Everything Everywhere has announced it could begin rolling out super-fast 4G mobile broadband services this year, subject to regulatory approval.

The network operator, which controls the Orange and T-Mobile brands, revealed it is set to undertake additional trials of 4G technology across the UK as it looks to "lay the foundation for a new digital backbone for Britain".

From April, the country's first 1,800MHz 4G mobile broadband pilot scheme will take place in Bristol, giving Everything Everywhere the opportunity to discover more about the performance of the service over its existing spectrum in both urban and rural areas.

The initiative will complement the carrier's live trial of 4G via 800MHz spectrum, which launched in rural Cornwall in September 2011 and is due to run until this July.

Conducted in partnership with BT, the Cornwall project has seen wireless broadband rolled out to 180 residents in and around St Newlyn East.

Ofcom recently agreed to extend the project's licence, giving the two telecoms firms the chance to further demonstrate that mobile and fixed broadband technologies can be combined to bring faster internet to remote and isolated communities.

It has already illustrated the effectiveness of the 800MHz spectrum band in rolling out 4G to rural areas.

At the same time, Everything Everywhere announced it is set to complete the deployment of 3.5G technology across its network during the third quarter of 2012.

The upgrade, which has already been rolled out to 60 per cent of the network, is capable of delivering a data download speed boost of around 50 per cent, while upload rates are up to 100 per cent faster.

Olaf Swantee, chief executive at Everything Everywhere, said: "Everything Everywhere's vision is to launch 4G for Britain as soon as possible and the rollout of 3.5G HSPA+ and our 4G trials across Britain are major steps towards delivering on that promise.

"The integration of the Orange and T-Mobile networks has already given our customers the widest 3G coverage in the UK."

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