EE could still face delay to 4G rollout

Legal action could still prevent Everything Everywhere from introducing the UK's first 4G super-fast mobile broadband service before the end of the year.

Earlier this month, Everything Everywhere announced the launch of a new brand - EE - that will offer the 4G proposition, which is set to be rolled out to more than 20 million people in 16 cities across the country over the next three months.

However, these plans could yet be scuppered, with the Financial Times revealing negotiations between officials and the telecoms industry are very much "in the balance".

People close to the talks have warned that a delay to the launch of 4G could leave the UK's mobile communications infrastructure lagging behind the rest of the world.

Rival network operators have been critical of Ofcom's decision to allow EE to roll out 4G technology before the rest of the market.

EE already has sufficient spectrum to support the launch of 4G mobile broadband, whereas the likes of O2 and Vodafone will be forced to wait for the forthcoming spectrum auction to acquire more.

One person close to the discussions told the Financial Times that the threat of "years of litigation" still looms over the 4G plans.