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Mobile company EE is aiming to bring 4G network coverage to 95 per cent of the UK by 2020, it has said.
The BT-owned network has also said that all of its customer service call centres will be moved to the UK and Ireland by the end of 2016, creating 600 new jobs. The decision follows a £1 million fine by regulator Ofcom for a poor quality customer service record in 2015.
Announcing the company's position on expanding coverage, CEO Marc Allera said 4G would be launched in Shetland and on the Isles of Scilly this week.
EE claimed that if it can provide 4G to all but five per cent of the UK landmass then it would provide a "near-complete" network . It says 95 per cent coverage will give 99.8 per cent of the population access to 4G.
At present the high-speed coverage in the UK is measured by reach to population, whereas EE says it is attempting to reach geographic figures instead.
At present the mobile network has around 68 per cent 4G coverage, according to communications regulator Ofcom. EE will build 750 new sites to boost its 4G coverage.
According to Ofcom, EE has the broadest mobile coverage of the UK's four major mobile operators.
In its 2015 annual repot Ofcom estimated EE's 4G network to cover 81 per cent of UK premises, while O2 covered 66 per cent, Vodafone 65 per cent and Three 53 per cent.
The government's target for all mobile operators is to achieve 90 per cent geographical coverage by 2017.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
