VoWi-Fi deployment builds on successful hetnet trials
Singapore telecom operator Singtel aims to roll out a commercial Voice-over-Wi-Fi service in August following positive results from its heterogeneous network trial conducted over the past year in the Jurong Lake District.
The hetnet trial was carried out with the collaboration of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, and took place in crowded spaces such as malls, mass rapid transit stations, Housing Development Board neighborhoods and aboard a bus.
The telco said the new VoWi-Fi service will be available at any accessible Wi-Fi hot spot, including homes and Singtel public-access points.
The launch of the new service will allow Singtel mobile users to make uninterrupted voice calls and text over Wi-Fi in locations that are technically challenging for mobile signals.
“With pervasive connectivity and higher data capacity set to become the norm, it was important for us to conduct a hetnet trial to gain further insights. Given our positive trial results, we are ready to support the ‘internet of things’ with our networks and provide Singtel mobile users with high-quality voice calls and SMS islandwide,” Singel’s Consumer CEO Yuen Kuan Moon said.
Singtel ended last year with 4.1 million mobile subscribers, including 2.2 million LTE subscribers, and 50% overall market share. The telco had initially launched commercial LTE services in December 2011. Singel offers the LTE service through spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.6 GHz bands.
MediaTek aims to launch first 5G chip solutions during 2018
Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek aims to launch its first “5G” chip solutions during 2018, local press reported. The Taiwanese company’s research and development team that is engaged in the development of 5G solutions currently amounts to approximately 100 people.
MediaTek plans to expand its research and development workforce for its 5G chip to more than 200 or 300 people, according to the report.
The Asian chipmaker is working with European and Asian mobile operators, such as NTT DoCoMo, to jointly develop and conduct trials of their 5G wireless technologies.
