StarHub selects Nokia Siemens Networks for 4G, GSM modernization (Singapore)
StarHub, the second largest mobile operator in Singapore, has selected Nokia Siemens Networks as its LTE (4G) mobile broadband infrastructure and services vendor. In order to meet the fast growing demand for smartphone data services, the operator will refarm its 1800MHz GSM band to carry LTE services.
The first phase of StarHub’s LTE network is expected to go live by the end of 2012, covering key business areas such as the Singapore Changi Airport, Marina Bay, Suntec, and Shenton Way. As part of the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will also modernise StarHub’s GSM network, helping the operator reduce power consumption generated by network equipment by up to 50 percent. The efficient use of resources is in line with StarHub’s commitment to act in an environmentally responsible manner throughout its operations.
Neil Montefiore, chief executive officer at StarHub said that they are constantly looking at ways to provide their subscribers the greatest mobile broadband experience, and Nokia Siemens Networks has the best solutions for it. With the launch of LTE, they will be able to increase their data capacity and offer improved speeds. They have also been looking to modernize their GSM network for some time and with the Nokia Siemens Networks Single RAN platform, they’ll be able to do that efficiently while building the LTE network.
Paul Tyler, head of Asia Pacific region at Nokia Siemens Networks, with spectrum being a scarce resource, it needs to be optimally utilised. The increasing use of smartphones and data hungry applications is putting a huge pressure on existing spectrum making refarming a viable option for operators. By allocating existing GSM spectrum to LTE, StarHub can cost-efficiently offer 4G mobile broadband services to its customers.
Nokia Siemens Networks will provide StarHub its Single RAN platform, built around the compact, energy efficient Flexi Multiradio Base Station, which will enable StarHub to run GSM and LTE concurrently on the 1800 MHz band. The company will also provide its Evolved Packet Core platform including Flexi NS (Network Server) and Flexi NG (Network Gateway). In addition, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide software for personalized customer experience management, including Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) and One-NDS subscriber data management (SDM).
Nokia Siemens Networks will also upgrade its NetAct network management system to enable a consolidated and effective monitoring, management and optimisation of StarHub’s LTE and GSM networks. Support services from Nokia Siemens Networks include network implementation, consulting for PCRF, and full set of hardware and software care services including spare part management, emergency support, software maintenance and third-party software support.
StarHub partners with Vodafone for improved data roaming services (Singapore, UK)
StarHub, Singapore’s leading mobile operator has partnered with British giant Vodafone, to offer customers better roaming services. According to reports, the deal will enable StarHub customers to avail more affordable data roaming rates while travelling to certain European countries along with New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
Reports reveal that the new cost includes US$ 20 for the first 20 MB of international data and US$ 2.4 per MB of additional roaming data browsed after reaching the daily cap. StarHub has said that the improved data roaming rates are offered to travellers whilst in Albania, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The move follows the statement made by Neil Montefiore, chief executive officer, StarHub, where he claimed that mobile data rates were very high and needed to be reconsidered. He said that four out of five StarHub mobile users currently disable data when overseas, due to the exorbitant charges. He also claimed that too many operators refuse to cut their rates as they make so much money from international data roaming. Montefiore also said that the situation needs to change and that the mobile industry needs to see the wider opportunity presented here.
StarHub appoints Mobixell for Data Traffic Management (Singapore, USA)
Leading global provider of intelligent mobile Internet solutions, Mobixell Networks, has been appointed by StarHub, Singapore’s fully-integrated info-communication company, for mobile data traffic management solution. Mobixell Seamless Access was chosen by StarHub to reduce costs and enable introduction of new and futuristic services, such as video optimization, personalized advertising and content filtering, for the next generation mobile internet.
The popularity of the iPhone and other smartphones amongst StarHub’s mobile subscribers has already seen an increase in data and video traffic on StarHub’s mobile data network. As per the company, mobile data traffic is predicted to double globally every year, increasing 39 times between 2009 and 2014, reaching 3.5 Exabytes per month by 2014.
As the rate of data traffic growth rises, implementing Mobixell Seamless Access ensures that StarHub’s customers can continue to enjoy a high quality mobile Internet and mobile video streaming experience. Mobixell Seamless Access maximizes user experience through its field-proven expertise in developing technologies for superior video experience, continuous no-buffer video playback, and excellent audio quality.
Liong Hang Chew, Assistant Vice President of Mobile Network Engineering, StarHub said that they chose Mobixell Seamless Access to enable a new era of mobile data traffic handling, increasing efficiency and improving customer experience. At the same time, implementing Seamless Access will enable future services such as content security and other possible revenue-generating features.
Yaron Dishon, SVP Sales Asia Pacific and Global Channels, Mobixell says that they are proud to have been chosen by such an innovative and influential operator as StarHub to assist with its mobile data management needs. Mobixell Seamless Access intelligently manages the surge in mobile internet and video traffic, while enabling mobile operators to achieve the ‘least cost, smartest pipe’ strategy. As mobile traffic grows exponentially, providing a cost efficient, forward-looking solution is imperative for mobile operators to succeed. Mobixell Seamless Access will help StarHub to achieve the perfect balance between cost reduction, user experience, network complexity and revenue generating high quality mobile Internet services.
StarHub introduces new Multi SIM plan (Singapore)
StarHub, a fully integrated info-communication company, has introduced a new multi-SIM mobile plan for its smartphone and tablet users. With an increasing number of subscribers using more than one mobile phone to use different mobile applications, StarHub has designed customized plans for its users by offering them two SIM cards of the same number for two mobile handsets.
The new plan, termed ‘i2Surf’, will be launched on 28 October, allowing users to use both cards simultaneously for outgoing calls, SMS, MMS and data transfers, while incoming calls, SMS and MMS will received on the primary handset assigned by the user. Further, it offers users 24 months of free Multi-SIM subscription worth $189 which can be used over their second handset device or their tablet or dongle.
As per reports, Joanna Chan, Vice-President (Personal Solutions), StarHub said that in recent years, they have observed a growing number of customers who own two mobile devices, a combination of smartphones and tablets or dongles. She added that they believe the new i2surf mobile plan will be attractive to this new generation of multi-device users as they will now be able to use two SIM cards for two devices to call, SMS, surf the internet and use their mobile applications anytime and anywhere.
Singapore mobile operators launch SMS donation drive
M1, SingTel and StarHub, and Ericsson’s global mobile commerce enabler IPX, have launched a donation drive to aid victims of the Japan disaster.
As per the donation drive, postpaid mobile customers in Singapore will be able to make a US$3.96, $7.92 or US$15.85 donation by sending SMS to a common short-code.
Donations will go towards the Singapore Red Cross Society’s relief efforts in Japan. This mobile donation campaign will continue for one month, starting from March 28 till April 25.
M1, SingTel, StarHub and Ericsson have jointly agreed to waive all administration fees associated with such premium SMS, and forward the full proceeds to the relief organization. The donations will be reflected in customers’ next monthly bill from their respective mobile service providers. Donations are not tax-deductible and people below the age of eighteen will require parental or guardian consent before making a donation.
IDA penalizes SingTel (Singapore)
Singapore’s largest carrier, Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) has been penalized with fines totaling US$101,000 by Singapore’s regulatory body, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).
The fines are believed to have stemmed from a wholesale broadband promotion SingTel had offered during the last quarter of 2009. SingTel had apparently breached regulations for competition in the telecommunications sector by offering wholesale discounted prices for its 4 Mbps and 10 Mbps services to only one ISP, while keeping the others in the dark.
The relevant ISPs could include rivals Starhub and M1 as well as SingNet, SingTel’s internet unit. The IDA had started investigations after receiving a complaint from another ISP.
According to reports, the IDA had fined SingTel $50,000 for not informing other eligible ISPs of the promotion, an act the IDA deemed ‘discriminatory’. SingTel was further fined $80,000, bringing the total to $130,000, for offering the same wholesale broadband promotion without seeking approval from the IDA, as was required due to its position as the dominant player. While SingTel had informed the IDA of the price changes, the carrier had not indicated that the 4 Mbps and 10 Mbps services formed part of the promotion.
According to SingTel spokesperson, aspects of the wholesale broadband promotion had been left out during the approval seeking process due to a genuine oversight, SingTel would continue to view and tighten its internal processes. SingTel has paid the fines.
Singapore to auction residual 3G spectrum
Singapore will auction remaining 3G mobile spectrum in November. According to the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), the auction of three lots of additional bandwidth will start on Nov. 15 and the reserve price has been set at S$20 million each.
The proposed auction for the remaining 3G spectrum started with strong conflict from the three local telcos–SingTel, M1 and StarHub, who were allotted these 3G spectrum , citing reasons that there is the lack of demand as seen in the previous auction, and the operators have already put a large amount of investment in developing 3G capabilities. The three telcos also cautioned that consumers may ultimately have to bear higher prices which will be determined by the auction.
In response to the claims by these three telcos , IDA noted that even if the remaining 3G lots were to be redistributed between the existing market players, there is no guarantee prices will be kept low as telcos typically peg their services according to market rates. The operators are expected to charge end-users a price they think the market can bear independent of the cost of the 3G spectrum lots. The one-time payment for the spectrum will likely be regarded by operators as done for cost and unlikely to be passed on to consumers.
StarHub Q1 profit falls 48.3% year-on-year (Singapore)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: 48.3% year-on-year drop in net profits for the three months ended March 31, 2010 has been reported by Singapore’s second largest telecoms operator by subscribers and revenues, StarHub. The net profit ended at SGD42.7 million (USD30.6 million) due to higher operating costs.
5% year-on-year increase in the revenue has been reported to keep things on the positive side and it increased from SGD531.0 million to SGD557.2 million.
According to the company, mobile revenue increased 8% y-o-y to SGD286 million, aided by a small boost in its customer base to 1.97 million and turnover from post-paid mobile user grew 10% over twelve months to SGD220 million, accounting for 77% of the mobile revenue mix; contract ARPU increased SGD2 to SGD69 per month.
StarHub completes HSPA+ network test (Singapore)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: HSPA+ network test has been successfully completed by Singapore’s StarHub through the use of Dual Carrier frequency technology. The conclusion in the test will result in a peak data downlink speed of up to 42.2Mbps.
After the test, StarHub has become the first mobile operator in Southeast Asia to have successfully deployed the Dual Carrier technology on its HSPA+ network. Principle of bonding two carrier channels dominates the Dual Carrier technology allowing the increase of the transmission to double the current maximum value of 21Mbps.
According to Mr Peter Cook, Vice President, Integrated Network Engineering at StarHub, the deployment of 42.2Mbps HSPA+ Dual Carrier technology is a straightforward upgrade of the telco’s current HSPA+ network that will double its current downlink peak rate of 21Mbps. The company is basically installing new software into current network equipment, with minimal hardware upgrade required.
