Phone firm to unveil 4G mobile service

The operator has issued invitations for a press event to announce the "latest innovation in network technology".

The event is thought to concern 4G because 11 September is the first day regulator Ofcom said EE could offer such services.

Rivals fear the firm will gain an unfair advantage by launching first.

4G mobile technology will mean improved network access speeds even indoors and could prove a boon to rural areas where fixed line broadband speeds are poor.

EE is also expected to show off some phones that support 4G at its launch event.

The FT reported that it had signed a deal with Nokia to be a launch partner for the Lumia 920 when it is released in November. EE's 4G services are expected to be operating by that date.

EE won permission to launch 4G services in an Ofcom ruling published on 21 August. In November 2011 it asked Ofcom for permission to run the high-speed data services over part of the radio spectrum it already uses for earlier generation technologies.

Legal wrangle
Rival networks are being forced to wait to launch their 4G services as they do not have any spare spectrum to use.

All operators will get a chance to buy spectrum to support 4G in 2013 when Ofcom runs an auction to divide up the radio frequencies reserved for these services.

javascript:openNewWindow('pix.php', 'PhotoGallery','900','700');

The threat of legal action has delayed the auction and led to the UK trailing many other nations that already have fast-speed 4G services up and running.

The day after EE's launch, Apple is holding an event at which it is thought to be unveiling the next version of its iPhone. This will also be able to handle 4G but it is not yet clear if it will work with on the frequencies that EE's early services will use.