The news comes as the government's 4G peace talks with the UK's other mobile operators are 'still in the balance', according to the .

to approve EE's request to use its existing 1800MHz spectrum for next generation 4G services, which will launch this year, several months ahead of its competitors, has created much turmoil in the telecoms industry.

EE is Everything Everywhere's newly launched 4G brand.

Three, O2 and Vodafone are having to wait for Ofcom's 4G spectrum auction to roll out services, which is due to begin at the end of this year, but have been embroiled in legal disputes over the country's competitive landscape once the spectrum has been allocated.

EE's rivals are concerned that if EE is the only operator on the market to be selling 4G services it will attract a lot of their customers, who could then be tied into contracts for 24 months.