Member Article

4G can boost business, if rollout is complete

Odyssey Systems, the Tees Valley telecommunications business, suggests Ofcom’s early release of 4G with Everything Everywhere may be pivotal in the widespread delivery of fourth generation (4G) mobile services, ensuring the UK gets the next generation network sooner rather than later.

UK businesses rely heavily upon mobile technology and the importance of faster downloads across the country is growing in line with that greater reliance.

Telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced that it is allowing provider Everything Everywhere to use its existing bandwidth to launch 4G ahead of its rivals, allowing for an unprecedented competitive advantage, sparking fierce criticism by other mobile providers and an earlier than expected start to the network roll-out in the UK.

However, Stockton based Odyssey Systems is critical that 3G has never fully achieved its full potential with an estimated 50% availability due to limited roll out and that, for UK’s businesses to fully benefit, a full rollout of 4G is imperative.

Mike Odysseas, managing director of Odyssey Systems, said: “Ofcom is right to accelerate their plans for 4G. The job of creating a 4G network of coverage across at least 95% of the country is hugely important. Their decision will push the whole industry to roll out 4G as quickly as possible; Everything Everywhere will push their network to gain competitive advantage, whilst other operators such as Vodafone and O2 are planning to create a network tie up to better position them to build a network and will be fiercely playing catch up.

“The UK economy relies on businesses which can operate at optimum efficiency and mobile and wireless hardware and software is in place for companies to do that. I believe Ofcom have weighed up the advantages and disadvantages along with their duty to protect the interest of their customers, and have come up with an educated solution for the rapid install of the networks to allow these to achieve their potential.

“We now need to consider the cost of purchasing these 4G licences so that it doesn’t financially hinder the telecoms companies’ ability to develop the networks to their full potential, which I believe was the downfall with the 3G Network.”

www.odyssey-systems.co.uk

www.twitter.com/odysseysystems

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mike Odysseas .