British expats buying in to the latest 4G smartphone technology may find their new gadgets will not work in many European countries.
The European Commission has found 14 countries have no 4G capacity – and in many other countries coverage is patchy.
In fact, 75% of 4G users cannot connect to a network in the town or city where they live and most cannot connect in rural areas.
In comparison, the US has 90% coverage.
4G is the next generation of smartphone technology that offers faster upload and download speeds.
EC vice-president Neelie Kroes sided with 4G users.
Frustrating technology
“Like them, I just want my gadgets to work. Even in Brussels, my phone stops working because the city only has a 3G network. It’s frustrating to pay for technology you cannot use.”
Sweden, Germany and Estonia have the widest 4G roll-out.
Network coverage is so bad; Europe only has 5% of the total global user base signed up for 4G.
“4G may work when you are at home, but it’s no good at all to have a mobile technology that cuts out when you are travelling on business or on holiday,” said Kroes.
“If you are paying premium prices for 4G, then you have the right to expect the service to work wherever you are.”
The problem in Europe is not enough of the network spectrum needed to run 4G properly has been freed up in every country.
3G phones on 4G Sim cards
Although the EC freed up data connections for 4G, each European Union member nation controls the spectrum – the allocated wavelength for wireless connections – and some are moving faster than others to license networks.
Consumers are also confused about 4G – will 3G phones just need a new Sim card to work on the 4G network or will handset and tablet users have to invest in yet another round of new technology gadgets?
Pricing is also an issue between countries – with the EC pointing out 4G costs are as much as 50 times higher in some countries than others.
“Infrastructure costs are a problem in many nations,” said Kroes. “The cost of licensing has left many operators short of cash for implementing the networks, which is delaying the roll out.”
As a result, the EC is reviewing the national auction and licensing strategy for mobile communications. As government s are charging so much to try to fill budget deficit holes, Europe is lagging behind the rest of the world in the spread of 4G which, they say, is damaging the economy.
