IET: Let the 4G roll-out begin
Europe’s largest engineering and technology organisation has welcomed today’s 4G announcement from Ofcom. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is confident that investment in 4G will now begin.
Prof Will Stewart, Chair of the IET Communications Policy Panel, said: “We very much welcome the completion of the 4G auction and are glad to see the wide interest amongst operators.
“In the UK we are still behind some countries in terms of 4G network technology but remain advanced in digital services and smartphone penetration. However, this is a very valuable step forward.
“In the current economic climate, the auction has raised a lot of money for government, but the costs of networks and infrastructure-related investment now need to be found to enable deployment to proceed as soon as possible.
“This will be a valuable contribution to the UK's fast broadband network development, which is vital for future economic well-being.”
The results of the 4G auction – the biggest sale of British airwaves in more than a decade – were announced by Ofcom today. Fourth-generation wireless spectrum is intended to connect smartphones to the internet at the same speed as the average broadband landline delivers to personal computers.
Ends
Notes to editors:
Interview opportunities are available with IET spokespersons.
The IET is Europe’s largest professional body of engineers with over 150,000 members in 127 countries.
For more information, visit www.theiet.org.
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Robert Beahan
Media Relations Manager
The Institution of Engineering and Technology
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0)7595 400912
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