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Originally Posted by techguyone

Though in my case I'm quite hampered by the fact only T Mobile (EE) actually get a signal to me that's usable)

Well I have news for you. 4G will have more coverage from all networks than any networks' current 3G coverage, and every networks' 3G coverage will also be expanding.

I'll give you the fact that I haven't checked the latest data cap rates on 4G recently, I DO know though that when I last did, the data cap was in the region of 1GB/Month

Well, to be fair I started off paying £41 for 1GB and I can now get 10GB for £32.99 on the same network. However at the time 8GB was the max, and in fact on some networks 1GB is the absolute lowest package you can get on 4G.

which given that 4G is touted as basically wi-fi speeds out in the street, would be eaten up in a matter of days. The fact that they throw in all sorts of talk time/unlimited SMS etc etc is irrelevant. If all people cared about was basic telecoms we would all be quite happy on 2 or 2.5g phones.

Indeed, the main thing I dislike is how it's being charged as a "premium" product by forcing you to pay for unlimited calls when, well, put bluntly you can't make phone calls on 4G.

However 4G represents the biggest investment in mobile networks across the decade and a total refresh across all operators of up to 20-year-old 2G and 3G equipment. It's not cheap.

Fact is however, in my case I use a smartphone & I utilise it to its full data capacity, so when the tech comes along (4G) which is all great and whizzy, my comparison of having a ferrari with a meagre fuel ration rings true.
Just checked my android wi-fi usage stats: 20 days - 28 GB (granted outside of the house I wouldn't be needing quite that much capability...)

Well it all comes down to the person. Recent stats suggest the average user only consumes ~600MB of data per month on 3G and 1.2GB on 4G. If you consume 28GB you're way way above average and not representative of the typical user networks are going after.

I'll be very happy when the day comes that:
The country is fully 4G covered (or at least to current 2g/3g rates)
The data cap is removed or set sufficiently high that I can use data in the same way I use my wi-fi currently.

I reckon it'll be another 12 months before I'm happy in those regards

Bit longer unfortunately, that day will happen in 2015.

All networks are planning to exceed their current 3G coverage with 4G by the end of 2015. Vodafone currently have 88.6% 3G coverage. 3 and EE have around 98%.

Vodafone and O2 expect 98% indoor 4G coverage by 2015, EE and 3 are both predicting over 98% outdoor.

On the pricing/data caps side - you can already get data allowances up to 50GB on certain networks, as well as 3 launching unlimited data 4G in the next few months for as little as £12.90 a month. However, their coverage is, and will remain the lowest for now.

Actually (and I haven't checked yet) I estimate a 10GB/Month cap would be fine.

Even at 10GB you'd be eight times higher than the average user. 4G doesn't make you use more data. Doing more things makes you use more data.

However like I said, EE already offer a 20GB phone plan and up to 50GB internet-only, and 3, among lots of MVNOs, will be offering unlimited data 4G plans early next year.

Wonder how long it'll be before that translates to a £11/month sim only plan

We're pretty close already.

3's cheapest unlimited SIM only is £12.90 a month, and while 4G isn't available yet, once it comes out in "Q1 2014" it will be a free upgrade. Tesco's cheapest overall 4G plan is £10 a month.