4G network auction 'will deliver home broadband speeds to your mobile'

The Telegraph Consumer Technology Editor explains why it is good news that 4G may finally be on its way.

Smartphone and tablet users are poised to gain access to super-fast 4G services by the end of next year after Ofcom unveiled plans for Britain's largest ever auction of airspace for mobile services.

The telecoms regulator said the auction of spectrum for 4G services would get under way by the end of the year, paving the way for next-generation mobile services to be rolled out in 2013.

Ofcom said the plans should see 4G services, which deliver much higher mobile data speeds to phones and other wireless devices, reach at least 98pc of the population in villages, towns and cities across the UK.

Matt Warman said he expected the auction to bring in up to £4 billion to the Treasury. Whilst this figure is significantly less than the £22.5bn the 3G auction raised for the government, it should mean that the cost savings are passed on to consumers, according to the Telegraph Consumer Technology Editor.