Do I need a filter to protect my Freeview from Everything Everywhere 4G masts?

Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV 17th September 2012 at 12:50

Back in June 2011, we reported that Ofcom moves to protect Freeview interference from 4G mobile devices.

This week has seen the launch of the first 4G (fourth generation, also know as Long Term Evolution, LTE) mobile telephone network from Everything Everywhere - which formed from the merger of T-Mobile and Orange.

The good news is that the EE network is not using the '"800MHz band" frequencies, but the 1800MHz it previously used for mobile phones.

This means that the service, which is due to work in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield and Southampton by the end of 2012 and reach 70% population coverage in 2013, with 98% covered by 2014, will not cause loss of Freeview.

However, it is possible that EE will win part of the 800MHz band during the Ofcom 4G auction, and EE services using 800MHz will cause the predicted problems.