4G LTE still a 2013 story at best: OCBC

iPhone 5 launch is the only hope to speed up Singapore's LTE network at the moment.

M1 Ltd will launch its nationwide 4G LTE network in Singapore on 15 Sep, where it will offer 95% coverage for indoor and outdoor areas (but not in the MRT tunnels yet).

According to OCBC analyst Carey Wong, although SingTel introduced its 4G LTE services in Jun, it will be looking to achieve 80% coverage by end-2012, and over 95% by 1Q13. She also noted that  while StarHub also announced that it will offer its 4G LTE services in key business areas from 19 Sep nationwide coverage is only possible by 2013.

Ms Wong said that while the 4G premiums could be a minor stumbling block (but unlikely to deter early adopters), the bigger stumbling block is likely to come from the limited 4G handsets that are available.

"Currently, there are only four phones and two tablets that work on Singapore’s LTE network. However, this could change with the launch of the new iPhone 5, which is widely touted to be LTE-enabled," she said.

"LTE still a 2013 story at best In any case, we believe that 4G LTE is still more of a 2013 story at best, as the mass market may still take some time to convert their 3G handsets to 4G," she added.