If you are thinking of being clever and buying a 4G AT&T or Verizon iPad in the US and shipping it to the UK, think again. O2 has told Pocket-lint that it won't work on its own or Everything Everywhere's LTE trials. In fact, even the Wi-Fi + 4G UK version of the new iPad will be hamstrung to 3G maximum over here.

"The iPad 4G works on the US LTE bands, these are different from the European LTE bands," confirmed the operator when we phoned to ask whether Pocket-lint readers should consider being crafty and import one into the UK.

It also means that AT&T or Verizon iPad 4G-sporting tourists won't even be able to use the fast connectivity when the UK gets its 4G network.

As Phil Schiller, senior vice-president of worldwide marketing at Apple, said at the new iPad event in San Francisco, LTE and 4G can be confusing.


READ: The new iPad: How fast will it surf the web in the UK?


There are six different 4G variations around the globe and those bands work on different frequencies. As you might expect in a non perfect world, the US bands are different from the UK and European bands. The new iPad is designed to work across the LTE standard of 700 - 2100MHz in the States, the UK's trials are 800 - 2600MHz.

That means, to enjoy 4G connectivity when the UK eventually does get the new high-speed mobile standard (O2 and Everything Everywhere are currently only conducting limited trials in the UK), a new iPad 4G specific to the UK LTE networks would have to be announced by Apple. Yes, you can start the iPad 4 rumours now. 

It is not a problem just affecting Apple though. Both Nokia and HTC explained to Pocket-lint at Mobile World Congress that they were both experiencing the same problems with LTE for their global device roll outs too.

Do you care that the 4G won't work over here? Let us know in the comments below...