Cornwall to kickstart UK trial of 4G

Residents in Cornwall and surrounding areas can apply to take part in the 4G trial

Everything Everywhere and BT Wholesale will partner on the UK's first customer trial of mobile 4G broadband services in Newquay, Cornwall.

The two companies will share their fixed telecommunications and mobile technology to provide wireless broadband to approximately 200 residents in the area.

The trial aims to test the application of 4G long-term evolution (LTE) as both a mobile and fixed platform, where it aims to support residents who cannot access sufficient broadband speeds in rural areas.

"We strongly believe that, by sharing our network and mobile assets in this way, we can make a valuable contribution to the economics of rural broadband services," said Tom Alexander, CEO of Everything Everywhere.

"Our work with BT is providing a test bed for new technologies such as 4G LTE which, with the correct allocation of sub 1GHz spectrum from the government, has the potential to make a real impact on the way in which we communicate in future," he added.

The trial will utilise 2 x 10MHz of test 800MHz spectrum, and will begin in September and run until early 2012.

Residents in the St Newlyn East and surrounding areas who wish to take part in the trial can register interest with Everything Everywhere and BT.