Singapore’s StarHub said Tuesday it would launch commercial LTE services on the 1800-MHz spectrum band next week, making it the last cellco in the city-state to do so.
Starting September 19, StarHub will offer the LTE service with four new data plans for smartphone users, with starting price of S$38 ($30.9) for 2GB per month to S$205 ($166.7) for 12GB per month. Comparatively, StarHub is offering four smartphone data plans ranging from S$49.7 (2GB) to S$208.7 (12GB), while SingTel’s 4G plans were priced between S$39.90 (2GB) and S$205 (12GB)
Tian Ung Ping, StarHub’s assistant VP of mobile post-paid services said the company will introduce several 4G mobile devices in coming weeks with more details to be announced later.
The LTE network will initially cover Singapore's central business district, as well as Changi Airport and Singapore Expo, and be expanded to reach more than half of the island by the fourth quarter of 2012.
Nationwide LTE network coverage is scheduled to be completed by 2013, StarHub said.
To complement its LTE network, StarHub will switch on its advanced DC-HSPA+ mobile network in the coming weeks, doubling the current 3G downlink speed to up to 42 Mbps.
The LTE launch will make StarHub the last mobile operator in Singapore to offer 4G services. M1 announced last week to launch LTE services on September 15, with a reach covering 95% of the city-state, and has tapped Ericsson to upgrade its backhaul infrastructure to supporting the upcoming LTE network. SingTel launched dongle-only LTE services in December last year, then extended services to smartphones this June and to tablets in August.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, SmarTone has picked Ericsson as its sole 4G vendor. The deal, the financial terms of which are undisclosed, will see Ericsson provide an end-to-end IP network, including a multi-standard radio access network, evolved packet core and evolved packet gateway.
Ericsson is also responsible for network rollout, integration and support, deployment services, re-farming of the 1800MHz band and network management, the company said in a statement.
The Hong Kong mobile carrier launched LTE 1800 services on August 28 to select existing customers, and extended the 4G service to general public on Wednesday.