Local telcos announce changes to data plans
(UPDATED on 5 June to include StarHub's data plans)
StarHub will launch its LTE fourth-generation (4G) network “in key business areas later this year”, the company has announced.
Cassie Fong, Starhub’s senior manager of corporate communications, said these areas include Changi Airport, Marina Bay, Suntec and Shenton Way. She added that details on its 4G devices and service plans will be announced at a later date.
Meanwhile, the telco will also discontinue its 12GB data plans “in the near future” for all new customers and those renewing their smartphone contracts.
In their place will be data bundles of between 1GB and 5GB, with excess usage capped at $30.
Fong said that the change will enable it to “rationalise and bundle” its data plans in an “era of date explosion”. It will also allow Starhub “to better manage finite network resources so as to ensure network quality for customers”, she said.
“Bundled with a $30 data price cap as well as a free 24-month multiSIM service, we believe that our i2Surf plans offer the best value among similar products in the market, especially well-catered to the rising trend of customers holding multiple devices, such as a smartphone and a tablet,” Fong added.
On Tuesday, Singapore’s biggest telco SingTel launched the country’s first 4G service for smartphone users, with the promise of faster internet speeds -- at least five times faster than the maximum internet speed on the current 3G network -- for customers.
But the faster service comes with a catch: Users of the 4G service will also have to settle for less generous free data cap plans.
Currently, the telco’s smartphone users have up to 12GB of free data cap, with those on its premium plan enjoying up to 30GB of free data.
However, under its new 4G price plan, those on the 12GB data cap plan will only enjoy 2GB worth of free data while those on its 30GB free data plan will have to settle for only 12GB of free data.
Monthly subscriptions for SingTel’s 24-month contract for 4G services starts at S$39.90 per month for the 2GB plan, $59.90 for a 3GB plan, $99.90 for a 4GB plan and $205 for the 12GB plan.
The pricing plans will be rolled out on 1 July, and will be available to all new and re-contracting customers.
It will also replace existing 3G Flexi and iFlexi plans.
Users who subscribe to the 4G service will revert to 3G connectivity only in areas that have no 4G coverage.
