EE this week announced that its 4G coverage now exceeds that of any 3G network in the UK after it switched on 800MHz spectrum capacity at 700 cell sites across the country.
According to EE, the expanded coverage from the new spectrum is filling in 5,000 square kilometres of 4G not spots and improving indoor signal in 500,000 homes. EE said another 3,000 sites will be equipped with the low frequency spectrum before the end of 2017.
The new 800Mhz frequency 4G signal is expected to improve indoor coverage in half a million homes, plus boost superfast 4G coverage to 75% of the UK geography, benefiting our rural customers. The low frequency signal goes further than all our existing 2G, 3G and 4G spectrum, and it’s better at penetrating walls without losing quality, said EE. Rolling out 800 means we’ll reach new places, both in rural areas and in buildings.
Customers, however will need a 4G Calling-capable phone to use the new low frequency signal.
EE has also launched an innovative Network Status Checker tool, to provide real-time and personal updates to customers about network performance. Customers can set tailored alerts for places that are important to them, such as their place of work, home or home of a loved one, and they will receive personalised alerts if there are network issues.
Marc Allera, CEO, EE
Today, people think they will get mobile coverage absolutely everywhere, because as an industry we’ve talked about coverage with confusing population metrics, and language that sets the wrong expectations. Too often, the customer experience has been very different from the marketing.
