SingTel’s LTE-Advanced service comes to Samsung smartphones

A Korean version of the Samsung Galaxy S5 that supports LTE-A. Source: Extremetech.com

You can soon download games and surf the Web at speeds closer to 300Mbps on your smartphone with SingTel’s upgraded 4G mobile Internet service, which now covers half of Singapore.

The so-called Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A) technology doubles the 150Mbps top speed currently enjoyed on 4G, at least on paper. The network will be accessible on smartphones for the first time on August 23, when the first compatible models start shipping in Singapore.

Samsung’s Galaxy S5 4G+, a souped up version of its popular Galaxy S5, will cost between S$0 and S$688, depending on the new subscription plans that SingTel recently unveiled.

Another Samsung phone, a 4G+ version of the new Galaxy Alpha, will be out in September, according to SingTel today. Prices are not available yet for this phone.

Previously, the only way to get onboard the fast lane was to use a portable Wi-Fi hotspot device such as Huawei’s E5786. The new Samsung smartphones will likely herald the widespread use of the new technology.

Though the phones will likely be welcome only by a niche group of users seeking the fastest downloads on the go, they still represent an important leap forward in mobile Internet technology that would one day become common for users here.

SingTel says its LTE-A street level coverage now extends to more than 55 per cent of the island, including areas such as Orchard, the Central Business District, Shenton Way, City Hall, Ang Mo Kio, Tampines, Jurong, Telok Blangah and Woodlands.

Users can expect nationwide coverage in outdoor areas by the first quarter of 2015.