EE, the UK\'s largest cellco by subscribers, has announced that as its LTE network deployment is moving ahead, with 4G services now available in 174 towns and cities across the country, after infrastructure in 14 new locations was switched on, TeleGeography reports. The towns of Cannock, Ellesmere Port, Grangemouth, Harrogate, Hartlepool, Motherwell, Paignton, Torquay and Widnes have been added to the network, and EE says it now covers 70 percent of the population and many \'high-usage, non-population areas\'.

In addition to its spending on an expanded network, EE has announced plans to ensure that commuters have better connectivity and that it will improve standards on major rail and road routes this year. The first stage of its 4G rail expansion project will supposedly make superfast mobile data available along the line from London Euston to Birmingham New Street. Further on, for the second stage, it will extend coverage north to Manchester and Liverpool, and south from London Victoria to Brighton, with stage three reaching Glasgow by the end of 2014. EE has also confirmed previously announced plans to build a 4G network for people traveling to France on the Eurotunnel, saying the infrastructure is set to be in place by \'late summer\'. In addition, EE noted that it has switched on 4G at 18 of the UK\'s largest airports, and that focusing on such locations is part of a program to switch on 4G and increase capacity in the most heavily used spots around the country.

Olaf Swantee, EE\'s CEO, said of the network developments, "More towns across the UK now have access to its biggest 4G network, and more people can use it where they need it most – in airports and on the busiest commuter routes. We\'re leading the way with 4G, with twice as much coverage as any other provider and connecting more customers in more places.