone won't have to fall back to the 3G network every time you're on a voice call, keeping you on the speedy 4G service at all times.

The new enhancement has already been rolled out to three quarters of London, Edinburgh, Exeter and Birmingham, and Three plans to have 65% of the nation covered by the end of the year.

Next on the 4G Super-Voice hit list are Cardiff, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol, with the service starting to roll to these areas out now.

The catch

You won't necessarily be able to take advantage of 4G Super-Voice right away, even if you are in a coverage area. For now, only Samsung Galaxy S5 and LG G4 owners are switched on.

In fact Galaxy S5 owners should already have the update, and you may have already experienced VoLTE and not even realised it.

Three says all handsets which support VoLTE will be switched on before the end of the year, and that includes the newly announced iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, as well as last year's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

This comes off the back of both EE and Vodafone launched Wi-Fi Calling smarts this year, allowing you phone to make and receive phone calls and text messages via a Wi-Fi network.

Three technically also supports this with its InTouch app (as does O2 with the TuGo app), although implementation is no where near as seamless as its Wi-Fi Calling rivals.

Vodafone, EE and O2 have all talked about launching VoLTE services in the future, and now Three is out of the gates you can expect the others to follow suit soon.

• What is Wi-Fi calling?

Wi-Fi calling seems to be a big focus for the mobile phone networks to tackle the problem of not having enough signal in your home. It's a smart idea and now both EE and Vodafone have launched the service, but what does it all mean?

It's readily available on EE as long as you have one of a number of phones and it'll be launching on Vodafone with limited devices in the coming weeks.

We've spoken to the people in the know to bring you all the details on Wi-Fi calling - the service that keeps your smartphone connected in more places.

What is Wi-Fi calling?

Wi-Fi calling allows you to use a Wi-Fi network to make and receive phone calls, rather than using the traditional mobile network.

This benefits those in poor signal areas, such as rural villages and underground stations, as you'll be able to harness the power of available Wi-Fi networks to stay connected.

It's not just calls that are supported though, you can also send and receive texts.

Doesn't that already exist?

Before you all go 'this has been available for ages from the likes of Skype, Viber, Three, O2 and more recently WhatsApp', let us explain.

Three and O2 have their own applications allowing customers to make and receive calls and texts over a Wi-Fi network.

All your activity is kept separate, which can ruin message flows and confuse call logs, as you'll need to check two apps for potential missed calls and new texts.

A similar case is found with Skype, WhatsApp and Viber, although these services don't necessarily link directly with your phone number and provide more standalone communication platforms.

Both EE and Vodafone's Wi-Fi calling works exactly the same as the mobile network, meaning you may not even notice you're actually using a Wi-Fi network rather than the mobile one - although you do get an icon in the status bar alerting you to the fact.

That means your text conversations remain uninterrupted and your call log stays complete - without the need to switch to a different application when using a Wi-Fi network to connect to your friends.

Any limitations?

A word of warning here, if you start a call on Wi-Fi and then venture outside of your network's range the call won't automatically transfer to your mobile network - you'll get cut off, and vice versa.

EE says it's working on a seamless transition between mobile and Wi-Fi, but it will only be possible when it launches VoLTE (voice over LTE) later this year.

VoLTE allows 4G networks to carry voice calls and text messages, which are currently limited to the existing 2G and 3G services - and they don't work well with the Wi-Fi calling setup.

Another thing to point out is that EE's Wi-Fi calling is limited to the UK only for now - so you won't be able to take advantage of it when travelling abroad.

Which networks support it?

Both EE and Vodafone have launched Wi-Fi calling on the respective networks - Vodafone isn't fully here yet but it's coming soon.

O2 and Three may follow suit, but they're currently pushing their TU Go and InTouch apps, which offer similar functionality with seperate applications.

An O2 spokesperson told us, "We regularly review our products and services based on customer feedback. In the meantime, we're flattered to see others following our lead on wifi calling."

Meanwhile there's light at the end of the tunnel at Three with Danny Dixon, director of customer strategy, telling us; "Seamless connectivity on mobile and Wi-Fi is a key part of our future strategic direction and we've developed Three inTouch in such a way that we can evolve it to support embedded voice and text over Wi-Fi.

"We are currently developing this aspect and will be confirming more details and launch dates soon."

What phones does it work with?

At the moment only a handful of handsets have been enabled by EE - these are the HTC One M9, Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S5, iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 5S, 5C and Microsoft Lumia 640.

EE previously confirmed to TechRadar that it was working with HTC before we heard of the One M9 getting support - and there was a suggestion the One M8 may see it at some point too.

Your handset has to come from EE, as it needs the network's software build installed to enable the Wi-Fi calling feature. If you buy yourself a SIM-free S6 from elsewhere for example, sticking an EE SIM card into it won't give you this functionality.

Vodafone's Wi-Fi Calling service has not launched yet and we don't have official word on the compatible handsets just yet.

Meanwhile Three's inTouch app is available on Google Play and Apple's App store, and O2's TuGo offering can be downloaded on iPhones running iOS 5 and above, Android 2.3 and above, Windows Phone 8 and desktop web browsers.

How do I enable Wi-Fi calling?

We can only speak for EE at the moment, so once you receive your Wi-Fi calling enabled handset from the network you will need to text "wifi calling" to 150 to set it up.

You will need to able to flick the switch on the Wi-Fi calling option in the settings menu of the phone app. On the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge (and probably the S5 too once the update arrives) just open the phone app, hit 'more' in the top right corner, 'settings' and then scroll to the bottom of the list to turn on.

Your handset will then automatically switch to Wi-Fi calling when it connects to a saved network.

What does it cost?

Nothing! Well, nothing additional on top of your phone contract and home internet bill. The same goes for O2's TU Go and Three's InTouch, which are free apps customers can download and use.

It's worth noting if you've not got unlimited calls or texts, calls and messages made over Wi-Fi on EE and Vodafone will come out of your monthly allowance.

When first watching the new Three ad, you could be forgiven for thinking it's nothing more than a new campaign, combining a Henson Muppet with an East 17 track.

A simple tale of a fluffy monster that battles back from adversity to start a revolution. Brilliant times, right?

Wrong.

There's a secret lurking behind the whole thing. Watch it once and you'll miss it, but watch it 37 times and you'll notice that there's a lot going on you haven't realised.

Purple is meant to be on some desolate US streets at the start. It's a nod to New York, but the sign for 'Plato's Retreat 2' is an advert for a slightly dodgy club in Fort Lauderdale, which shut down in 2006.

The cars are driving on the left, yet outside Mount Montrose that's clearly a US number plate – despite the doorman being English.

OK, so Purple is short, but a dog won't randomly attack a stranger and grab his umbrella. Was he poking him, goading the dog into the attack?

And the dog seems to belong to the chap on the phone – so why isn't he turning? Is he aware… or simply a part of the scenery?

It's a little unclear, but that sounds like a Devonshire accent on the Dad, despite them clearly being on a mid-west farm.

After the hallucination, Purple suddenly dries in a second, and the rain stops. Something happened here – and it's a clear sign of what's REALLY going on.

Sure, losing your ice cream is a terrible thing to happen. But slow things down and you'll realise something – she only starts crying when Purple shows up. Is he a portent of something bigger?

Sorry for being HUMAN, but if I'm leading cheers while dressed in skin-tight Spandex and shaking my pom-poms and I hear a scream behind me, I'd turn around to see what's what. The crowd's heads would definitely turn as well.

Then Purple turns up. Nobody looks at him either.

Purple isn't helping the couple in jeopardy. If anything, he's making it worse, by not shifting his weight back and helping counter-balance the stricken auto.

In fact, why is he on the car at all, and suspiciously near the brake cable?

In what looks suspiciously like a British kitchen (that's Hartley's jam in the fridge), there's a snake. Nothing weird there, perhaps. Zoos have breakouts all the time.

But look at the back door. It's a split one. If this lady, in her nightwear, was going to open it to have a shufty outside, she'd have only opened the top section, thus giving a modicum of serpent protection.

But someone opened it all the way. And someone just flicked their way out of the fridge at the correct moment.

Look at the front. The flames are licking up from INSIDE. Doesn't seem like it started itself, does it?

Let's ignore the fact Purple has a quad bike and is ignoring the dying man – why is that sign off centre? The way it's attached hints at two struts, but only one is in shot.

In fact, there's no hint of a second one ever being there. Something seems surreal.

I know what you're thinking. Bomb man doesn't want to cut the yellow wire as it could set off the bomb.

But it's about to blow anyway, and some part of him thinks the yellow wire could lead to salvation. Why wouldn't he take a chance?

Also, there's no chance Purple would have got away in time if the bomb did blow.

So the finale is something straight out of a fantasy. Purple, despite being the architect of so much doom in the video, is leading a troupe in a hyper-energetic dance.

The bomb dude is alive. The girl has a gravity-defying ice cream. The cheerleaders are dressed in HIS colours. The whole thing seems oddly perfect, which leads us to the only explanation:

Here's the only plausible explanation: Purple is slumped in an alleyway in Somewhere-In-The-US, his mind flashing images of pain with him escaping as he battles against the grim reality his failed attempt to 'make it' has forced him to live.

It explains why the guy on the phone didn't turn around, why the cheerleaders continued, why the couple in the car didn't beg for his help. He was the main protagonist in his own warped nightmare.

I can't handle the sadness. We've got to find a way to save him. I'm going to go and watch Inception a few times to work out how.

#savepurple

Three has announced it will launch its VoLTE (voice over LTE) service this Autumn, with September currently its target month - and that's good news for its customers.

Speaking at an exclusive event in London, Three's CTO Brin Jones explain just what the launch means for its 8.5 million customers.

First and foremost is the ability for the 4G network to carry voice calls (the clue's in the name people) which reduces the chances of dropped calls and enhances audio quality with HD voice technology.

It means your compatible handset (only a handful of top phones currently support VoLTE) doesn't have to drop to the available 2G or 3G network when you make or revieve a call. That means any application currently downloading or running in the background and continue to make use of the superfast network.

Coverage up

Part of what makes VoLTE possible for Three is the rollout of its 800MHz spectrum, which will also significantly increase its indoor and rural coverage.

It predicts an additional 3.2 million homes in the UK will benefit from this extra spectrum as it continues to address signal black spots around the country.

Additional spectrum also means there will be more space for data, allowing the network to carry more of it and thus giving you, the user, a better overall experience.

Another advantage of VoLTE is the super speedy connection times when making a call - no more waiting for the phone to connect before you hear the reassuring ringing tone in your ear.

All customers will be eligible for VoLTE at no extra charge - whether you're a pay monthly, PAYG or SIM only Three user, but as we say you need to have a compatible handset and be in VoLTE coverage.

(Note that this feature was penned before Hutchinson Whampoa, Three UK's parent company, officially sealed the acquisition of O2 from Telefonica, and as such Lynda Burton did not and could not answer questions relating to the details of the transaction).

Three UK has been a success story as far as the consumer market is concerned. Its unique selling points like unlimited 4G data on most monthly contracts, the inclusion of handset tethering and the ability to roam your entire bundle across 16 countries globally for free have made it a particularly enticing option for data hungry smartphone users.

But its B2B business has had a far more chequered journey. The company shut down its business channel three years ago and back then its B2B customer base was estimated to be only around 0.5% of the overall business.

Back on B2B form

Lynda Burton, Director of Wholesale at Three UK, is adamant that the future is bright for the company in the B2B market despite the past setbacks.

"Three as a business has chosen to focus on the consumer market, whilst the wholesale division has been tasked with serving other segments."

It now focuses on small office and home office customers (up to four connections) as well as big data-only customers. The company prides itself on being the mobile network that carries the most data – according to Enders Analysis it accounts for 45% of the UK's mobile data traffic with O2's acquisition bringing that to 60%.

Ironically, Vodafone, the biggest B2B mobile phone operator in the country, accounts for less than 10% of mobile traffic, which is a clear sign that businesses, in general, are more interested with voice and texts rather than bytes. Three's decision to give up, for now on that part of the market, may well be a wise decision as O2's purchase may prove to be a masterstroke to tackle that segment.

"We want to be the complement for fixed broadband and backup, be it in CCTV, digital signage or outdoor media," she said. As for the MVNO/MVNE segment, Three has a number of B2C MVNEs including Shebang in the UK and that number is likely to grow especially after the announcement from Dixons Carphone that it has selected Three UK as an MVNO partner.

Speaking of that particular announcement, one of the titbits that got many excited was the clear mention of M2M, which has been identified by Three as a major growth market; the company has already been making inroads with five M2M partners already listed.

Add in public sector, educational, MVNO (mobile virtual network operators), MVNE (mobile virtual network enablers) and B2B, and you get an idea of the difference in strategy of Three compared to the rest of the market – it's all about data, preferably a large amount of it.

MVNOs in particular are appealing as they offer, in Lynda's own words, "incremental margins". Three however wants to settle on fewer long-term partnerships, in other words, they are not in a rush to get partners flying through the doors.

HP DataPass: free data

Burton also mentioned one partnership with MVNE partner GlobeTouch which gives 250MB of data for two years on HP devices purchased. HP DataPass doesn't cost anything extra for the end user and is ready to be used out of the box. The reason why the DataPass works is because, in her own words, it allows the user to "roam at a cost that is understood".

Unbeknown to many, the DataPass service can be used in 11 European countries already. It is available on selected HP tablets but not on its laptops or Chromebooks. But free data for devices has not taken off as many would have expected, with the massive price difference between Wi-Fi-only and 3G-enabled devices being likely to blame.

Mi-Fi remains your most likely option if you want to access 3G/4G from your device now but it is still fiddly and not as seamless as having a ready-to-use solution. But change is underway – "2015 will be a tipping point", my interlocutor said before prophetically adding, "You can't always be an obstacle for change".

There will be a lot of development in 2016, she added, with soft SIM and a more rapid evolution of existing technologies, a trend that will coincide with the adoption of M2M in businesses and wearables as individuals.

Increasing volumes of data

What does the future bode for the industry? Expect large volumes of data transferred at high speed to become the norm in some markets, but not necessarily smart meters which are well served by low-power 2G (where Three is absent).

The conundrum of the 'connected home' will be solved by fixed broadband, not mobile and, speaking about the BT/EE acquisition, she remarked that, "There's no evidence that consumers are asking for quad play," before adding that it will be used to retain existing customers rather than bring in new ones.

A UK super-network comprising Three and O2 now looks certain to happen, with Hutchison Whampoa in agreeing a £10 billion fee for Telefonica's UK network and only regulator approval now needed for the deal to go through.

Exclusive talks have been ongoing between the two since January and the fee has now been agreed at the expected level.

With BT buying EE, the UK is looking at three 'super-networks' and a handful of virtual networks from the supermarkets and key media giants like Virgin and Sky, which use the bigger networks' infrastructure.

A "definitive agreement" had been found between the two companies, and the joined up network will become Britain's biggest should it get its approval with a whopping 49% of the UK market.

That could take as long as a year, so don't expect to see your network change on your phone just yet if you are a customer of either company.

Six months after that rumour first emerged, Three has extended its existing partnership with Dixons Carphone to launch a new mobile phone network that will roll out over the next few months.

The new group formed after the merger of DSGi and Carphone Warehouse already uses Three for its mobile broadband services.

Three remains the only major mobile phone operator in UK (and possibly in Europe) to offer unlimited data across its range.

More 'co-opetition' on the horizon

The new service will bring "innovative and highly personalised connectivity options" according to the press release. But it is also likely to make Dixons Carphone existing partners slightly nervous.

Oddly enough, Carphone Warehouse doesn't sell Three but the latter has big plans, with the expected acquisition of Telefonica's O2 likely to make it a big player in a pool of three super-networks (should BT succeed in acquiring EE).

Dixons Carphone's announcement is the second in less than a week of a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) launch. Sky also announced its plans to enter this crowded market last Thursday with a 2016 launch tabled.

The MVNO ecosystem in the UK is a vibrant one with more than 40 players in the market. Other big MVNO players include Tesco Mobile, Virgin Media, Talkmobile and GiffGaff.

According to an FT report, one of the growth areas identified is "smart home appliances" sold in its stores.

• Christmas is coming and BT hopes to get fat by gobbling up EE

The news that Three is set to acquire O2 from Spain's Telefonica has got everyone talking, coming as it does hot on the heels of BT's proposed buyout of EE. As was the case with the BT/EE story, assuming the O2 purchase goes through this has major ramifications for consumers and businesses.

With Three's owner, Hong Kong-based Hutchinson Whampoa in "exclusive negotiations" with Telefonica and hoping to complete the all-cash deal for a reported £10.25 billion – £1 billion of which would be deferred – Three would become the largest mobile operator in the UK. It would boast a whopping 41% market share and around 32 million customers, quadrupling in size and reducing the number of UK mobile operators to, ironically, three (joining Germany, Austria and Ireland in the same, smaller, provider boat).

Of course, due diligence needs to be done and then there's the small matter of approval from Ofcom and the European Commission, but this is a deal that looks set to go ahead – in spite of Ofcom's desire to retain a more competitive four operator market model in the UK.

Quad-play quandry

Interestingly, last week's official announcement from Hutchinson Whampoa came only a few days after it had been widely reported that Sky and TalkTalk were both considering a potential bid for O2, to compete with BT/EE across the mobile market.

BT, of course, will be planning a quad-play service – a bundle of landline, mobile, broadband and TV contracts – the dream communications package offered by BT equivalents around the world. Had Sky managed to progress the O2 purchase, it too could have offered quad-play.

As it is, they're left out in the cold while the quad-play golden goose can't be ruled out as a possible future development at a merged Three and O2. This bundle of landline, mobile, broadband and TV contracts has been growing in popularity across Europe as telecoms players look to retain customers and generate new income streams.

Many are concerned that a bigger Three will lead to price rises, ironic when you consider that some are estimating upwards of £400 million of savings by the pooling of resources, although of course there are loans to service, with HSBC Holdings reported to be standing Hutchinson Whampoa almost £4 billion to fund the purchase.

Regulations will surely come from the EU, but they are unlikely to cap prices. The Daily Telegraph reports that Hutchinson Whampoa owner Li Ka-shing would perhaps see price rises as a fair reward for having suffered a decade of losses – currently standing at more than £10 billion – as a result of paying 'over the odds' (£3.6 billion) for a 3G licence in 2000, when what he really needed was a 2G network.

Three came too soon to market with its 3G service, at the time compromised by patchy coverage and bulky, pre-iPhone 3G handsets, and there was little demand for mobile internet at the time.

Rising tariffs

It's too soon to compare the similarly shrunken markets in Germany and Ireland, but Austria has seen a sharp increase in pricing, almost certainly as a result of less competition, with Telekom Austria, their market leader, raising its tariffs for smartphone users by almost 50% in 2014.

Of course, European operators would all say this is only fair after being hit hard, collectively, by customer-friendly price cuts brought on by stiff competition across the region – low margins which compare unfavourably to the US, where only two huge operators dominate the market. They would like, says the FT, to increase profits in order to provide new services for customers, which could of course come at a high cost for those monthly bills, whether you want the new services or not.

In the meantime, the O2 brand is set to fade away ("wherever the O2 logo once appeared, you will soon see the Three logo" runs the spiel), in much the same way that Orange, Cellnet and One2One did, with T-Mobile still sort of existing as a sub-brand of EE (still visible if you use a dongle, as a previous T-mobile customer, for instance) and EE itself is perhaps set to go the same way as part of BT. And, of course, regardless of Mr Li's intentions, fewer providers inevitably means less competition, and almost inevitably higher prices.

But what are Three and O2 telling their customers about the buyout? Unsurprisingly, they are both on message, with the same key statements on both providers' websites. There is to be no change to contract or customer service.

The two companies also hint at improved coverage – "Over the next few months, we'll continue to invest in building a state-of-the-art 4G network which will ensure even better coverage right across the country". Also, there's mention of increased broadband speeds: "Our combined capabilities mean we're equipped for the fastest possible rollout. This will create a super-fast network for all our customers providing even faster broadband speeds". It remains to be seen if this is all hot air, of course, and what, if anything, it will cost the customer.

Those O2 customers registered for Priority Tickets will still receive notifications and be able to acquire presale tickets for 3Arena, so it'll be interesting to see if this is rolled out across the Three customer base, or quietly retired. And O2 Money customers will see no changes to their accounts.

A changing market

What's clear from all this takeover talk is that the UK mobile market is unlikely to ever be the same again. This won't be the last buyout or merger, and we can expect more BT/EE-style couplings too, perhaps involving Sky or Virgin Media – who would both love to be able to join the quad-play party – if credit ratings outfit Standard & Poor's is to be believed. They expect to see additional 'fixed-mobile' combinations in the mould of BT-EE, as companies look to add revenue and synchronise costs.

International Business Times' Edmund Shing reckons any merger action could involve Vodafone next, with AT&T, China Mobile, Softbank Mobile (formally Vodafone Japan) and US mobile operator Sprint all likely suitors. But Vodafone could also look to turn poacher, with Vodafone CEO Vittario Colao stating that he'd push Vodafone towards consumer broadband if BT moved into mobile.

Considering this statement was made days before it was confirmed that BT was in talks to buy O2, last autumn, and considering which company BT ultimately moved for, it shows what a fast moving industry the mobile market currently is.

Anything, it seems, is possible, and there are likely to be more 'twists and turns', as Sky pundits and Premier League managers like to say, before we have a crystal clear picture of where the market is heading – although it's a pretty good bet that we'll see higher prices before long, and I wouldn't rule out Sky getting involved somehow.

A UK super-network comprising Three and O2 could be on the cards, with Hutchison Whampoa in 'exclusive' talks to buy Telefonica's UK network for around £10 billion.

With BT's purchase of EE well advanced, the UK could see its market shrink to three huge networks as Vodafone, Hutchison Whampoa compete against the grand old British telecommunications giant.

Hong Kong-based Hutchison Whampoa own the fast-growing Three network, but the addition of O2 would immediately give it massive scale.

Holding pattern

"We await the outcome of Telefónica's exclusive negotiations with Hutchison Whampoa," an O2 spokesperson told TechRadar.

"Subject to agreement as a result of these negotiations and any necessary approvals including merger clearance, this will strengthen our future as a leading, and highly trusted UK communications provider at a time when the demand for mobile connectivity has never been greater.

"Three is known for campaigning on behalf of its customers, much like O2. We are confident that an agreement will mutually benefit the customers of both companies, as well as drive better value, quality and investment in one of the most digitally competitive countries in the world."

It looks like Sky is putting itself forward as a possible merger or collaboration partner for the O2 mobile network.

With O2 on the market a number of potential buyers have come forward. Most recently Three UK's parent company, Hutchison Whampoa, revealed that it is in talks over buying the company for around £9 billion.

Sky has apparently been looking to offer its own mobile phone services along with its other landline phone, TV and broadband services, much like its competitors Virgin Media and TalkTalk.

However it appears unlikely that Sky would outright buy O2, and instead would be looking to collaborate with another company.

Sky previously looked at working with Vodafone, and although the collaboration has been successful - sky invited 200,000 of its UK phone and broadband customers to trial Vodafone's Mobile Virtual Network Operator service - it looks like Sky could be looking at another potential ally to take control of O2.

We've contacted Sky for comment, and we'll update if we hear more.

• Three owner eyes a bid for O2

Via ISPreview

Hong Kong-based tycoon Li Ka-shing - owner of the Three network - is planning a £9 billion bid for O2, according to reports. Talks are said to be at an early stage between Telefonica, which owns O2, and Li Ka-shing's Hutchison Whampoa, which runs the Three network.

It seems clear that Telefonica is looking to get O2 off its hands as quickly as possible - back in November there was speculation that BT and Three were both in negotiations to take over the network. O2 was originally spun off by BT in 2001.

That rumoured £9 billion would get Li Ka-shing and Hutchison Whampoa the second biggest network in the UK, currently boasting close to 24 million subscribers. EE has over 26 million in total.

Across the spectrum

Besides customer numbers, there's also a battle for a larger slice of the UK's mobile phone spectrum going on. This is another area where EE, owned by Orange and Deutsche Telekom, trumps O2.

If O2 were to combine its spectrum frequencies with Three then it would be able to get a lot closer to the amount of bandwidth owned by EE. It would also overtake its rival in terms of customer numbers (Three has around 10 million subscribers at the last count).

This isn't the first time we've heard talk of Three eying up O2 either, with a similar report surfacing back in December 2013.

We contacted Telefonica (O2's parent company) about these rumours and were given a firm "no comment" from a spokesperson. We've also asked Three for a comment and if we get a response we'll report it here. With BT now in preliminary talks to take over EE, 2015 is set to see a big shake-up in network ownership.

• Why not treat youself to a new phone? Check out our best phone deals of the week

You're a Spotify streaming, Sky Go-ing, YouTubeing modern man or woman, so of course you want a 4G phone.

But could you end up paying a fortune for data allowances you don't use, or hitting a download cap because you haven't ordered enough?

If you're baffled by bandwidth or don't know how much you'll download, we can help.

Who offers what?

To keep things simple we'll compare SIM-only 4G plans, because phone subsidies make it really difficult to compare different providers' pay-monthly plans. Of course data is data whether your contract is SIM-only, pay as you go or pay monthly.

EE's cheapest 4G plan is £9.99 per month for 250MB of data, rising to £12.99 for 500MB, £15.99 for 2GB and £21.99 for 5GB. The most expensive plan is £27.99 per month for 10GB.

Those plans all include texts and calling too. If you just want a data SIM for a tablet you'll pay £10 per month for 1GB or £15 for 3GB.

Vodafone starts at £14 per month for 500MB, rising to £17.99 for 1GB, £22 for 3GB, £27 for 6GB and £32 for 10GB, and again those plans include calls and texts. Data-only plans start at £10 for 1GB and then it's £15 for 3GB, £21 for 5GB and £26.00 for 8GB.

O2 charges £13 per month for 500MB, £16 for 1GB, £20 for 2GB, £24 for 5GB and £30 for 8GB. For data only it's £8 for 500MB, £10 for 1GB, £15 for 3GB, £20 for 5GB and £25 for 8GB.

Three starts at £7 per month for 500MB. £10 gets you 2GB and £15 gives you either 4GB or "all you can eat data" depending on the plan you choose.

All you can eat is effectively unlimited at home and also gives you up to 25GB of data use when you roam in a "feel at home" location abroad, although that roaming doesn't cover you for personal hotspot use. For tablets, Three charges £5 per month for 250MB, £7.50 for 1GB and £15 for 10GB.

Great. But can you actually get 4G?

You might have noticed that O2 calls its 4G plans "4G ready" and Three promises 4G at no extra cost where it's available.

That's because 4G isn't everywhere yet, and of course there's no point in paying for a package if you can't use it. If you're considering a 4G plan don't just check coverage for your home: check where you work and play, and where you tend to travel to or commute.

Make sure you compare like with like, too: coverage maps typically differentiate between indoor and outdoor coverage, and some areas get the latter but not the former.

Okay. How much data do I actually need?

That very much depends on what you do. If all you use your phone, tablet or tethered computer for is checking email, browsing the web and fighting people on social media you'll barely use data at all. If you're streaming HD movies, you'll use loads.

It's important to think about what you will do rather than what you currently do. You might not do much streaming at the moment over 3G, but you may well do with a whizzy 4G connection.

Here are some numbers to think about:

Music streaming (average quality, 160Kbps): 1.2MB per minute, 72MB per hour
Music streaming/downloading (320Kbps): 2.4MB per minute, 144MB per hour
iPlayer video: 50MB to 225MB per hour
Netflix video, SD: up to 0.7GB per hour
Netflix video, HD: 1GB to 2.8GB per hour
Photo uploading: 5MB per photo
Online gaming: 5MB per hour
[sources: Spotify, BBC, Netflix, Verizon Wireless]

What does that mean in practical terms?

Let's take a real-world example: you stream an episode of your favourite sitcom on the train (50MB), check Twitter whenever you're waiting for the lift (2MB), upload a photo of your lunch (5MB) and stream a few songs as you jog around the park for twenty minutes (24MB at average quality).

That's 81MB in one day. Keep it up every weekday and you'll go through 1,620MB (1.6GB) in a four-week month - and that doesn't include any incoming emails or smartphone app updates.

Maybe you're not so keen on streaming but you're a social media addict. You average five photo uploads per day (5MB each) and spend around 15 minutes a day clicking on people's Facebook updates and photos (5MB in total). That's 30MB per day, which works out at 840MB if you do it every day in a four week month.

Perhaps you just want to use your 4G phone to tether your laptop, browsing around 30 web pages per day. The average web page is now 1MB, so that's 30MB per day or 900MB per month.

According to Vodafone's figures, which use slightly different numbers to ours, if you don't stream anything but make 12 social media posts, send or receive 12 emails and use 12 websites or apps every day, you'll use 510MB per month. Add 12 minutes of streaming music and 12 of streaming video and you're looking at 2.09GB.

Fancy busting through the 8GB barrier? To do that, Vodafone reckons you'd need to stream 36 minutes of video, 120 minutes of music, make 48 social media posts, send and receive 56 emails and look at websites or apps 30 times per day.

You can minimise those numbers, of course: you might download your music for offline listening, or use Wi-Fi wherever you can (EE, O2 and Vodafone all offer Wi-Fi minutes as well as mobile data).

But the numbers give you a good indication of just how much data you might need for everyday activities. As you can see, you don't need to be downloading enormous amounts of data to exceed the cheaper plans' limits.

The four major UK networks - EE, O2, Vodafone and Three - have agreed to tackle areas of the country that currently experience patchy coverage.

While these 'not spots' may enjoy coverage from one or two networks, the aim is to have them fully covered in just over two years. All four networks will increase full coverage from 69% to 85% of areas by 2017, halving the areas affected by patchy coverage if it proves successful.

Additionally, total blackout spots will be reduced by almost two thirds, according to the proposal which will see £5bn invested into the infrastructure by the networks.

Notworks

Just last month we reported that this initiative was being considered, so we're pleased that it's come into effect so quickly.

"Too many parts of the UK regularly suffer from poor mobile coverage leaving them unable to make calls or send texts," said Culture Secretary Sajid Javid in a statement.

"Government and businesses have been clear about the importance of mobile connectivity, and improved coverage, so this legally binding agreement will give the UK the world-class mobile phone coverage it needs and deserves."

The Nexus 6 is even more impressive than past Nexus phones, thanks to a massive 5.9-inch 1440 x 2560 QHD display, a 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 13MP camera, a beastly 3220 mAh battery and a stylish new design.

So, if you want to know exactly where you can get one, when you can get it and how much it will cost, read on.

Google Play

Google Play is the obvious place to buy the Nexus 6, especially if you want it SIM-free. It's not cheap though, with the 32GB model setting you back £499, while 64GB of storage sees the price rise to £549.

The Nexus 6 did come into stock briefly, but Google sold out of its initial inventory in double quick time and the current message on Google Play reads "we are out of stock. Please check back soon."

Want some good news? When it does come back in stock you can choose from Midnight Blue and Cloud White.

Motorola

You'll be able to buy the Nexus 6 from Motorola's website where it will in all likelihood cost the same as on Google Play, but while it is available via Moto in the US, the UK site currently has no sign of the handset.

Vodafone

Vodafone is selling the Nexus 6 on a range of contracts, with delivery estimated at 1-2 weeks.

You can pick the Nexus 6 up for free on two year contracts starting of £44.50 per month, which gives you unlimited calls and texts and 7GB of 4G data, plus 24 months of Now TV, Spotify or Sky Sports Mobile TV.

If that monthly price is a little steep, pay £19 upfront to reduce the monthly outgoing to £39.50 while the monthly data allowance is still a reasonable 4GB.

O2

O2 has started selling the Nexus 6, and for anyone who picks it up before December 18 you'll get a free handsets, unlimited calls and texts and 2GB of data on a two year contract at £38 per month.

giffgaff

giffgaff, the network that piggybacks off O2, also has the Nexus 6 in the stock room, and it can be yours for free from £32.85 per month for two years.

That will give you 500 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of 4G data, and you'll be rocking the 32GB, Midnight Blue handset. It's also available unlocked for £499.

EE and Three

It doesn't look like either network will be selling the Nexus 6, and Three has told us that it has no plans to sell the Nexus 6. We'll update this if that changes, but for now EE and Three fans are out of luck.

Carphone Warehouse

Carphone Warehouse has the Nexus 6 on pre-order, with the handset expected to arrive on doorsteps from December 8.

Caphone is offering the 32GB for £34.50 a month for two years with no upfront cost. This comes with a Vodafone contract with 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB 3G mobile data. You can also buy the handset without a SIM for £499.

The 64GB model can also be pre-ordered for £39.50 a month with a Vodafone contract with 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of 3G data. You'll need to pay an upfront cost of £29.99. The SIM-free version of the 64GB handset will set you back £549.

Online retailers

Unlocked-Mobiles has opened pre-orders for the 32GB Nexus 6 at £499.99, and it's expected to ship from December 22.

Clove also has the 32GB Nexus 6 available for pre-order at £499, and once again stock is expected on December 22.

If you want to saw a couple of pounds then head over to Expansys where the 32GB, Midnight Blue Nexus 6 is on pre-order at £497.99.

• After a new slate as well? You could do worse than consider the Nexus 9.

Over the last week it's become clear that BT is considering a return to the mobile market, either by buying back the O2 network or making a bid for EE.

According to Reuters, these discussions have peaked the interest of Hutchison Whampoa, the owner of Three Group, which runs the Three network in the UK. Several sources have stated that Hutchison could put in a bid for either O2 or EE by the end of the year.

EE is the UK's biggest network, owned by Orange and Deutsche Telekom, and would command a higher asking price than O2, which was spun off from BT back in 2001. BT is reportedly making a decision in the coming weeks, although interest from Three could spur further negotiations.

O2 is currently the second bigest network in the UK with 22 million subscribers. It doesn't own as much spectrum as EE, but a pairing with the Three network would give it a substantial platform to challenge EE.

• A 5G mobile spectrum might not be that far away

Research from Ofcom has thrown up some interesting results when it comes to the network speeds of the UK's major players.

EE might have the faster downloads, and the most coverage, but Three offers the fastest mobile browsing experience and the lowest latency for video calls.

The regulator tested mobile coverage and quality of service from EE, O2, Three and Vodafone in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Glasgow. Around 210,000 tests of both 3G and 4G were carried out to determine exactly what each network can offer.

Need for speed

EE and O2 both offer faster than the 15.1Mbit/s average 4G download speed with 18.4Mbit/s and 15.6Mbit/s respectively. Vodafone can boast 14.3Mbit/s while Three brings up the rear with 10.7Mbit/s.

Conversely though, Three's 4G network is able to load a web page in 0.62 seconds with EE only managing it in 0.76 seconds. Vodafone and O2 were equal on 0.82 seconds.

Given its head start on rollout, EE is able to offer the highest proportion of coverage across the country, reaching 70 per cent as of October 2014. Vodafone and O2 are again tied at 51 per cent coverage, while Three doesn't even register on the chart.

The report closes with a prediction by Ofcom that 4G will be available to 98 per cent of the UK population by 2017 at the latest. You can find the full report right here.

• 4G and LTE: Everything you need to know.

The government has taken the first step towards eliminating poor mobile coverage for the fifth of the population currently affected by a lack of bars on their smartphones.

The Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid has launched a consultation around four legislative options: national roaming, infrastructure sharing, reforming virtual networks and coverage obligation.

He's already spoken to EE, O2, Vodafone and Three to try an find a voluntary solution, and while it appears nothing has been agreed yet talks will continue throughout the consultation.

The consultation closes on November 26, but beyond that there's no time frame on when mobile coverage may extend to those in the far reaches of the British Isles.

EE has spoken out on the consultation process, with a spokesperson for the network telling TechRadar:

"We fully support Government on the joint ambition to improve rural coverage.

"We're keenly aware that there are some parts of the UK where customers still can't get adequate signal levels and, while we're already working on some significant nationwide coverage improvement plans, we also need Government to work more closely with the industry to remove the barriers to efficiently building more signal in more places."

National roaming warning

While EE is all for improving signal in rural areas, it's wary about the Government's suggestion of national roaming, which would allow you to use another network's signal if your provided isn't available in a particular area.

"What we don't want to do is implement the flawed concept of 'national roaming'," EE told us.

"This will deteriorate network reliability for tens of millions across the UK, plus it also risks prices rising, which customers understandably won't tolerate."

We suspect most of you only have to hear the dreaded "PAC" word to get that icy chill down your spine; we all know how much of a faff jumping from one phone's network contract to another can be.

But Three and TalkTalk have formed an unusual alliance in the hope of changing things. The duo have come together and penned an open letter to Ofcom, asking for a shakeup to the rules that would make switching networks much more straightforward.

The aim is to get rid of the furore of dealing with salespeople trying to keep you hooked by offering you better deals based on a number of conditions, which is time consuming and, in many cases, just plain annoying.

PAC man

"At present there are several different processes dependant on which supplier you are leaving and which you are moving to, which causes confusion among consumers and leads to lower switching rates than other sectors," reads the letter, signed by the Chief Executives of Three, TalkTalk and the Federation of Communications Services, and LetsSaveMoney.com founder Sarah Willingham.

As it explains, providers are currently able to hide their best deals until a customer threatens to leave, so only a minority of people actually end up getting the best contracts.

"We welcome Ofcom's programme of work on switching, but ask that Ofcom delivers reform for the entire market, as soon as possible, rather than leaving whole sectors subject to further delays. It is time we delivered a switching system that puts the interests of all communications consumers first."

New measures would make for a more honest system, but who knows if Three's and TalkTalk's approach will prove to be successful.

• Upgrading could soon be easier than ever - here are the 10 best phones in the world right now

Via Gizmodo

During mid-2013 and 2014, there was a noticeable apathy in customers around the 4G proposition – consumers simply didn't feel the need to upgrade their mobile internet.

There was an initial confusion around what 4G could offer, where and when it was available and how smartphone owners could use it without hitting data usage limits.

Combined with the slow rollout of networks and infrastructure between mid-2013 and 2014, the incentive to join the '4G revolution' was weak, with consumer expectations on service and connectivity not met to the same standards as 3G. Despite a concerted push by the pacesetters EE in late 2012, the network had to admit it faced teething problems when it came to the LTE rollout.

Customer confidence was shaken with a lack of coverage, and with the majority of early on-the-go mobile browsing consisting of checking emails and reading news, the appetite for 4G didn't really exist.

Better living through 4G

EE set the tone in educating consumers on the value of 4G and the benefits in terms of improving lives through better connectivity. Recently, rich media content and online apps have become increasingly popular, sparking a greater need for 4G, but coverage was simply too confined to major cities to be a tempting proposition.

However, there has been a resurgence of late – with the addition of the Cornish town Saltash to its 4G network, EE claims to offer coverage to 75% of the UK population, over 260 towns and cities.

CEO of EE, Olaf Swantee, said: "This is a landmark in our work to bring superfast mobile internet to as many people in as many places as possible. We know the benefits that 4G offers to consumers and businesses, and we're investing heavily in areas that have not previously had good mobile or fixed line coverage where those benefits can have an ever greater impact."

Although EE is the forerunner in 4G, choosing to build its brand off the back of the 4G promise and offering the most widespread UK coverage, other players in the market such as O2, Vodafone and Three have closed the gap.

This competition has led to a heavy push of 4G from all major retailers, with an expectation that by 2015, 4G will be the only network offered in new contracts and upgrades.

Problem areas

However, all that said, the truth is the UK is still lagging behind other countries in the 4G race, both in terms of coverage availability and speed (data from Mobiles.co.uk Coverage Map):

• Australia offers the fastest average speeds of LTE, at 24.5Mbps, 9.7Mbps faster than the UK (which has an average of 14.7Mbps)
• Brazil's Claro network offers the fastest speed at 27.8Mbps, over 5Mbps faster than the UK's EE, which only reaches up to 22.7Mbps
• South Korea provides the most coverage to users with a 91% average, compared to the UK's average of 56%
• Sweden's Tele2 network offers the best coverage by individual network with 93%, compared to EE in the UK which provides LTE coverage to 73% of the population

It is clear that there is some catching up to be done, both in educating the general consumer and businesses on the benefits of 4G, as well as ensuring they can actually make full use of the network. The right 4G connection can connect businesses in rural areas with similar speeds found in urban hubs. While mobile devices become more advanced, consumers can enjoy the full use of their capabilities when combined with 4G.

With a slew of flexible and competitive 4G plans set to be offered by major retailers, and a race to provide the most UK coverage, 4G will inevitably be the future of mobile broadband, but the journey will be far rougher than previously thought.

• Jay Karsandas has been working in ecommerce retail for the past 8 years, predominantly in the Telecoms space with Mobiles.co.uk, part of the Carphone Warehouse Group. Specialising in the digital space, his expertise includes web development, search, display advertising, content, analytics and on-site conversion.

With the Galaxy Alpha Samsung is finally embracing metal and delivering a handset with a premium finish deserving of all the features that the company has packed in to it.

It looks good and compared to phones of Samsung past it looks great. But phones aren't just for looking at, they're for buying and using, so if you want to get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy Alpha here's what you need to know.

• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy Alpha

Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Alpha release date is pegged for September 12, but the price is currently unknown and will likely vary depending on network. Pre-orders are due to begin on August 28.

EE

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is now available to pre-order on EE in black or white. The network hasn't confirmed exactly when it will have the phone in stock but delivery is currently listed as 'within 28 days'. The phone is available on a number of 4G plans, with monthly costs ranging from £30.99 to £45.99.

Vodafone

Vodafone has also confirmed that it will be stocking the Samsung Galaxy Alpha and it's even talked colours.

You'll be able to buy the phone in Charcoal Black, Dazzling White, Frosted Gold or Sleek Silver on the red network, but the price is yet to be confirmed.

Three

Three has told us that the Samsung Galaxy Alpha will be available on its network, but for now we don't know the when or how much of it.

Three could be one to watch though, as it's likely to offer Samsung's new handset with unlimited 4G data.

O2

O2 has confirmed it will begin selling the Samsung Galaxy Alpha in September on its range of O2 Refresh tariffs and it's now available to pre-order in black or white with delivery for September 12 or in silver with an estimated delivery date of September 22. Prices start at £38 per month with no upfront cost.

Carphone Warehouse

Carphone Warehouse has confirmed that it will exclusively be stocking the blue version of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha at launch, as well as also having it in black, white, gold and silver.

The phone is now available to pre-order in all colours with delivery expected on September 12. Prices start at £33 per month with no upfront cost.

Phones 4u

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is also available to pre-order from Phones 4u in black, gold, silver and white, with prices starting at £39.50 per month with no upfront cost. No exact date has yet been given as to when it will be available but a sales advisor informed us that it should be in stock from early September.

• The HTC One M8 is every bit as shiny as the Samsung Galaxy Alpha.

EE is top dog once again in a ranking of network reliability, but it seems that Three might be starting to nip at its heels.

In a test by RootMetrics, EE came out as number one in every category with an overall reliability score of 90.5, with Three following closely behind with an overall reliability score of 89.9 - certainly not a bad showing from the numeric network.

In fact while EE edged the victory UK-wide, Three has the highest reliability score in Northern Ireland and Scotland and joint highest in Wales.

Comprehensive tests

These scores are awarded based on how consistently a network can carry out data, call and texting tasks in cities across the UK and are the culmination of over 900,000 tests.

So they should be fairly accurate, and a high reliability score suggests that Three has a consistently good service. It may not always be the fastest but it will get the job done.

Three also came second for text performance, mobile internet performance, speed and overall score, though it came dead last for call performance.

That's not entirely surprising as a recent report from Ofcom suggested that Three is the third best of the four networks for successfully connecting calls. But while Three certainly has work to do it does look like it's catching up with EE in most areas.

• Three will also let you roam for free.

If your business has a stack of old computer equipment in an old storage room or closet, you aren't alone. Organizations of all sizes regularly deal with monitors, PCs, printers, and mobile devices that need to be discarded. The problem? There's no easy way to get rid of old equipment.

Businesses face several challenges when removing old equipment, with stiff penalties for errors. Regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and PCI Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS) have put many businesses under fire, forcing them to ensure all data is completely removed from devices before they're sent off to recycling.

Security is only one issue you'll deal with as you seek to get your old equipment out of the way. Here are a few tips that will help you make sure you aren't hit with hefty fines and, even worse, jail time for improper disposition procedures.

Recycling programs

Whether your business is environmentally aware or not, you have about eighty-two million reasons to avoid depositing electronic equipment into landfills. Just last year, Wal-Mart was ordered to pay $82 million for violations of the Clean Water Act after the company was caught dumping hazardous materials down the drain.

While you likely won't face the level of penalties that Wal-Mart paid, there are monetary losses attached to incorrectly dumping electronics. Improper landfill disposal can result in thousands of dollars in fines, depending on the laws in your area. If that equipment can somehow be traced back to you, you may not only be facing penalties, but you may also be required to deal with the general public seeing you as a company that doesn't care about the environment.

Data protection

Another area that can incur hefty fines for businesses is security. When a company deals with consumer data on its servers, it falls under a new level of scrutiny by authorities. For organizations handling health information, HIPAA regulations require that all patient health data remain private at all times. When a piece of equipment is sent off for recycling, if data remains on it and becomes compromised, the original owner of that equipment may be subjected to fines, as well as being required to notify all affected parties of the data being compromised.

When equipment containing credit card data falls into the wrong hands, businesses may face stiff penalties. One of the most recent cases of credit cards being compromised was Miami's Total Bank, where personal information of 72,500 customers may have been accessed by a third party.

Whether through a hacking attempt, an internal employee, or lost/stolen equipment, customer data is constantly at risk. Even one misplaced laptop can cause hundreds of thousands of records to be compromised, requiring the company to notify each customer that a breach has occurred. Many states also have data breach notification laws that require businesses to pay for 12 months of credit monitoring for every customer that might have been impacted.

How to dispose responsibly

Even if a business knows the importance of recycling responsibly, learning how to get rid of old equipment is an additional challenge. The EPA offers a list of places that accept old equipment, with locations varying by the type and brand of device. Best Buy and Staples are also among big box retailers who accept old electronics, with the latter paying customers for their old equipment.

A great option for your replaced electronics is to donate them to a local nonprofit or school. These organizations may be searching for equipment like yours, so it can't hurt to ask around before you sell it or drop it off at a recycling center. No matter how you recycle your equipment, it will likely be sold or given to people who would have otherwise had to purchase new devices, requiring manufacturing processes that impact the environment.

Ofcom has just published some research into big British mobile operators, and it makes for some interesting reading.

According to the report, which looked into the quality of networks in both urban and rural areas, EE is currently the top dog with 97% of calls connected successfully over its network.

That pushes it just ahead of O2, which came in second with a 95.3% quality rate, dragged down slightly by less impressive results in rural areas.

Three wasn't too far behind that, while Vodafone brought up the rear with a total of 92.6% in quality.

4G obligation

EE, O2, Three and Vodafone are all working with Ofcom to develop a common standard for measuring call quality across the networks, the watchdog said.

Ofcom also added that all four networks are meeting the 90% coverage obligation for 3G, and that the operators have "indicated" that they intend to match O2's 98% 4G coverage obligation.

• Hands on with the cheapest 4G smartphone on the market, the EE Kestrel