SINGAPORE (Jan 11): Singtel announced Wednesday that it has rolled out a nationwide 450Mbps 4G LTE-Advanced service, taking a step closer to achieving 5G mobile network.

This speed enhancement comes after Singtel upgraded its nationwide LTE network to support 256 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, or 256 QAM.

A pre-5G technology, 256 QAM increases the number of unique radio waveform shapes to carry up to 33.33% higher data and elevates spectral efficiency.

Singtel claims the 450Mbps speed allows up to 50% faster download speeds than prevailing LTE services, making it the fastest mobile network in Singapore.

At this enhanced peak speed, customers can complete the download a full-length HD movie over mobile data in less than two minutes, Singtel says in a press release.

“Singtel is investing ahead to deliver faster speeds and wider connections with the steady deployment of innovative technologies on our live network,” says Yuen Kuan Moon, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Singapore, Singtel.

The telecommunications giant adds that the 450Mbps service will be available to all Singtel customers at no additional charge.

Singtel customers with Samsung Galaxy S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge will be first to enjoy the enhanced mobile network speeds starting today.

LG V20 users will be next in line to harness the higher speeds, after a software update that is expected soon.

Singtel says more compatible smartphone models are expected to be launched by early this year.

Next stop: 1Gbs

The arms race for faster mobile data is heating up.

A collaboration between Singtel and Ericsson has demonstrated download speeds of up to 1Gbps in a live 4G network pilot at two sites in Pasir Ris, the telco says.

According to Singtel, this ultra-fast download speed was achieved by deploying 256 QAM downlink, 4x4 Multiple Input Multiple Output (4x4 MIMO) and triple carrier aggregation technologies.

Singtel says it will progressively rollout 4x4 MIMO technology on its network starting next year. 4x4 MIMO doubles the number of data paths between a cellular base station and mobile phones to achieve two times of normal speeds.

“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,” says Yuen.

“As user expectations for high speed internet and the ability to use apps on the move increase, network innovations with new advanced technologies are required to enable superior network performance,” says Martin Wiktorin, Country Manager of Ericsson Singapore and Brunei.

As at 3.03pm, Singtel is trading 3 Singapore cents higher at S$3.80.