Squabbling mobile firms could cause year-long delay to superfast 4G phone networks

.Threat of legal action could delay launch of first 4G network, which was expected to launch within weeks

.Threat of ‘years of litigation’

.Crisis talks set to end this week that could decide is the UK falls further behind the US in the high speed mobile phone network race.

Warring mobile phone firms could delay the launch of superfast 4G mobile phone networks in the UK.

Talks between firms hoping to launch networks are ‘in the balance’, according to insiders.EE, the newly rebranded firm from Orange and T-Mobile, plans to launch its service within weeks using number of handsets including Apple’s iPhone 5.

However, other operators must wait for a Government auction to buy the spectrum needed to launch such service, which offer speeds three time faster than current 3G networks.The move to give EE an advantage has left other operators furious, and threatening legal action.This could see the entire process stalled, meaning no 4G network can be launched until the spectrum auction has been taken place – likely to be at least 12 months away.

A source close to the talks said operators were keen to bring the auction forward, and clear the spectrum needed quickly.These frequencies are currently in use for Air Traffic Control, analogue television broadcast and radio waves used for the Olympics and Paralympics.’It’s fair to say that we’re in discussions with the wider industry over 4G spectrum, but this is in an attempt to bring 4G to all UK customers, not to delay the launch of 4G,’ said an O2 Spokesperson.

 ‘As a result, we’re talking as a group about the possibility of bringing the auction forward and asking if the frequencies used in the spectrum can be cleared quickly.Experts say further delays could be devastating for consumers.’I can understand why the other networks would complain – it’s a pretty compelling reason to jump ship if you’re on another network,’ said Will Findlater, the editor of gadget magazine Stuff.’Delaying the rollout is not going to be good for consumers in general, and it would be pretty devastating.’The move would also put the UK behind other countries where 4G services have been available for several months.

People close to the talks said they were ‘hopeful’ the issues could be resolved before the end of a government-brokered month-long standstill agreement that prevents legal action as well as any 4G launch.Any delay could also have a huge impact on government finances next year given the £4bn that could be raised by the auction of 4G spectrum, according to analysts.EE, the UK’s largest mobile network with the Orange and T-Mobile brands, said this month that it wanted to launch 4G in the UK this year, but has been unable to give an exact date due to the talks.

It says that it plans to reach 16 UK cities by Christmas and 98 per cent of population by 2014.The talks are also discussing the formation of a company called MitCo that will make sure TV and other services do not interfere with 4G networks, as well as streamlining the process of planning permission for new masts needed.One person familiar with the talks told the FT there was a threat of ‘years of litigation’ remaining.In addition to fears legal action could be launched to stop EE’s 4G service, there are also concerns that litigation could affect the 4G auction, which is set to take place early next year.

Ofcom said it expects the auction process to start before the end of this year, with prospective bidders required formally to apply to take part.Those applications will then be assessed by Ofcom before the bidding phase starts, likely to be in early 2013.Mobile operators are expected to start rolling out 4G networks using the auctioned spectrum from the middle of 2013, and to start offering 4G services to consumers later that year,

SAD: Bride dies on her way to church for wedding

The day was bright, it was bright and fair. A happy day, a day of joy for Miss Bisioye Adegbite who was heading for the altar to say ‘I DO’ to his dream man.After several months of preparations with family members and friends, little did Miss Adegbite know that she would never partake in the marital vows.

According to Sunday Express, efforts of the supposed bride were ended in a ghastly motor accident shortly after she left home in a convoy of exotic cars for her church wedding somewhere in Ikeja, Lagos.Sunday Express gathered that the fatal accident that claimed the life of the bride happened on one of the major roads in Ikeja, in front of Tunde Motors.

 “We were all shocked and terrified when we noticed a white Murano SUV decorated with an ‘About To Wed’ somersaulting that fateful Saturday morning. We didn’t know what actually caused the accident. But those who immediately rushed to the scene to rescue the survivors were shocked to find the bride dead. She died immediately the accident happened on the spot. In

fact, we were told that among the occupants of the car, she was the only one who died. They had to remove her wedding gown in order to be able to retrieve her body from the mangled car that was a complete wreck”, a close family member said.

 According to the source, it was like a dream to the groom who was waiting anxiously for her arrival in order for them to begin the solemnization of their marriage in the church under the watchful eyes their family members, friends and well wishers only to be told that the love of his life had been hijacked by the icy hands of death. The man thought he was dreaming until he rushed to the hospital where he was shown the battered corpse of his darling bride by the doctor and broke down in tears uncontrollably.

 The late Adegbite, 25 until her death was a final year student of Industrial Relation at the University of Cotonou, Benin Republic, she had since being interred.