SingTel to boost mobile network capacity at Marina Bay countdown
PUBLISHED ONDecember 31, 2013 4:46 AM
SINGAPORE - SingTel will be deploying its mobile cellular base at Marina Bay to boost its 3G and 4G network capacity for tonight's New Year's Eve countdown party.
Dubbed Cellular On Wheels (COW), the mobile station (pictured above) supports about 500 additional 3G and 4G subscribers within a 200m radius.
SingTel plans to deploy its COW at other crowded events next year, including the Lunar New Year celebrations and the Singapore Grand Prix, said the telco in a statement on Tuesday.
huizhen@sph.com.sg
SingTel boosts mobile Internet connectivity in crowded places
Here is the full statement from SingTel:
SingTel mobile customers can look forward to faster and more consistent data speeds in crowded locations as SingTel implements a range of groundbreaking network capacity enhancements.
The enhancements, which include the Self Organising Networks (SON) solution and small cells technology are being progressively rolled out in busy locations such as shopping malls, event and concert venues, and selected commercial and residential buildings.
Mr Tay Yeow Lian, SingTel's Vice President of Mobile Core Engineering, said: "We believe our customers will feel a real difference when the new enhancements are in place. They will enjoy up to 20 per cent faster internet access in crowded places that are prone to network congestion. The chances of encountering a dropped call at these packed locations will also be reduced by as much as 40 per cent."
"SingTel has invested heavily in its networks to deliver the fastest mobile services in Singapore. We are the only 4G service provider to offer speeds of up to 150Mbps and nationwide dual-band coverage. By investing in new technologies, we seek to provide our customers with an even better experience with their communications and multimedia applications," Mr Tay said.
Self Organising Networks (SON) solution
SON is a state-of-the-art mobile network management solution that dynamically allocates network resources to cater to real-time customer demand and usage patterns.
It automatically detects areas of congestion and immediately re-assigns data handling capacity from neighbouring under-utilised cells, This ensuries that customers enjoy optimal network performance at all times. The solution also helps to minimise the impact of equipment failure. SingTel is the first mobile operator in Singapore to implement SON across its entire network.
Small cells technology
SingTel will deploy small cells technology to provide high-speed mobile coverage in locations such as basements and underground carparks, where it is impossible to install conventional base stations and radio network equipment. Small and medium enterprise customers can also benefit from small cells technology to enhance mobile coverage and capacity in their office.
"We aim to make our networks as future-proof as possible. Feedback from our customers is important, as it helps us to prioritise our network upgrades according to their needs. At SingTel, we strive to provide our customers with the best possible mobile experience wherever they go," he said.
Using ultra-compact equipment that consumes significantly less power, the small cells solution reduces the time it takes to set up new mobile cells from months to days. It is ideal for boosting network capacity to meet ad-hoc surge