Consumers say price of 4G net access is too high

NEARLY 40 per cent of consumers feel “superfast” 4G mobile internet access is too costly, a study suggests. Increasing numbers of smartphone and tablet users claim they cannot afford the high-speed service and believe it could lead to soaring bills, the report found.

But almost half of mobile users (48 per cent) are considering a move to a 4G-ready handset when their contracts come up for renewal, according to the comparison site uSwitch.com.

Its report revealed 38 per cent of those surveyed last month felt 4G was too expensive, compared with 31 per cent in October.

Concerns that data bills would rocket have also grown from 62 per cent to 69 per cent during that period, uSwitch said.

Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said pricing was likely to become the “new battleground” for 4G, which is currently only available with EE but will be provided by other companies later this year.

He said: “As the competition heats up, EE will certainly have to raise its game. It will be interesting to see how other providers attempt to differentiate, demonstrate value and quell consumer fears about burning through their data allowances.”