Singapore's M1 has announced it has commenced Singapore's first commercial HetNet rollout in collaboration with Nokia.
As part of the rollout, M1 plans to progressively deploy Nokia's Flexi Zone small cells and Wi-Fi equipment at hundreds of high-traffic hotspots across Singapore, including mass transit stations, malls and popular outdoor areas.
The operator will also use small cell technology to bring connectivity to hard-to-reach areas including car parks, basements and parks.
M1 plans to use LTE-WiFi Aggregation (LWA) technology to deliver peak download speeds of more than 1Gbps over its 4G+ network by 2017.
The rollout follows HetNet trials earlier in the year at multiple locations including three MRT stations. During the trial, download speeds were improved by 60%.
M1, MyRepublic, Singtel and StarHub have all been working with the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore on nationwide HetNet trials. M1's participation has included trials of HD VoWiFi, as well as Wi-Fi on public buses.
“The results from our HetNet technology trials were positive. 90% of users enjoyed a better mobile experience, with faster download and upload speeds. We are pleased that the trials have given our partners such as M1 useful insights and confidence to further enhance the mobile experience through commercial HetNet deployment,” IMDA chief executive designate Gabriel Lim said.
The IMDA is due to be formed through the merger of IDA with the Media Development Authority (MDA) of Singapore.
“As Singapore moves towards a Smart Nation, we look forward to working closer with companies in the tech, engineering and R&D space to develop solutions that can enhance connectivity and improve Singaporeans' lives,” Lim added.