Earlier this month, Orange became the only mobile operator in the UK to commit itself to upgrading its current GPRS packet data services to higher speed connections based on Enhanced Data-rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology.

EDGE will provide roaming workers with an estimated 100-200kbit/s of mobile data bandwidth in the vast swathes of Britain where faster third generation (3G) data services are currently unavailable. Whilst EDGE services should deliver more bandwidth for email, web browsing and file transfer from notebook PC than GPRS, experts warn that the data rates quoted could prove optimistic.

"The general rule of thumb is to take vendor/operator top bit rates and halve them," warned John Delaney, principal analyst with research firm Ovum.

Whatever the speed, the faster data rates will cost no extra than current GPRS services, according to Orange spokesperson Stuart Jackson, whilst availability will expand from 300 base stations to 1,500 by the end of 2006. To prevent customers enjoying the benefits of lower cost mobile broadband all the time, however, EDGE connections will not be available in areas already covered by Orange’s 3G network, only where a 3G signal is unavailable.

“The 3G rollout is still the main focus for Orange. EDGE is an add-on for customers, which we knew we could do quickly, and pushes further into rural locations that aren’t currently covered by 3G and are unlikely to be for some time,” said Jackson.

Orange’s commitment to a nationwide EDGE rollout was well telegraphed by a series of regional trials and pilots. But whilst the other three UK mobile operators with a GSM/GPRS infrastructure in place (3 has only a 3G network) all trialled EDGE, none have decided to deploy the technology as a commercial service.

Despite ongoing problems with 3G coverage - it is virtually pointless attempting to gain a 3G signal outside the UK's major cities - O2, Vodafone and T-Mobile are all committed to expanding their 3G networks over the next five to ten years, and have no plans to upgrade GPRS data services in areas of non-3G coverage in the meantime.

"3G offers the best infrastructure for delivering high speed data. Vodafone UK already offers data rates of 384kbit/s to 72 percent of the UK population and coverage is continually expanding," said Vodafone head of data services, John Lillistone. "Coverage is well on track to meet license requirements of 80 percent population coverage by the end of December 2007."

Mike Short, vice president for research and development for O2, estimates that for O2 at least, the cost of rolling out EDGE services did not justify the benefits it would provide either for the operator or its mobile customers.