Singapore – April 10, 2012
- First in South East Asia: StarHub to re-use 1800MHz GSM spectrum to offer nationwide LTE service
- Nokia Siemens Networks Single RAN platform efficiently supports 2G, 3G, 4G across all frequency bands to improve network performance and reduce power consumption
StarHub, the second largest mobile operator in Singapore, has selected Nokia Siemens Networks as its LTE (4G) mobile broadband infrastructure and services vendor. In order to meet the fast growing demand for smartphone data services, the operator will refarm its 1800MHz GSM band to carry LTE services.
The first phase of StarHub’s LTE network is expected to go live by the end of 2012, covering key business areas such as the Singapore Changi Airport, Marina Bay, Suntec, and Shenton Way. As part of the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will also modernize StarHub’s GSM network, helping the operator reduce power consumption generated by network equipment by up to 50%. The efficient use of resources is in line with StarHub’s commitment to act in an environmentally responsible manner throughout its operations.
“We are constantly looking at ways to provide our subscribers the greatest mobile broadband experience, and Nokia Siemens Networks has the best solutions for it. With the launch of LTE, we will be able to increase our data capacity and offer improved speeds. We have also been looking to modernize our GSM network for some time and with the Nokia Siemens Networks Single RAN platform, we’ll be able to do that efficiently while building the LTE network,” said Neil Montefiore, chief executive officer at StarHub.
“With spectrum being a scarce resource, it needs to be optimally utilized. The increasing use of smartphones and data hungry applications is putting a huge pressure on existing spectrum making refarming a viable option for operators,” added Paul Tyler, head of Asia Pacific region at Nokia Siemens Networks. “By allocating existing GSM spectrum to LTE, StarHub can cost-efficiently offer 4G mobile broadband services to its customers.”
Nokia Siemens Networks will provide StarHub its Single RAN platform, built around the compact, energy efficient Flexi Multiradio Base Station, which will enable StarHub to run GSM and LTE concurrently on the 1800 MHz band. The company will also provide its Evolved Packet Core* platform including Flexi NS (Network Server) and Flexi NG (Network Gateway). In addition, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide software for personalized customer experience management, including Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) ** and One-NDS subscriber data management (SDM).
Nokia Siemens Networks will also upgrade its NetAct network management system to enable a consolidated and effective monitoring, management and optimization of StarHub’s LTE and GSM networks. Support services from Nokia Siemens Networks include network implementation, consulting for PCRF, and full set of hardware and software care services including spare part management, emergency support, software maintenance and third-party software support.
Read more on our mobile broadband pages. For details on the company’s customer experience management offering, follow this link.
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About StarHub
StarHub is Singapore’s fully-integrated info-communication company, offering a full range of information, communications and entertainment services for both consumer and corporate markets. StarHub operates Singapore’s fastest two-way HSPA+ mobile network that delivers up to 21Mbps for downlink to complement its nation-wide GSM network, and an island-wide HFC network that delivers multi-channel cable TV services (including High Definition Television and on-demand services) as well as ultra-high speed residential broadband services. StarHub also operates an extensive fixed business network that provides a wide range of data, voice and wholesale services. Over Singapore’s fibre-based Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network, StarHub offers a broad range of home and business broadband plans along with a host of advanced media-rich value-added services.
Launched in 2000, StarHub has become one of Singapore’s most innovative info-communications providers, and the pioneer in ‘hubbing’ – the ability to deliver unique integrated and converged services to all its customers. StarHub, listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange since October 2004, is a component stock of the Straits Times Index and the MSCI Singapore Free Index.
About Nokia Siemens Networks
Nokia Siemens Networks is the world’s specialist in mobile broadband. From the first ever call on GSM, to the first call on LTE, we operate at the forefront of each generation of mobile technology. Our global experts invent the new capabilities our customers need in their networks. We provide the world’s most efficient mobile networks, the intelligence to maximize the value of those networks, and the services to make it all work seamlessly.
With headquarters in Espoo, Finland, we operate in over 150 countries and had net sales of over 14 billion euros in 2011. http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com
Media Enquiries
Nokia Siemens Networks
Harith Menon
Head of Marketing and Communications, APAC
Phone: +60 19 2616019
E-mail: harith.menon@nsn.com
Media Relations
Phone: +358 7140 02869
E-mail: mediarelations@nsn.com
StarHub
Cassie Fong
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Office: +65 68255165
Mobile: +65 91012211
Email: cassie@starhub.com
Notes:
Nokia Siemens Networks is leading the commercialization of Long Term Evolution (LTE) in terms of commercial references and live network performance. LTE is the next-generation mobile broadband technology and the evolutionary step from GSM, WCDMA/HSPA/HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, CDMA and WiMAX networks. It delivers the best broadband user experience and smart device services in an efficient way due to increased data rates, reduced latency and scalable flat all-IP network architecture. Nokia Siemens Networks has shipped its LTE ready Flexi Multiradio Base Station to over 200 operators. In addition, it was the first to make an LTE call using commercial hardware and standards-compliant software in 2009.
Among Nokia Siemens Networks’ 53 commercial LTE deals are Azerfon in Azerbaijan (radio); Bell Canada (radio); Deutsche Telekom in Germany (radio); Du in UAE (radio); Elisa Finland, Elisa Estonia (radio, EPC); KDDI in Japan (radio); KT in Korea (radio); LG U+ in Korea (radio); Mobily (Etisalat) in Saudi Arabia (TD-LTE radio, EPC); Mosaic Telecom in USA (radio, EPC); NTT DOCOMO in Japan (radio, EPC); Sky Brazil (TD-LTE radio, EPC); SK Telecom in Korea (radio); StarHub in Singapore (radio, EPC); STC (Saudi Telecom Company) in Saudi Arabia (TD-LTE radio); Tele2 in Sweden (EPC); Telecom Italia (radio); Telefónica O2 in Germany (radio); Telenor Denmark (radio); Telia in Sweden (radio); Telia in Denmark (radio), Sonera in Finland (radio), EMT in Estonia (radio), LMT in Latvia (radio, EPC); StarHub in Singapore (radio, EPC); Telus in Canada (radio); TMN Portugal (radio, EPC); Verizon in USA (IMS for LTE) and Zain Bahrain (radio, EPC).
According to the latest information available, 57 operators worldwide have already commercially launched LTE. 23 of these 57 operators use Nokia Siemens Networks’ LTE networks including Bell Canada; Deutsche Telekom in Germany; Elisa in Finland; KT in Korea; LG U+ in Korea; Mobily (Etisalat) in Saudi Arabia; NTT DOCOMO in Japan; Sky Brazil (TD-LTE radio and EPC); SK Telecom in Korea; STC (Saudi Telecom Company) in Saudi Arabia; Tele2 in Sweden; Telia in Sweden, TeliaSonera in Denmark and Finland, TMN in Portugal, EMT (TeliaSonera) in Estonia, LMT (TeliaSonera) in Latvia; Telefónica O2 in Germany; Telus in Canada (radio) and Verizon Wireless in USA.
In addition, Nokia Siemens Networks is involved in half of the TD-LTE trials that are currently ongoing around the world: over 16 major field trials in China, Taiwan, Russia and other areas of the world. The company has commercial deals with six TD-LTE network operators including STC, Mobily, Sky Brazil and Bharti Airtel. Sky Brazil has deployed the first commercial 4G network in Latin America using Nokia Siemens Networks’ end-to-end TD-LTE products and services.
An LTE performance drive test by Signals Research Group on a Swedish commercial live LTE network confirmed that the overall results achieved in the Gothenburg network (supplied by Nokia Siemens Networks) were better than those achieved in the Stockholm network (supplied by another vendor). For more information about the performance of Nokia Siemens Networks’ LTE offering, please refer to an independent report from Signals Research called ’Signals Ahead LTE Drive Test Revisited – Part 1’, which is available here.
Nokia Siemens Networks’ Single RAN including the Flexi Multiradio Base Station provides a future-proof, easy and cost-efficient path to LTE in both FDD and TDD spectrum bands via a simple software upgrade. Besides the Single RAN that supports GSM, 3G, FDD-LTE and TD-LTE, the company’s LTE telecom infrastructure offering also features the Evolved Packet Core, including Flexi NS (Network Server) and Flexi NG (Network Gateway), transport solutions, network management system, Self Organizing Networks (SON), the award-winning Voice over LTE (VoLTE), provisioning and charging solutions and a range of professional services to plan, install, maintain and operate networks. For more information, click here.
*Evolved Packet Core is part of Nokia Siemens Networks’ Liquid Core architecture: Part of Nokia Siemens Networks’ Liquid Net, Liquid Core decouples hardware and software and adds intelligent software applications that enable the core network to adapt and optimize to meet the fluid needs of subscribers, the services they use and the operational state of the network itself.
Through core virtualization, any core software application can run on COTS ATCA and ultimately other generic multi-purpose hardware. Costs are reduced by re-using existing hardware. In addition, it is possible to reduce floor space by up to 80%, and energy costs can be up to 65% lower, with future improvements expected. Furthermore, intelligent broadband management delivers the best customer experience at the lowest cost, end-to-end across all network domains.
**Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) is the node designated in real-time to determine policy rules in a multimedia network. As a policy tool, the PCRF plays a central role in next-generation networks. Unlike earlier policy engines that were added on to an existing network to enforce policy, the PCRF is a software component that operates at the network core and efficiently accesses subscriber databases and other specialized functions, such as a charging systems, in a scalable, reliable, and centralized manner.
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