Everything Everywhere has asked Ofcom for permission to upgrade its 1,800MHz spectrum to provide a 4G service to its customers.
The request was disclosed in Ofcom's latest update on the proposals for awarding chunks of the 900MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum, which was published last Thursday (12 January).
If given the go-ahead, it could mean Everything Everywhere customers will be the first in the UK to receive 4G. Last month, it announced it was spending £1.5bn during the next three years to upgrade existing technology for the 4G rollout.
Ofcom is usually favourable in granting operators permission to upgrade their technology. In January 2011, it allowed O2 and Vodafone to refarm their 900MHz spectrum and Everything Everywhere to upgrade its 1,800MHz spectrum for 3G.
In last week's proposals, Ofcom said it woukld consider Everything Everywhere's application outside of the consultation on the 4G auction and respond by the end of March.