BT: IDA points the way to 4G speed

Business Times - 25 Jan 2011

IDA points the way to 4G speed

Local operators offered two options to upgrade cellular networks for broadband-speed surfing

By WINSTON CHAI

(SINGAPORE) The government has laid out two paths for local operators to upgrade cellular networks which could eventually mean broadband-speed surfing for smartphone users.

Under the rules prescribed by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) yesterday, telcos are allowed to roll out a so-called fourth-generation (4G) networks on two mobile frequency spectrums for which they already have licences.

The upgrade, typically achieved with the implementation of a technology called long-term evolution (LTE), promises to bring cellular surfing speeds up to around 100Mbps (megabits per second). This is on par with premium fixed-line broadband packages offered in Singapore today and would allow consumers to enjoy blazing Internet access both at home and on the go.

While Singapore is among the first in the region to consider 4G, operators such as Verizon in the United States and TeliaSonera in Sweden have already gone the LTE way.

According to the IDA, local operators can use the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz (gigahertz) spectrum band, as well as the 900 and 1800 MHz (megahertz) frequency range for 4G services in future. The 2.3 and 2.5 GHz (gigahertz) was auctioned off for nearly $10 million to six companies in 2005. Beyond incumbent operators Singapore Telecommunications, StarHub and M1, three other companies - Qmax Communications, DoCoMO interTouch and PacNet - also paid for the licences.

Despite having paid top dollar, the spectrum band remains largely under-utilised even till today. Qmax, which has since been acquired by M1, is the only company to have introduced commercial wireless broadband services following the auction.

In 2009, the dormant licence from DoCoMO interTouch was transferred to the M1 subsidiary, while one from PacNet was turned over to Malaysian firm PacketOne later in the year.

These licences are valid until 2015 but the IDA intends to conduct an auction by as early as next year to re-allocate the spectrum for 4G services upon their expiry.

Besides tapping on the underused 2.3 and 2.5 GHz band, telcos can also choose to use the 900 to 1800 MHz range for the upgrade, the IDA said yesterday in a set of documents detailing its 4G interim decision.

This spectrum is currently used by telcos to offer basic mobile services on older GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) networks and the licences they hold are valid till 2017.

By issuing its stand now, the IDA is hoping to give operators ample time to plan their 4G rollout, it explained.

'We don't want the move to 4G to be impeded by a lack of clarity at the policy level', Leong Keng Thai, IDA's deputy chief executive and director-general of telecom and post, told BT.

The pathways laid out by the Singapore regulator are in line with the recommendations by agencies such as the International Telecommunication Union. This will make life easier for equipment makers as they will not need to repeatedly tweak their products to suit different countries.

In addition, the IDA's decisions are also largely in sync with the feedback it received from operators during its public consultation last year.

When contacted, local operators cheered the regulator's decision.

'This spectrum (2.3 and 2.5 GHz) is very suitable for 4G, and we support its early re-allocation,' StarHub spokeswoman Cassie Fong said.

'SingTel is exploring all options available and is working closely with network providers to ensure commercial LTE services can be introduced to our customers in good time,' the company said.

Both StarHub and SingTel have conducted LTE trials and plans to deploy this 4G technology down the road. M1 on the other hand, has committed to rolling out the upgrade over the next 12 months.

'We will be upgrading our network to LTE this year. We are now in the planning stages,' an M1 spokesperson said.