Fourth-generation (4G) technology could be given the opportunity to challenge next-generation broadband access, one expert has claimed.

Dr Chris Doyle, Senior Research Fellow at Warwick Business School, the University of Warwick, said 4G can "compete head on with the fibre releases" as freed spectrum becomes available on the open market.

He said the telecommunications frequencies freed up by the digital switchover would be of "particular interest" to broadband providers looking to make 4G available in the UK.

"What this will offer is the opportunity to deliver very fast broadband services over wireless systems using mobile telecommunications infrastructure," he said.

Dr Doyle said there have been "some serious advances" in providing 4G services, a technology which has "come on leaps and bounds from the original dot-com discussions on use of this radio spectrum".

The potential 100Mb download speeds being talked about are "very attractive" to consumers and businesses, he noted.

Telecommunications solutions provider Huawei and mobile network operator Telefonica O2 UK recently performed the first fully-operational long-term evolution 4G technology trial in the UK.