M1 to launch LTE-based Next Generation Mobile Network

M1 to launch LTE-based Next Generation Mobile Network
By Rachel Kelly | Posted: 20 June 2011 2326 hrs
 
SINGAPORE : Singapore telco M1 will be the first in South-East Asia to launch ultra-high speed mobile services with Long Term Evolution (LTE).

Its LTE-based Next Generation Mobile Network, to be launched on Tuesday, will provide consumers with speeds of up to ten times faster than what is currently available.

Operating on both 1.8 GHz and 2.6 GHz frequency bands, it will have an initial theoretical downlink speed of 75 Mbps and uplink speed of 37.5 Mbps.

By the end of 2012, speeds are expected to double, with the theoretical downlink upgraded to 150 Mbps, while uplink speed will be at 75 Mbps.

The launch will include customers from M1's enterprise sector, who will be able to access the network via USB modems on their existing mobile broadband plans.

M1 said an expanded range of LTE devices, including tablets and smartphones, is expected to be available later this year.

M1 will initially start the services in the financial district, including Marina Bay, Suntec and Shenton Way.

The telco said the network's full coverage nationwide is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2012.

Rival telco SingTel said it is progressively rolling out its LTE network and will offer commercial LTE services in October.

From July, all customers of SingTel's Premium 21 mobile broadband service, which comes with the SingTel Priority Pass, "will be issued with LTE dongles so that they can enjoy LTE services at no extra charge for the duration of their contract", said a SingTel spokesperson.

"We intend to disclose typical speeds of our LTE services instead of theoretical speeds, so that our customers know exactly what they are getting and can make better informed choices," added the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Starhub said it plans to roll out its LTE network later this year.

Peter Cook, vice president of mobile network engineering, StarHub, said: "We successfully completed technical trials of LTE in 2010 and have now extended these trials to the new LTE 1800 MHz band to provide better, deeper LTE coverage in the future.

"We are particularly interested in the 1800 MHz band for LTE deployment as it has approximately twice the coverage area compared to 2.6 GHz, according to the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (or GSA)."

Analysts said it is still early days when it comes to LTE deployment, adding that while the initial rollout will be with dongles, unavailability of a wide range of devices is still a hindrance to wide market adoption.

- CNA/al

- wong chee tat :)