EE reveals price and data limits for 4G services

Everything Everywhere has announced the tariffs and pricing for its 4G mobile broadband service, which goes live on Tuesday 30 October.

The first 4G mobile service in the country offers claimed speeds of up to five times as fast as the current 3G. EE has five tariffs for what it has called the 4G EE service.

Read more: 4G news | Tablet reviews

The cheapest will cost £36 per month with a data limit of 500MB, with the most expensive £56-per-month tariff offering an 8GB data package. Both tariffs come with unlimited calls and texts but users have to sign up for a two-year contract.

At the moment there are not many mobile phones and tablets that can make use of 4G. People who want to use the service will have to buy an Apple iPhone 5, HTC's One XL or the latest version of the Apple iPad.

Ofcom has brought forward the auction of the other available 4G spectrums and, while Apple products will not be compatible with these, other manufacturers will launch more handsets and tablets that will be.

To sweeten the pill for its customers, EE said it will make it easy for Orange and T-Mobile customers who have bought 4G-ready handsets to sign up for a cheaper, SIM-only plan, starting at £21 per month with a data limit of 500MB.

4G availability
Currently the service will go live in 10 cities around the UK including London, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Cardiff. EE then plans to have a further six cities, including Belfast and Southampton, online in the run-up to Christmas, with further cities and rural locations planned for 2013. It said its 4G service should be available to 98 per cent of the population by the end of 2014.

A series of legal arguments that delayed the introduction of 4G mobile broadband services was resolved in Early October after Government intervention. EE will still be able to launch 4G earlier than rivals but faster mobile broadband services will be available on networks across the UK by the middle of 2013

Dominic Baliszewski, telecoms expert at price-comparision site Broadband Choices welcomed the news but warned people that they should think before they sign up for a service.

"At long last, the wait is over and consumers can finally enjoy mobile broadband speeds that other countries have been enjoying for some time. But, before you jump in, make sure you are aware of the finer points when it comes to 4G, such as data allowance, and do not forget that other networks will be launching their own 4G services in 2013.

"Everything Everywhere has an excellent track record for service but more providers competing for your custom, means cheaper prices and better terms for you, so it could be worth waiting a little longer before signing up."