Singapore cellcos experiment with LTE plans

Singapore’s languishing consumer LTE market has got a boost from the launch of smartphone plans from the country’s three mobile operators.

SingTel launched commercial services in December 2011, although its data only offering was not augmented with smartphone plans until June 2012, followed by a tablet option introduced in August 2012.

This month, both M1 and StarHub announced their rival 4G plans and associated device portfolios.

While all three operators are now offering 4G service plan prices that are on par with new 3G plans, tiered data plans now apply for both 3G and 4G users.

M1 originally planned to charge a S$10.70 ($8.75) premium for its 4G plans. The operator has now revisited this approach and its website now states that the 4G VAS monthly subscription premium fee is waived “until further notice.” StarHub maintains that its promotional rates will remain in effect until December 2013 when a premium fee of S$10.70 will apply for to 4G plans.

Singtel, M1 and StarHub are offering similar service plans, although there are a number of nuances between plan and pricing strategies which include: