Singapore’s second largest cellco StarHub is promising customers a ‘smoother data experience on their smartphones’ when it commercially launches its latest 4G equipment to serve the huge crowds at and around The Float@Marina Bay on National Day. The upgrade makes use of 2.5GHz TDD-LTE spectrum secured at auction, with StarHub noting that the move will boost data capacity by 30%. In a website release, the carrier confirms that the TDD-LTE upgrade will allow it to handle the expected surge in data traffic and number of connections: ‘Our TDD-LTE deployment will enable us to improve the experience of everyone’s 4G connection, and we are eager to bring the upgrade to more areas where it matters for our customers,’ said Chong Siew Loong, Chief Technology Officer, StarHub. By the end of this year, the company is looking to extend the upgrade to more areas such as Central Business District, Chinatown, Clarke Quay and Orchard Road. In 2018, coverage will be extended to other key high-traffic areas like transport hubs and heartland town centres, paving the way for gigabit-capable 4G services, which it claims will be unveiled ‘by the end of this year, when compatible phone models arrive on our shores’.
As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, StarHub reported a 21% year-on-year fall in net profit to SGD85.6 million (USD63 million) for the three months ending 30 June 2017, on total revenue which dipped 1% to SGD579.1 million, and service revenue down 2% to SGD542.6 million. Mobile revenue (accounting for 52.3% of the total) was down 0.9%, whilst StarHub noted that the turnover decline was mainly due to lower usage/revenue from voice, international direct dial (IDD) and roaming services.