Singtel offers eSIMs for Samsung Gear S3 frontier LTE smart watch

Source: Samsung website. The Samsung Gear S3 frontier LTE works on Singtel's 4G LTE network.

Singtel has announced the availability of the Samsung Gear S3 frontier (LTE) on its 4G LTE network. Embedded with an eSIM*, the smart watch boasts standalone 4G LTE connectivity, allowing users to make calls, send texts and surf the Internet independently of a smartphone.

Customers on Singtel’s network will also enjoy 4G ClearVoice or VoLTE. Singtel is the only operator outside of US and South Korea to offer support for this standard, which enables crystal-clear voice calls.

Interested?

Gear S3 frontier (LTE) is available at all Singtel Shops for S$598 and will come with a complimentary strap worth S$68**. To enable connectivity on their wearable, existing Singtel mobile postpaid customers can sign up for a Mobileshare plan at a promotional launch price of S$5.35 monthly.

New customers can get connected with Singtel’s SIM Only starter pack which includes 5GB of data (3GB local mobile data and 2GB Singtel Premium WiFi) for S$20. Once their wearable’s eSIM is activated with a QR code, they can begin surfing at Singapore’s fastest LTE mobile data speeds and making 4G ClearVoice calls on Singtel’s network.

*Unlike a conventional removable SIM card, an eSIM is permanently fitted into smart devices. It does not actually require a physical card, and is activated with a QR code.

**While stocks last

Singapore, Australia offer the best speeds for mobile data

Source: Ericsson South East Asia and Oceania regional Ericsson Mobility Report.

Singapore is the only Southeast Asian country with mobile network connections fast enough to assure a smooth delivery of high-bandwidth applications – such as video streaming – to consumers on their mobile devices, says Ericsson.

Singapore is also the first and only country in the region to have smartphone subscription penetration of more than 100%, according to the latest edition of the Ericsson South East Asia and Oceania regional Ericsson Mobility Report*, published November 2015.

Singapore and Australia have reached the point where high definition video streaming can be delivered anywhere there is mobile network coverage** due to their leadership in deploying LTE and LTE-Advanced infrastructure. LTE adoption also helps increase app coverage for operators. Singapore has already reached 100% population coverage with LTE while Australia has reached 90%. By the end of 2015 LTE will represent around 40% of total mobile subscriptions in Australia and 50% in Singapore. In both countries, this number will have increased to around 80% by 2018.

”As societies become more connected, communications are increasingly app-centric and consequently, high expectations are placed on network performance,” says Nicholas Seow, President of Ericsson Singapore and Brunei. "This is significant as one of the most demanding apps in terms of performance – video streaming – will account for almost 70% of all global mobile data traffic by 2021. Different countries will face different app coverage challenges depending on the apps users are consuming.

"Singapore’s regional leadership in network performance has been clear for a few years now as evidenced in our latest reports. With nation-wide LTE-Advanced coverage and a growing ecosystem of compatible devices becoming available to Singaporeans, we can only expect this trend to continue.”

Source: Ericsson South East Asia and Oceania regional Ericsson
Mobility Report.

The report adds that:

• The amount of data used monthly by each active smartphone will increase substantially from an average of 1.2 GB in 2015 to approximately 9 GB by 2021.
• Population coverage for LTE will be more than 75% by 2021. 
• LTE/5G subscriptions are forecast to gain momentum and surpass 500 million by 2021, driven by 3G migration and new services like VoLTE (Voice over LTE).

Interested?

Download the report (PDF)

*This South East Asia and Oceania Report is a supplement to the global Ericsson Mobility Report, and shares the differences across the South East Asia and Oceania region, including smartphone uptake, mobile broadband plans, and network performance.

**Analysis performed by Ericsson based on Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence Data from Speedtest.net

Indosat Ooredoo launches 4G-LTE service nationwide

Source: Ooredoo.

Indosat Ooredoo has launched its high speed 4G-LTE service nationwide. The company announced that the faster connectivity and clearer voice quality its new 4Gplus data network provides is available at the same price as existing 3G services.

Over the past two years Indosat Ooredoo has doubled existing network speeds and offered the fastest 3G Internet speeds available. Its 4Gplus service offers download speeds independently tested at reaching up to 185Mbps.

Indosat Ooredoo’s 4Gplus service is available in 21 cities throughout Indonesia, with another 14 to be added by the end of 2015. Indosat Ooredoo is committed to offering the service to 5 million subscribers more each month in 2016.

Alexander Rusli, President Director and CEO commented: “The plus in Indosat Ooredoo’s 4Gplus service is more than raw data high-speed and bandwidth. As we introduce more people to digital society, we want our service be more accessible for Indonesian people. We want to remove the painpoints and worries that we know customers experience and help them to enjoy and get the most out of the service available to them.

“We want to go the extra mile for our customers and make our service affordable, accessible and easy for people to understand how it can improve their everyday lives. We want our customers to be able to stream a football match live without buffering, to make video calls via Skype without interruptions, to be able to work confidently on-the-go and to browse, chat and upload a selfie without delays. This is what we mean when we say the best digital experience possible.”

The launch of 4Gplus complements the recent expansion of the company’s store footprint. Indosat Ooredoo recently has signed an agreement with EraJaya to further expand it to 350 outlets in the coming years.

Alexander Rusli added: “As we build the leading digital telco we want to create a totally new digital experience where the customer has access to the widest range of smartphones, the most transparent and attractive data plans, digital apps and content for trials, all coupled with the most personal service. ”

Interested?

Indosat Ooredoo’s 4Gplus customers will receive a free data quota of up to 10GB, to be used on the 4G network.  Indosat Ooredoo customers will enjoy 10,000 minutes of voice calls to a loved one on a Indosat Ooredoo number free of charge, with topups from Rp10,000 onwards.

Bundle plans are available from Rp899. Bundle customers may enjoy 6GB of bonus quota valid for three months with a prepaid service or from Rp100 a month with a postpaid service.

Current Indosat Ooredoo customers who do not have a 4G USIM can upgrade their current SIM card to a 4Gplus USIM for free at the nearest Indosat Ooredoo store or through roving mobile agents, who will be situated at central areas.

Penang gets 4G LTE services from Digi

Digi launches 4G LTE in Penang, bringing quality, high-speed Internet to more Malaysians. From left: Digi’s Chief Network Officer Kesavan Sivabalan, Siew Chee Kong, Digi’s Head of Northern Region, Ismail Othman, Regional Head of SKMM Northern, Albern Murty, Digi’s Chief Executive Officer, and YB Chow Kon Yeow, Penang State Executive Councillor for Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation.

Digi Telecommunications (Digi) has introduced expanded LTE services in Penang, enabling more Malaysians in the north of the peninsula to enjoy the benefits of consistent, high-speed Internet connectivity.

Officiating the launch, YB Chow Kon Yeow, Penang State Executive Councillor for Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation said the state government appreciates Digi’s commitment to provide affordable access to high quality telecommunications services in the state, including the latest LTE services.

“We welcome Digi's efforts to bring fast, reliable mobile Internet services to Penangites, and opening up new ways for them to benefit from greater access to knowledge, information and economic prospects. In Penang, Internet on-the-go benefits not only residents but also tourists who will enjoy having consistent, high-speed Internet connectivity to help them navigate our historic streets and learn about Penang with the variety of mobile apps available. The introduction of LTE services like these support our ambitions for greater digital inclusion within the state, and drive the development of a progressive, digitally savvy Penang,” Chow said.

Albern Murty, Digi's Chief Executive Officer said, "As the fastest growing LTE network in the country, we will not decrease our momentum in enabling mobile internet connectivity for every Malaysian. Our focus is to ensure every customer, regardless of Internet experience, will have access to quality, relevant and affordable Internet services. We are offering 4G LTE services via a wide range of affordable smartphone bundles to fit different usage patterns."

In Penang, Digi has a 3G footprint of 99% and LTE population coverage of 66% with plans to expand to more areas in Perak, Perlis and Kedah. Digi's LTE services are currently also available in the Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Labuan, Kuching, Miri, Bintulu, Langkawi, Kampar and Port Dickson.

Digi launches 4G LTE in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Source: Digi. Digi launches 4G LTE in Johor Bahru, bringing quality, high-speed internet to more Malaysians. From left: Tuan Haji Rizal B. Abd Malek, Regional Head of Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) Southern, Loh Keh Jiat, Digi’s Chief Sales Officer, YB Datuk Ir Haji Hasni B Haji Mohammad, Chairman of the Johor Executive Council for Public Works, Rural and Regional Development, Digi’s Chief Network Officer Kesavan Sivabalan, and Ng Chak Khin, Digi’s Head of Southern Region.

Digi Telecommunications (Digi) today introduced its 4G LTE service in Johor Bahru. The launch comes as part of Digi’s commitment to fast-track its LTE rollout nationwide. The company recently launched 4G LTE in Sabah, Sarawak, and the Klang Valley, and more areas are to follow.

YB Datuk Ir Haji Hasni Bin Haji Mohammad, Chairman of the Johor Executive Council for Public Works, Rural and Regional Development said the state government approved of Digi’s efforts to provide equal and affordable access to the latest 4G LTE services.

“Regular access to fast, reliable Internet gives communities access to all the educational and employment opportunities it provides. It opens new ways of learning and doing business that has the potential to put communities throughout the state onto a sustainable growth path in the Internet economy. We welcome Digi’s introduction of consistent, high-speed Internet services to support our ambitions for greater digital inclusion within the state,” he said.

Loh Keh Jiat, Digi’s Chief Sales Officer said, “We continue to be passionate about enabling mobile Internet connectivity for every Malaysian to enjoy. Our focus is to ensure every customer - first-time or savvy users - have access to quality, relevant and affordable internet services. Our customers can enjoy LTE on a wide range of affordable smartphone bundles, and innovative digital service offerings to fit different usage patterns.”

Digi’s Chief Network Officer Kesavan Sivabalan said that with Digi’s 4G LTE, customers can enjoy faster HD video and music streaming, smoother video chatting, and instant downloading of apps and sharing on social media. “By end 2015, customers in Johor, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan will enjoy Digi’s LTE services, where we will have expanded our LTE footprint to 25% in addition to 3G services covering 92% of the Southern region. We plan to continue this LTE rollout momentum nationwide with a deep emphasis on improving network quality to provide all Malaysians with the best for Internet experience,” he said.

In addition to Johor Bahru, Digi’s 4G LTE services are currently available in the Klang Valley, Penang, Kuantan, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Labuan, Kuching, Miri, Bintulu, Kampar, Langkawi and Port Dickson.

Digi will be hosting a four-day roadshow starting today at City Square Johor Bahru, where customers can sign-up for the new range of LTE postpaid DG Smart Plans, iDigi Plans and Broadband plans. Smart device options range from premium devices like the iPhone 6 to more affordable ones such as the Lenovo A606, Meizu MX 4 and Honor 6, available for free with selected DG Smart Plans. Existing Digi prepaid and postpaid customers can begin enjoying LTE on their LTE-enabled devices with a free LTE SIM upgrade redeemable at the roadshow.

Customers will also enjoy Digi’s 20th Anniversary RM1 million prizes giveaway for new and existing Digi customers who sign up or purchase items at the roadshow. Additional 20th anniversary promotions for Digi postpaid customers include up to RM240 rebate for 12 months or select range of free smartphones for new DG SmartPlan sign-ups; up to RM60 rebate for DG Smart Family plan sign-ups for 12 months, and friends who switch to Digi will get up to RM200 extra rebates. Enterprise customers will also enjoy free MobiFis, smartphones and data for selected Biz Plus plans.

Need context?

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post about Digi's 4G LTE launch in the Klang Valley

Digi expands LTE coverage in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Source: Digi. Chief Executive Officer Albern Murty (left) showcasing the high-quality, consistent Internet experience with Digi’s 4G LTE via video call with Hitz.FM radio DJs Ean and Adam C (on the small screen to the left). Loh Keh Jiat, Digi’s Chief Sales Officer, is on the right.

Digi Telecommunications (Digi) announced today that it now serves more areas in the Klang Valley, more than doubling the company’s LTE footprint in this area. This benefits the telco’s customers in the Klang Valley with consistent LTE services.

Albern Murty, Digi’s Chief Executive Officer said Digi’s effort to bring LTE services to more Malaysians nationwide echoes the government’s ambition to ensure greater access to Internet services for all. Together with Digi’s existing 3G coverage, bringing expanded LTE services in the Klang Valley is aligned to the Economic Transformation Programme’s (ETP's) call for improving broadband access for 80% of the populated areas in Greater Kuala Lumpur, with a target of a minimum speed of 2Mbps.

“Our commitment to expand LTE coverage in the Klang Valley and across Malaysia reflects the company’s long term plans to continue investing heavily in its network to deliver Internet for all Malaysians,” said Murty. 

Digi aims to maintain this LTE rollout momentum in the coming years, focusing on areas with a strong demand for LTE services and devices, and where it serves to make a real difference in bringing Internet to more people nationwide. Digi’s 4G LTE services are currently available in the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Labuan, Kuching, Miri, Bintulu, Kampar, Langkawi and Port Dickson.

The company also has a deep focus on improving network quality. In the next few quarters, Digi will simultaneously increase network coverage, boost capacity and significantly improve both the indoor and outdoor Internet experience in the Klang Valley.

“Our focus is to continue to ensure everyone has access to quality Internet services nationwide, fuelled by significant improvements in our network performance and coverage, the proliferation of a wider range of affordable smartphones bundles including choices under RM200, and innovative digital service offerings to fit different customer usage patterns,” Murty said.

Digi will be hosting a four-day roadshow starting today at One Utama, where customers can sign-up for the new range of LTE postpaid DG Smart Plans, iDiGi Plans and Broadband plans. Customers have a choice of premium devices like the iPhone 6 to more affordable options such as the Lenovo A606, Meizu MX 4 and Honor 6, available for free with selected DG Smart Plans. Existing Digi prepaid and postpaid customers can begin enjoying 4G LTE on their LTE-enabled devices with a free LTE SIM upgrade redeemable at the roadshow itself.

Customers will also enjoy Digi’s special 20th Anniversary RM1 million prizes giveaway for new and existing Digi customers who sign up or purchase items at the roadshow. Additional 20th anniversary promotions for Digi postpaid customers include up to RM240 rebate for 12 months or select range of free smartphones for new DG SmartPlan sign-ups; up to RM60 rebate for DG Smart Family plan for 12 months, and friends who switch to Digi will get up to RM200 extra rebates. Enterprise customers will also enjoy free MobiFis, smartphones and data for selected Biz Plus plans. 

HTC introduces Desire 620, 620G

HTC has released the HTC Desire 620 dual sim, which succeeds the HTC Desire 610. 

Source: HTC. The 620G in Milkyway gray.

"Our new HTC Desire model delivers the best of both worlds by combining a fresh, youthful design with powerful processing and super-fast connectivity. The HTC Desire 620 dual sim is the perfect choice for entertainment lovers looking for an affordable smartphone that balances quality performance with stunning design," said Jack Yang, President of HTC South Asia.

At the heart of the Desire 620 dual sim is the latest Snapdragon 410 Qualcomm processor*, with Android 4.4 and HTC Sense 6 to power video experiences and ensure a smooth transition between screens when multitasking. When streaming or downloading video clips, 4G LTE** support delivers download speeds of up to 150 Mbps.

The HTC Desire 620 dual sim also features a 5" HD display, an 8 megapixel main camera and 5 megapixel front camera with auto focus and continuous shooting capabilities. Videos can be captured at 1080p high-definition on both cameras.

The HTC Desire 620G dual sim is powered by a 1.7 GHz Octa-Core processor and features Android 4.4 and 3G connectivity with support for HTC BlinkFeed, Video Highlights and Lock Screen functionality.

Both phones come in Santorini white (white with a blue accent) and Milkyway gray (matte grey with a light blue accent) and are available at mobile operators and major retailers in Singapore. The HTC Desire 620 dual sim has a recommended retail price (RRP) of S$358 and the HTC Desire 620G dual sim has a RRP of S$278.

*Qualcomm Snapdragon 410, 1.2 GHz (available on the Desire 620 dual sim only).

**4G/LTE speeds - FDD: 900/1800/2100/2600 MHz, TDD: 1900/2300/2600
(available on the Desire 620 dual sim only). FDD and TDD are different LTE standards used in different countries.

HTC Desire 510 offers affordable LTE

HTC's most affordable LTE smartphone to date goes on sale days after the company made the Desire 210 available in Singapore stores. The HTC Desire 510, available in Singapore with mobile operators and major retailers from Saturday, September 6, 2014, combines quad-core LTE performance with a 4.7” display and Android 4.4. 

Source: HTC.

“The industry has been talking about the 4G effect for so long now that it’s easy to forget that only a small selection of top-end devices are taking advantage of the technology,” says Peter Chou, CEO, HTC Corporation. 

“People today should expect their smartphones to double as mobile entertainment hubs. This means ensuring that they’re fully loaded with the latest movies, TV shows and albums, by taking advantage of the super-fast network speeds available. The HTC Desire 510 does this and more, making it the perfect mobile media device.”

The S$268* phone, available in Terra White and Meridian Grey, is powered by Qualcomm’s quad-core 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 410 processor and has 8GB of on-board memory.

*Recommended retail price for a HTC Desire 510 with 8GB.