Providers come at the earliest in mid-2013, with 4g networks in the Netherlands. That, says the managing director of Vodafone Netherlands. Providers are already involved with the testing of 4g, but no carrier has a 4g network rolled out.
The introduction of 4g networks in the Netherlands is still at least a year and a half wait. That, says managing director Jens Schulte-Bockum of Vodafone Netherlands on Telecom Time according to Emerce. The provider is smart to wait until a 4g network on the basis of home networking technology lte can go live. “We have too much promised. We have a very good spraaknetwerk, but were not well prepared for the massive growth of data traffic. Customers use thirty times as much data as three years ago, when we still have unlimited internet could offer. So we have 250 million per year extra in our infrastructure to stop. Actually we could do this kind of services really have to offer with lte.”
Lte allows higher up – and download speeds than the current 3g networks can. In laboratory tests pick up lte networks already 1Gbps down. Vodafone now offers 3g with a maximum speed of 28Mbps. The roll-out of a 4g network, however, requires the installation of new masts. In addition, should the frequencies be auctioned off before providers, networks are in use.
In many other countries, providers have already started using lte networks. Belgacom offers in Belgium lte services to companies. In Sweden, there is also a lte network up and running. In the United States of america the two largest providers, Verizon Wireless and AT&T, with lte networks. For both networks are now smartphones, and other hardware to obtain and Thursday at Verizon, a custom version of the Google-smartphone Galaxy Nexus.
The chance that 4g the prices for mobile internet down, seems small. According to Schulte-Bockum have discussed in the past few years mobile internet for too little money offered. “If you are a restaurant, a wine bar, are you going to not save that wine is almost free to give away. That is what we have done. Price should be important; the focus should be on the quality of services.” KPN ceo Marco Visser said Wednesday, though, that providers, their business models need to adapt due to the increased data usage.
According to Schulte-Bockum of foreign shareholders in the Netherlands look, because of the statutory net neutrality, and the changed behavior of customers, says the managing director. “We also see the tweets of politicians who still want more control. Our foreign shareholders come especially to the Netherlands to see what’s going on here is with regulation, net neutrality, the changing customer behavior and the massive sale of frequency spectrum. Our employees are wondering: is our future to be sure?”
Update, 10:29: this article was originally that Vodafone in mid-2013 and its 4g network will come out of this, but the provider has denied opposite Tweakers.net. “Jens referred to the Dutch telecoms market, through auctions at least a year and a half needed for 4g to roll,” said spokesman Joost Galema. “We still don’t know when exactly 4g services can offer.”