SINGAPORE — SingTel has announced the launch of new 4G/LTE services in collaboration with Ericsson.

These include LTE-Advanced, which offers 300Mbps mobile broadband speeds; LTE Broadcast, which improves video streaming; and enhanced indoor coverage with Ericsson’s Radio Dot System technology.

LTE-Advanced is expected to improve system capacity and network coverage on top of doubling current maximum data speeds, and SingTel’s network will be upgraded to LTE-Advanced later this year.

LTE Broadcast aims to allow “a virtually unlimited number of mobile users in densely populated areas to stream high quality live broadcast videos simultaneously to their mobile devices”, and is expected to improve the video viewing experience at live events. The trial will start in the second half of the year.

The Ericsson Radio Dot System is aimed at extending 4G and 3G coverage to hard-to-reach areas inside buildings, and is designed to integrate seamlessly with SingTel’s LTE and 3G networks. The trial will also start in the second half of the year, and the system will complement SingTel’s recent roll-out of Small Cells solution in locations such as underground basements and car parks where conventional base stations and radio network equipment cannot be installed.

SingTel, together with Ericsson and Samsung, will also be introducing a Voice over LTE (VoLTE) service that claims to have clearer audio compared conventional mobile voice services, by using a broader range of audio frequencies. The service is set to be unveiled in the coming months.

On VoLTE, calls are also expected to connect within two seconds, compared to 10 seconds on 3G, and calls will not affect 4G mobile data speeds. The VoLTE service will be launched with Single Radio Voice Call Continuity capability, which switches ongoing calls to the 3G network if connection with the 4G network is lost.

The VoLTE service will be first available on Samsung phones, including Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S device. The Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy Note 3 will also receive firmware upgrades to support the service.

“SingTel is continually enhancing and upgrading its networks to deliver the fastest and most consistent mobile services,” said SingTel’s Group Chief Technology Officer Tay Soon Meng. “We are focused on improving customer experience by adopting the latest technologies and pushing the boundaries of innovation.”

Telcos StarHub and M1 have also announced plans for launching VoLTE and LTE-Advanced in Singapore.

“StarHub successfully dialled Southeast Asia’s first VoLTE call on its 4G network in Plaza Singapura last December, and will launch VoLTE service commercially by mid-2014,” said Mr Lim Eng Huat today, StarHub’s Head of Mobile Network Engineering.

“StarHub is also upgrading its 4G network to LTE-Advanced in order to offer maximum download speeds of 300Mbps,” added Mr Lim. “This network upgrade is expected to complete by the end of the year.”

M1 is currently testing VoLTE and it is expected to be available by the middle of this year. The telco is also upgrading its networks to LTE-Advanced by end of the year.