Press Release | 15 Oct 2014

4G BOOST FOR VODAFONE CUSTOMERS

Vodafone UK today began the roll-out of a new technology which will help boost customers’ existing 4G mobile service by allowing more users to experience ultra-fast speeds.

The new technology, called Carrier Aggregation but also referred to as LTE Advanced or 4.5G, allows Vodafone to combine its unique portfolio of radio spectrum to provide higher average speeds to more simultaneous users, including indoors where 70 per cent of customers use their mobile device most.

Vodafone is rolling out the enhanced technology from this month in Birmingham, Manchester and London and to other UK cities during the rest of this year and 2015.

Carrier Aggregation is particularly well suited to Vodafone’s 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum, which the company secured in last year’s auction. Low frequency 800MHz spectrum travels further and penetrates better through walls to provide the best network coverage. 2.6GHz is ideally suited to smaller geographical areas of high population density.

Vodafone research shows that customers value a consistent, high-speed 4G service in-building as well as outside and that they are increasingly streaming videos, emailing, accessing the web, as well as making and receiving calls from lunchtime through to early evening from their desk or sofa.

Vodafone UK Technology Director, Fergal Kelly, said: “This clever technology is the next big step to deliver faster speeds per user and to increase the capacity so more customers can enjoy a great 4G experience when and where they want it.”

The rollout of carrier aggregation is part of £1 billion Vodafone is spending on its network and services across the UK this year. It follows the nationwide provision of HD (High Definition) Voice technology and the Vodafone Rural Open Sure Signal programme aimed at giving remote communities 3G coverage for the first time.

Technical Note to Editors
Carrier Aggregation will deliver theoretical peak speeds of up to three times greater than existing 4G speeds based on the 800MHz band. It is especially helpful when used to leverage a low frequency and high frequency pairing. For example, the low frequency component gives customers a more reliable indoor service and the higher
frequency ensures greater peak speeds and capacity.

Customers will need a compatible mobile device to experience Carrier Aggregation, however, the majority of handsets support both 800Mhz and 2.6GHz so will be able to immediately benefit from the different
characteristics each spectrum offers.

About Vodafone UK

Vodafone UK is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed-line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK’s first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK’s first live holographic call using 5G in 2018. We were the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester and now have 5G in locations across Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain as well as the UK. Meanwhile, our 4G network coverage currently reaches over 99% of the UK population.

Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. Vodafone is the largest provider of full fibre in the UK – our superfast broadband services are now available to nearly 12 million homes across the UK.

Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do: as of 1 July 2021, 100% of the grid electricity we use in the UK is certified to be from renewable sources.

For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk.

Vodafone UK Media Relations

Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 693 693

Email: ukmediarelations@vodafone.com

Twitter: @VodafoneUKNews

Website: https://vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/

Vodafone Limited

Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN

Registered in England No: 1471587