New iPad's glitch: It may not run on 4G here yet

SINGAPORE - So, the new iPad is the first Apple product to support ultra-fast fourth-generation (4G) mobile networks.

Sounds great? Well, not really.

Because the thing is, the new iPad is likely to be incompatible with Singapore's 4G-branded Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.

Mr P. Subramaniam, M1's chief marketing officer, told me that the 4G variant of the new tablet works on the 700MHz and 2.1GHz airwaves for LTE. The United States uses these airwaves for LTE.

But Singapore's LTE networks currently run on different frequency bands, he said.

The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) said yesterday that the 700MHz band is used for broadcasting here, while the 2.1GHz one here is used for 3G.

Nonetheless, IDA does not rule out making part of the 700MHz band available for 4G services in the future.

The IDA also stressed that devices can be made to operate on multiple frequency bands and are "not necessarily limited" by the "band plan" in a country.

Apple did not give a definite answer when I asked them if the new iPad works on 4G here.

An IT industry insider said it is currently unclear if Apple will provide a hardware or software fix for the compatibility issue.

He said the new iPad could be tailored for US networks as the country is Apple's main market.

Tech-news site The Register also reported that 4G access on the new iPad will work only in the US.

A closer look at New iPad Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: AFP, Reuters)
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