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Vodafone 4G launches at the end of August in London

by Mark Tyson on 8 August 2013, 06:00

Tags: Vodafone (LON:VOD)

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Vodafone has announced its 4G network plans for the UK. The network will be launched on 29th August and will initially only be available in London. Vodafone will try and differentiate its service by offering free video or music streaming packages; you can choose from either Sky Sports Mobile TV or Spotify Premium. You will be able to get a 12 month SIM-only deal from £26 per month or a 24 month contract with 4G handset from £34 per month. Both these contracts offer a standard 2GB of data use per month. However all customers will enjoy a 'Data Test Drive' for the first three months of their contracts with unlimited 4G data on offer.

Vodafone 4G areas

As mentioned above the initial launch area will be London. However, in the shortish-period to the end of the year, Vodafone says that the following cities will get coverage; Birmingham, Bradford, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield. Furthermore Vodafone will bring indoor 4G coverage to 98 per cent of the UK population "over the next couple of years."

Vodafone 4G differentiation

Vodafone has put some thought into making its new 4G service 'special' and people signing up for the service will get a choice of sports or music media content to enjoy over their new fast 4G connections. Vodafone has partnered with Sky Sports and Spotify and these are the streaming media options you can choose from to enhance your contract.

The sports content will consist of "over 150 hours of live Barclays Premier League action on Sky Sports Mobile TV". If you like football that might be a great choice for you. Alternatively you can choose a free subscription to the Spotify Premium service and "Get instant access to millions of songs from your favourite artists when you’re out and about". These 'Red' media streaming bundles will be launched on 12 August, earlier than the 4G service itself as they are compatible with 3G streaming.

Watch the small print

Looking through the small print I noticed that the 12 month SIM-only and the Red 4G-ready plan, starting from £34 a month, customers will only get the free streaming media bundles for the first 6 months of their contracts. After that period users "are then charged at £4.99 per month for Sky Sports Mobile TV or £9.99 a month for Spotify Premium" but can cancel at any time. This in addition to the three month unlimited 'Data Test Drive' seems to make Vodafone's price plans a bit convoluted.

Vodafone 4G price plans 12 and 24 months

I've embedded images showing Vodafone's proposed price plans below. These pretty much speak for themselves. Remember that on some of Vodafone's deals the free streaming services come to an end after 6 months. Only the Red 4G-ready L plan, starting at £39, and the Red 4G-ready XL plan, starting at £44 get free streaming service for the lengths of their contracts.

12 month plans with and without free handset, above

24 month plans with free handsets, above



HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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As is traditional with Vodafone - more expensive than their rivals. EE are around £3-£4 cheaper on the 24 months plans, so it's really interesting that Voda have decided not to (or that they can't) compete on price, so I guess they must be going for service levels.

I will be curious how their network performs - I get an avg of 38-42meg on a speed test with EE; with Voda being more of a premium phone provider, will we see better average speeds I wonder?
Its expensive and I wont go with them however I will say that im glad Vodafone shows a bit of understanding with regards to 4G as they have doubled the data allowance compared to the non 4g tariffs, in a way there is no price difference! Its all moved by one tariff which is good if you already pay that much and can justify it etc etc.

Vodafone and EE wont be getting my money when I eventually upgrade my Nexus 4 (only if it dies as I cant fault it enough to consider upgrading!) however Three will be my first port of call as its cheap and very fast, Three in my area seems very solid cant fault it much faster speeds than any other network :).
Yeah I'm waiting for Three's 4G. Would be welcome since I've now unfortunately lost all landline broadband :(
Having said that, it's generally faster than what I was stuck with before..
That's…actually not bad value, especially when you compare the SIM only plans. Still gonna wait 18 months or so until they drop the price some more, but still!