Pay more to access 4G

Telcos sold us 4G phones but our contracts are only 4G, free until June.
For those of us who do not want to pay extra )up to $10.70 a month, its switching back to 3G. When that happens, that bandwidth will surely be congested.

So much for free-market telcos where everyone copies the other carrier.

Sigh.
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SINGAPORE: Smartphone users may soon have to pay more to access 4G value-added services offered by the three telcos, StarHub, SingTel and M1.

StarHub has fired the first salvo, requiring its 4G subscribers to pay an additional S$2.14 per month from June 1 for its value-added services.

These subscribers have been enjoying free promotional 4G speed boost since the launch in September 2012.

In response to queries from Channel NewsAsia, StarHub's assistant vice president of mobility, Tian Ung Ping, said that "with all promotions, there is an end date. The free promotion, which was originally scheduled to end on 31 December 2013, has been extended till 31 May 2014."

According to StarHub, the usual rate for the 4G Speed Boost value-added service is S$10.70 a month.

Market experts said StarHub's move may prompt the other two telcos, M1 and SingTel, to revise their charges for 4G access.

Currently, both M1 and SingTel do not charge for their 4G value-added services, as part of a promotion for their 4G network.

An M1 spokesman told Channel NewsAsia that the telco is currently reviewing its charges with the upgrade of its 4G network to support speeds of up to 150Mbps and the introduction of high-quality voice calls over its 4G network in the coming months.

A SingTel spokesman said the company regularly reviews its price plans.

The spokesman added that SingTel's focus is on enhancing the mobile data experience for its customers by rolling-out network upgrades, such as doubling the maximum speed of its 4G service to 300Mbps this year.

Last year, the three telcos raised charges for excess local data usage.

- CNA/ms

great reminder!
need to buy more telco shares to reap the benefits of a SH.

"can not beat them? Join them!"

Love Compassion


A Life not Reflected is a Life not Worth Living.

Collusion at its best. Our anti competition authority is sleeping. They need a co-driver.

(17-04-2014, 01:37 PM)kagemusha Wrote: Collusion at its best. Our anti competition authority is sleeping. They need a co-driver.

A reminder, you need a good ground to make the statement.

CCS in Singapore is pretty aggressive, comparing with its counterparts in other countries in the region.

It is also unfair to assume telcos are working in collusion, unless you has reasonable ground to support it.

Regards
Moderator

Guess we can compare profit margins of Singapore's 'competitive' telecom companies against other countries', monitor price changes over a long period to check for irregularities to see if they might be a cartel.

But as with many things in Singapore... It's probably a pointless exercise

In reversal, when M1 started giving 12GB free data, Singtel & Starhub followed. Ohh but noone is going to complain that heh?
Note: I opted to remain at 12GB 3G since my contract ended 1-2 years back.

Think it's ok to pay, but not when their speeds and coverage are crap... These days I struggle to find developing countries with slower mobile networks.

(17-04-2014, 04:01 PM)CityFarmer Wrote:

(17-04-2014, 01:37 PM)kagemusha Wrote: Collusion at its best. Our anti competition authority is sleeping. They need a co-driver.

A reminder, you need a good ground to make the statement.

CCS in Singapore is pretty aggressive, comparing with its counterparts in other countries in the region.

It is also unfair to assume telcos are working in collusion, unless you has reasonable ground to support it.

Regards
Moderator

Put it this way, what is the basis for charging?
In a real competition, if M1 starts to charge the service, I will maintain or charge less.
Looking at the papers today, do you think that will happen?
Why is everyone charging almost the same amount?
Did they magically derived at the same approximate amount using some magical formula? I highly doubt so....no 2 pricing strategist will get the same price, most based it on what the others are charging.

If you look at the instant coffee situation, you will understand what I meant by real competition.
You offer 2 pack, I offer 2 and half pack, you slash price, I slash harder.
No doubt it will not be sustainable, but this is what I meant by competition. It is not necessary price but if you look at the telco situation, do you believe in your heart that there is competition there?

Not since when M1 and Starhub launch had I seen competition from the telcos on their phone services.

Not saturation either, as 4G is brand new...

kagemusha Wrote:Put it this way, what is the basis for charging? In a real competition, if M1 starts to charge the service, I will maintain or charge less. Looking at the papers today, do you think that will happen? Why is everyone charging almost the same amount? Did they magically derived at the same approximate amount using some magical formula? I highly doubt so....no 2 pricing strategist will get the same price, most based it on what the others are charging. If you look at the instant coffee situation, you will understand what I meant by real competition. You offer 2 pack, I offer 2 and half pack, you slash price, I slash harder. No doubt it will not be sustainable, but this is what I meant by competition. It is not necessary price but if you look at the telco situation, do you believe in your heart that there is competition there? Not since when M1 and Starhub launch had I seen competition from the telcos on their phone services. Not saturation either, as 4G is brand new...

I concur.

Petrol stations also adjust the rates when a competitor adjusts (up and down) to compete.

Cloud hosting companies in US are truly competitive... Amazon vs ibm vs rackspace vs google until profits are razor thin.

The M1 offer of 12 GB is a good move to lock up in users for min. 2 years to set themselves apart.

But prices only go up especially communications which is essential service. It can only appreciate when population increases.

However the 4G fine print is too much... I for one would load in with the masses in the 3G band.
When the 3G band congests and crashes, these telco would get queried and perhaps fined by IDA?

The telcos do make enough to gradually earn back from their investments for 4G(LTE) ...
Since they can sponsor F1 night race and bid the World Cup and EPL so pricey, why should we the customers be penalized?
It's a lose-lose situation IMO.

Singapore is unique and should not compare with the other countries.

Why? An example I found is quite humorous....

The credit cards we get are free and even annual fees can be waived. Even cards that don't get used sitting in our wallets.
However credit cards the other countries have must pay compulsory subscription fees. They don't waive like us.

We are uniquely Singapore.

so no real competition? & as if 1 telco co is not hamful for their radiation, there are 3 telcos fervourly planting base stations around the island, 3x the radiations, not sure if this has an effect on cancer rate..