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13th January 2003

Singapore...Copyright © 2003 MediaCorp News Pte Ltd by Connie Tan

Despite some local telcos lobbying the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore to ease back on its end-2004 deadline for introducing 3G phone services, consumers could still see some 3G magic being spun on a trial basis by the local operators this year.

SingTel demonstrated its first public "live" mobile video telephony call using its 3G network last month.

And it expects to offer selected 3G services in the later part of 2003.

The same goes for MobileOne.

Neil Montefiore, Chief Executive, M1, said, "By the end of January, we'll start to make decisions on when the next phase of roll out will continue, that will probably be in the central business district and other growth areas. And then we'll look at probably customers trials, probably towards the second half of the year."

Mobile phone users can also expect some interim 3G light applications to be introduced before the full-blown 3G services come to market.

There are still some problems to be sorted out before 3G arrives in Singapore.

The availability of applications is one, pricing is another.

Other problems include the network and the technology.

SingTel says it expects a wider range of 3G handsets to become available in Singapore only a year or two after the networks are ready.

And it will depend to the state of 3G deployments worldwide.

As for Singapore's third licenced 3G operator StarHub, Chan Kin Hung, Senior Vice President, StarHub Mobile, said, "We're looking at different possibilities on the 3G arena. We're also looking at IDA on the direction of 3G moving forward. Unless we have a clear direction from the regulators, it's still too early to say what (is) the next step."

While 2003 will not be the year of 3G in Singapore, consumers can still expect mobile phone operators to ring in some exciting applications this year.

Mr Montefiore said, "I think you'll see the difference anyway coming through whether or not 3G is deployed. It's going to be the new non-voice services that are going to be rolled out this year. And it's going to be quite dramatic."

And the good news is, any price competition is likely to benefit the consumers.

Nitin Acharekar, Industry Analyst (Asia-Pacific), Frost & Sullivan, said, "The market is very competitive. If I have to identify the one person or entity that (would) win it's the customers. They will get all these services at a much cheaper rate than when they were introduced."

Like it or not, the next generation of mobile phone usage will be driven primarily by people, not enterprises.

After all, they are the ones who are doing the talking.