StarHub to launch 'fastest' HSPA service
SINGAPORE--Come Aug. 4, StarHub will begin offering what it is touting as the nation's fastest two-way HSPA (high-speed packet access) service, and the first high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) in Southeast Asia.
Also known as 3.5G, the HSPA network is tipped to allow subscribers to experience downlink and uplink speeds of 7.2 megabits per second (Mbps) and 1.9Mbps, respectively.
To take advantage of the faster transmission speeds, Anil Nihalani, vice president of StarHub's mobile services said, the local carrier will introduce new mobile content and services "over the next few days and weeks, including mobile TV".
Nihalani added that StarHub will be offering the Barclay's Premier League on its 3G and 3.5G mobile platform "very soon".
Following the launch of the HSPA service, the operator plans to introduce a new three-tiered pricing structure, branded as MaxMobile, that will replace its current data plans:
- MaxMobile Lite: a pay-per-use plan at S$0.01 per Kb (US$0.007), capped at a maximum cost of S$88 (US$58.5) per month;
- MaxMobile Value: S$5 (US$3.3) per month, includes S$20 (US$13.3) worth of data usage, with exceeding charges at S$0.0032 per Kb (US$0.0002), capped at a maximum of S$88 (US$58.5) per month; and
- MaxMobile Unlimited: A flat fee of S$68 (US$45.2) per month for unlimited usage.
Huawei Technologies in February 2007 was appointed to provide and upgrade StarHub's mobile network.
StarHub's announcement comes two months after SingTel launched its HSDPA service in May, and eight months after MobileOne (M1) rolled out its HSDPA offering last November.