To 4G or not to 4G

This week we saw the unveiling of the UK's first 4G mobile network under the moniker EE. 4G will offer mobile data at roughly five times the speed of 3G but is it a good idea to jump straight in?

Firstly let's address the most controversial part of this announcement. That Everything Everywhere, already the UK's largest mobile operator, will get exclusive access to the super-fast mobile highway for up to twelve months. Monopolies are not a good thing. When a company controls a market, it doesn't need to innovate. It doesn't need to improve upon something that is already on top. They don't need to offer their product at a fair price. Why should they? It's not like you can move to a competitor.
Competition is what drives the human race forward. Competing companies must innovate. They must keep improving their product. If they take their foot of the gas they'll quickly lose ground on others. Most importantly, they must offer consumers a fair deal at a fair price. Many people complain about home broadband in the UK lagging behind a number of other countries in terms of speed but getting internet access for under £10 per month is completely unheard of in nearly every nation around the world. Entirely due to the shear number of competing broadband suppliers.

This is the first negative regarding the early adoption of EE's 4G network, (4GEE for you acronym fans). It won't be cheap and from EE's perspective, why should it be? This is the only place you can have the iPhone 5 on a 4G network. That isn't because of some exclusivity deal the mega-network have struck with Apple. The iPhone 5 features a radio that works on EE's 4G frequency but is completely incompatible with the spectrum up for auction next year.

This brings me onto the next issue at hand. The technical problems that will arise with the use of multiple frequencies. In the UK we've been lucky over the years that every handset works on every carrier's frequencies. This will change when 4G rolls out. LTE, the technology that brings us 4G speeds is notoriously complicated and around the world runs on over 40 different frequencies. Phone manufactures cannot be expected to produce phones that work on every one of these bands and they won't. Sure, you could just jump straight in with EE. The new iPhone and the Galaxy S3 work on their 4G network. However, this is the same frequency Orange and T-Mobile use for 3G. So if you're out in the countryside or inside a building, you still won't get signal. The 800MHz spectrum up for auction next year is much better suited to tackle these problems and will offer you better coverage. So you're faced with a decision; join up to 4G now and get an expensive new handset that will be incompatible with the much better suited 800MHz band or you could just wait a year. Also, when your contract with EE expires, will you want the option to take your phone to a new carrier? Tough. You're stuck with them. (Though O2 have requested to use the same spectrum for 4G as EE so you may end up with a choice between the two).

There are always drawbacks to being an early adopter of new technology. There will inevitably be many kinks that need to worked out. Usually, these early problems are outweighed by the benefits the new technology brings but if you ask me, in this case, it's just not worth it.

Chester FC: Our City, Our Community, Our Club

Whilst the majority of football fans around the country are eagerly anticipating the climax of the Premier League season, they are oblivious to a fans-owned club winning their second league title in just their second year in existence down in the lowly seventh tier of English football.

Chester FC is a club close to my heart. I've always been a Chelsea fan but growing up in Chester I went to see my local club on an almost weekly basis. Back then they were Chester City. A small town club who attracted a few thousand fans each week to watch them struggle to stay in the football league. They were never going to be a big club but they had their moments with some great cup runs. I recall being brought to tears after a 6-0 thrashing away to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.

In the late 1990s, Chester City began to really struggle. They went into administration and were later relegated out of the Football League, ending their 69 year stay. In 2001 Stephen Vaughan became Chairman of the club and after a few years grinding it out in the Conference, City were promoted back to the Football League in 2004. However, after years of financial mismanagement and irregularities at the hands of the Vaughan family, City were relegated back to the Conference and in 2009 docked 25 points for going into administration. They were £7million in debt with £5.5million owed to Stephen Vaughan.

In February 2010, Chester City were suspended from the Conference for failing to fulfil their fixtures and a month later they were wound up. It was a dark day for football fans in Chester but a day everyone saw coming. The club was run into the ground by owners who only cared for their wallets. Owners who ultimately didn't care about the club.

That's where Chester FC comes in. In the final days of Chester City, supporter's group City Fans United put in motion plans to form a new club from ashes of the former club. Chester FC would be a club owned by the fans and run by the fans. Anyone can buy a share in the club but no matter how much money you put in, you only get one share. CFU ensured the club would always be owned by the fans.

Open top bus parade in April 2012, courtesy of ChesterFC.com

In 2010, on appeal to FA, Chester FC were instated to Northern Premier League Division One North in the 8th tier of English football winning the division at the first time of asking. A solid start to their second season kept them in contention for another promotion. One defeat in their final twenty-five league games meant they ran away with the title. They will start the 2012/13 season in the Conference North and in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Chester FC are a fantastic example of how fans can run the club they love. Too many clubs are in danger of administration and liquidation. Rangers have shown that even being Champions of your nation on a regular basis might not be enough to keep the club afloat. Chester FC will never be in trouble of administration again because the fans won't let it be. They love the club and its survival is far more important than overspending for short-term glory.

Chester FC have shown how a football club should be run. Let's hope the world takes notice.