EE 4G Network In UK Opens Up To Roaming Visitors

Customers of US mobile operator AT&T will be able to roam on the EE 4G network while in the UK from early next year following a deal between the two companies.

EE says the agreement makes it the first UK operator to offer such a service for international travellers and says it is in negotiations with other potential partners over wholesale agreements.

The operator claims its extensive network coverage makes it the ideal partner for foreign operators, as does its double speed service in a number of major UK cities. The EE 4G network will reach 160 towns and cities by the end of the year, far more than its rivals who launched competing services earlier this year.

EE 4G roaming

“Technology is not just shaping how people book and research holidays; but what they look for when they are choosing a country to visit,” says EE CEO Olaf Swantee. “From finding their way to local landmarks, to avoiding the Oxford street crowds by shopping on their tablet, tourists are increasingly looking for fast and reliable mobile experiences when they travel abroad.

“With the biggest and fastest 4G network in the UK, we can provide our partners’ customers with the best mobile experience to stay connected when they visit the UK.”

While the development has little direct impact on EE subscribers right now, the operator is also in discussions about providing similar arrangements for its own customers to access foreign 4G networks when they are roaming.

Those with 4GEE Extra plans receive roaming at no additional cost as part of their tariff, while rival Three also announced a deal for its customers to roam on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks in the US at no extra cost.

However, if the European Commission has its way, roaming charges would be eliminated entirely within the European Union.

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