The deployment is a step closer to 5G in the country and the successful network pilot achieved 1Gbps speeds using 4x4 Multiple Input Multiple Output (4x4 MIMO) technology and delivered up to 50% faster download speeds than prevailing LTE services.
“Singtel is investing ahead to deliver faster speeds and wider connections with the steady deployment of innovative technologies on our live network,” said Yuen Kuan Moon, Consumer Singapore chief executive officer at Singtel.
“With more customers consuming and sharing mobile videos, 450Mbps speeds will enable them to download movies in a flash and give them a better entertainment experience while on the go.”
Singtel’s nationwide LTE network upgrade supports 256 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), a pre-5G technology which increases the number of unique radio waveform shapes to carry up to 33.33% higher data and elevates spectral efficiency.
Singtel and Ericsson demonstrated up to 1Gbps LTE downlink data speeds on live network Singtel and Ericsson have also demonstrated download speeds of up to 1Gbps in a live 4G network pilot at two sites in Pasir Ris. This ultra-fast download speed was achieved by deploying 256 QAM downlink, 4x4 MIMO and triple carrier aggregation technologies.
Singtel said it will progressively rollout 4x4 MIMO technology on its network starting next year to deliver up to 1Gbps speeds at selected high-traffic locations. Supporting mobile devices are expected to be ready by end 2017.
Yuen added: “Achieving 1Gbps speeds on our live network marks a significant milestone in our journey to 5G. We're focused on driving further network innovation to extend our leadership and deliver the benefits of the latest technological advances to meet our customers' digital lifestyle needs.”
