O2's new 3G network passes over some iPhone, BlackBerry and HTC models

The announcement by O2 that it has started to use its 900MHz frequency holdings to deliver 3G services in London will be greeted enthusiastically by customers eager to see improved mobile internet speeds.

However, unless the device you're carrying around is equipped to access data over this frequency, you'll be stuck in the doldrums of sluggish internet connections for a little while yet.

Most major devices, though, will be able to benefit from the upgrade, with the iPhone 4, Google's Nexus S, the Samsung Galaxy S, and the HTC Wildfire, Desire and its Windows Phone 7 device, the Mozart, all 900MHz enabled.

This means owners of these products will be able to use the network to achieve better in-building coverage, increased capacity and connections up to 30 per cent faster, according to O2.

However, some notable devices will not be able to benefit from this improvement, with all previous models of the iPhone, the HTC Desire Z and the BlackBerry Bold 9000 just some of those left behind.

However, while some users of smartphones that are not able to use this new network may see this as a blow, Forrester principal analyst Ian Fogg pointed out that there were some beneficial side effects that should offset this disappointment.

"Non-900MHz 3G phones will benefit indirectly from O2's move because if other smartphones end up using the 900MHz spectrum this effectively frees up spectrum capacity for those 3G phones left behind on 2100MHz," he told V3.co.uk.

Tablet devices will also be able to benefit from the switchover, with both the iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab able to access the 900MHz frequency, but the original iPad cannot – perhaps giving those considering an upgrade another justification.

So, for the majority on O2 in London it seems as if faster internet connections are around the corner, but if you're stuck on a device that doesn't support 900MHz frequencies, at least you can take solace from the fact the airwaves may be a bit quieter for the time being.

18 Mar 2011