4G: Is It Really Worth All The Hype?

We should probably take network providers' promises about 4G coverage with a cellar of salt.

There have been many pivotal moments in the ascent of man.

The invention of the wheel. The discovery of fire. The ability to Sky+ entire series of Man vs Food.

Might we soon add 4G mobile data transfer to that list?

Certainly we're increasingly using our phones as a gateway to the internet.

One survey showed an average nine-and-a-half hours per user per month of access via a mobile browser.

Another claims that by 2014 mobile web usage will surpass desktop browsing.

With 4G promising download speeds that will in some cases match or better that via wifi, surely it’s a no-brainer that 4G will soon be ubiquitous.

Well, no. Not yet anyway.

Imagine if you could only make fire in certain parts of the country. Or drive your car in certain towns.

Bit useless, eh?

For the time being, that's perhaps 4G's biggest problem.

Vodafone has launched, but only in London. O2 covers inside the M25, but also Leeds and Bradford.

Both of course promise far broader 4G access in the near future.

But take a look at EE, which launched late last year. Despite enjoying a monopoly, they currently have 637,000 users - a fraction of the estimated 82.7 million mobile phone subscriptions in the UK.

EE launched 4G late last year

It covers 60% of the population, and is available in over 100 towns and cities - not exactly comprehensive.

And it's a bit of a bummer if you’re not amongst that number.

Part of EE's problem may have been the lack of competition, not to mention the 4G-capable handset required nor the premium that all three network providers charge for access to fast data on the go.

I do wonder whether people actually are crying out for this service, particularly when the companies providing it claim it’s all about downloading entertainment on the move, streaming live HD TV wherever you are, and so on.

I'm still on a 3G handset. I have little interest in live events and instead download my media when at home, via broadband.

So, when out and about, 3G covers my web browsing and I have plenty stored on my devices if I find myself having a quiet moment.

Plus, 3G is more than capable of streaming live video, as the Sky News iPhone app demonstrates.

Of course, that only applies if you have a decent 3G signal in your area. Which isn’t always the case.

And which perhaps means we should take the network providers’ promises about coverage with a cellar of salt.

Most likely, increased data usage will eventually drive people to 4G services.

In general, whilst bigger isn’t better when it comes to mobiles - faster certainly is.