EE to bring 4G to 17 new towns and cities by March 2013

Mobile operator EE is to roll out 4G networks in 17 more new UK towns and cities by March 2013.

The new locations to get access to the next generation network will be Bradford, Chelmsford, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Leicester, Luton, Newport, Reading, Rotherham, St Albans, Sunderland, Sutton Coldfield, Walsall, Watford, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton.

The deployment will take place in the first quarter of next year with March being touted as the latest date by which the networks would be up and running.

EE also promised to boost existing connections with additional masts to increase coverage in areas where the company has started 4G networks. It will also upgrade its mobile backhaul infrastructure with gigabit ethernet capacity.

Olaf Swantee, CEO of EE, said: "By the end of the first quarter of 2013, 4G will be available in 35 towns and cities across the UK, making superfast mobile accessible to thousands more customers and businesses every day.

"We're delighted with the progress of the 4G rollout we are improving the network every day, delivering superfast mobile to more and more people right across metropolitan areas.

"This has struck a chord with businesses in particular, with great demand being seen," he added.

Last week, EE switched on 4G networks in Derby, Newcastle, and Nottingham; while Belfast, Hull, Maidenhead, and Slough will be rolled out by the end of 2012.

This brings EE's total 4G coverage to 18 cities by the end of 2012 - two more than originally planned.

Earlier this week, Ofcom started the auction for 4G networks in the UK and invited mobile operators to apply to bid for parts of the spectrum freed up by the analogue TV switch-off.