SingTel to launch 3G next year in selected cities
December 19, 2002
Singapore Telecommunications is expected to offer 3G mobile phone
services next year in selected areas. The company says the service
will be released to consumers in business districts.
SingTel is looking to rollout 3G service towards the end of 2003
in areas that has the highest propensity for adoption and benefit
from the 3G service.
"It'll be areas like the business districts whereby business customers
would be able to use it for things like video conferencing or enterprises
that have data type transactions that can leverage the technology,"
said Andrew Buay, vice president of consumer marketing at SingTel.
SingTel says it may take another two to three years before many
Singaporeans sign up to the new service.
SingTel is now testing trial systems developed by three shortlisted
groups. The three groups include Ericsson, Nokia and a consortium
comprising Siemens, and NEC and Itochu Corp. The operator is still
evaluating their bids to supply the operator with 3G mobile telephony
systems and a decision is expected mid-2003.
SingTel spokesman Ivan Tan said the company is deploying 3G but
have not officially awarded the tender and added that SingTel will
make the decision when they really have to.
On Thursday SingTel made Singapore's first 3G video calls in public
using a system supplied by Ericsson. SingTel completed 3G voice
trials in November last year.
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3G Motorola A920
