2011年5月27日星期五

Coming your way by 2012: 4G phones

Coming your way by 2012: 4G phones

SINGAPOREANS can enjoy a faster and smoother online experience on fourth-generation mobile networks at the end of the year at the earliest.

But don't be surprised if there are no cellphones commercially available that can run on these 4G networks yet.

Fourth-generation networks, specifically the 4G-branded technology called Long Term Evolution (LTE), are said to offer mobile-broadband speeds several times faster than those of 3G.

SingTel confirmed yesterday that it will offer subscription services on its LTE network by year's end, but believes dongles gadgets that allow notebooks to go online using mobile networks are more likely to be available first.

However, Ms Chan Yim Leng, the telco's vice-president for consumer products, said that, if smartphones that can support 4G are available then, they will be launched. "It is dependent on device manufacturers," she said on the sidelines of the Unwired 2011 conference.

She highlighted current compatibility issues between many LTE phones and Singapore's upcoming networks, thus limiting the number of phones to be sold here.

StarHub will deploy its LTE network "later this year". M1 has begun doing so this month and is expecting to complete it by the first quarter of next year.

Both telcos could not confirm when commercial services would be available. Mr Ivan Lim, M1's deputy director for corporate communications and investor relations, said that, "subject to the availability of devices, we may launch earlier in selected areas".

~News courtesy of Omy~

没有评论:

发表评论