e said earlier, any claims of a true 4G service in the US are false. These networks are merely late stage 3G networks (HSPA+) that will be upgradeable to 4G speeds once the technology is in place.

Overseeing all the futuristic speed is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU lists deems only two formats as “true 4G technologies”: LTE (Long Term Evolution Advanced) and WiMAX Release 2.

At present neither of these two “true 4G” networks are available. The US and Japan have LTE and WiMAX networks up and running and, in this sense, are well out in front of the UK.

T-Mobile’s US 4G network is HSPA+ at present, as is AT&T’s. Verizon’s is based on LTE, which will be upgradeable to LTEA once it becomes available. In addition to this, the vast majority of European networks have also committed to LTE, but it’ll still be awhile before we see any sort of 4G action in the UK.