Singapore’s two biggest operators traded 4G announcements yesterday, with StarHub upgrading its network and SingTel showing off LTE.

 

No. 2 mobile player StarHub edged out its bigger rival with news of an HSPA+ upgrade from 21Mbps to 42.2Mbps, using dual carrier frequency technology.

 

“We have only started to roll out the upgrade and get the network ready for 42Mbps,” said a StarHub spokesperson.

 

She added: “We are the first operator in Southeast Asia to start upgrading the network to 42Mbps after we concluded tests successfully with Huawei.”

 

The spokesperson said StarHub has also begun technical trials of LTE with Huawei.

 

SingTel yesterday hosted technical trials of LTE and 42Mbps HSPA+, aimed at demonstrating its capabilities to developers and content providers.

 

The trial, held with vendor partner Ericsson, showcased 3D virtual mapping, voice over LTE, HD gaming and augmented reality, the superimposing of digital information onto live images. 

 

During the technical trial, SingTel and Ericsson also demonstrated HSPA+ 42Mbps technology and claimed to be the “first in the region to successfully power on air” a 42Mbps mobile broadband network. It plans to deploy the technology in the second half of the year.

 

The company said its 3G network would be upgraded progressively to LTE over the next 12 - 24 months.