Three has today provided us with more details on its 4G launch plans for the United Kingdom. The carrier aims to cover four major cities by the end of the year, but its new super-speedy service will really take off in 2014 when it increases the number of 4G locations to 42.

The first four cities to receive Three’s 4G service are Birmingham, London, Manchester, and Reading. A number of towns will get it before the end of 2013 as well, including Oldham, Dudley, West Bromwich, and Wolverhampton. The list of locations that will get 4G in 2014 can be seen in the graphic below, taken from Three’s website.

Three is the last of the U.K.’s four major operators to launch its 4G service. EE was first to bring 4G to the U.K. last October, while Vodafone and O2 rolled out their services in late August. However, Three’s could be well worth waiting for; while the other networks are charging more for 4G, Three has promised that it won’t charge a penny more than it does for its existing 3G plans.

And yes, Three’s 4G will be compatible with Apple’s new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, which go on sale in the U.K. on Friday, September 20.

• SourceThree