Sites with the greatest demand will be upgraded first with the 14.4Mbps capability. Busy areas of London, Birmingham and Liverpool have already received upgraded sites and the roll out will continue across the UK on an ongoing basis.
The upgrade to the network does not require customers to buy new devices. Over 80% of all Vodafone datacards, dongles and 3G handsets can take advantage of the improved network thanks to the improved quality of service and reliability that 14.4 Mbps brings.
“Customers trust us to deliver a mobile network that they can rely on – wherever they are and whether they are individuals, or a small, medium or large business,” says Jeni Mundy, chief technology officer, Vodafone UK. “Today’s network upgrade means customers can be reassured we’re consistently enhancing the quality of our network in response to demand.”
Customers’ average speeds will vary depending on the strength of signal they have and the number of people using the same cell site. Whilst 14.4 Mbps is the theoretical peak rate, customers can expect to see typical speeds of anything between one and four Mbps with a practical maximum speed of 10.8 Mbps.
Vodafone UK has also made significant improvements to the mobile broadband coverage viewer, to help customers get better, more transparent information about 3G and mobile broadband coverage online.
For the first time, customers will be able to see both indoor and outdoor coverage when typical industry coverage maps just display outdoor coverage. Vodafone is continually improving network coverage and performance and the coverage maps updated weekly with the latest information, also show planned coverage improvements within a 12 month window. In addition, there is a simple feedback tool to allow customers to directly feed into Vodafone’s future coverage plans.
The introduction of 14.4 Mbps capability is the latest step in Vodafone’s commitment to providing its customers with the best possible network. Last month Vodafone UK introduced the Vodafone Access Gateway. The first of its kind in Europe, it is a neat box, similar in size to a router that plugs straight into any home broadband line to boost customers’ signal in the home. Later this year Vodafone UK will add additional devices to its mobile broadband portfolio which are designed to maximise the benefits of 14.4 Mbps and future mobile broadband network enhancements.