Since the introduction of competition in the public cellular mobile phone and radio paging markets 5 months ago, SingTel and all the new service providers have met TAS' quality of service (QoS) performance standards ...
Singapore, 4 September 1997 | For Immediate Release
Since the introduction of competition in the public cellular mobile phone and radio paging markets 5 months ago, SingTel and all the new service providers have met TAS' quality of service (QoS) performance standards.
In the April to June 97 quarter, MobileOne's GSM network and SingTel Mobile's GSM and PCN networks have achieved the QoS target of maintaining a network availability of more than 99%. In terms of the radio paging network availability, SingTel Paging as well as the three new paging operators, ST SunPage, MobileOne and Hutchison Paging, have also met the QoS target of more than 99% network availability.
Operators are also monitored on their performance for in-building and street level service coverage. From April to July 1997, TAS surveyed the radio coverage in 36 buildings (See Annex 1); some major roads such as the ECP and AYE; and Tampines HDB Town. Both the cellular and four paging operators passed the in-building and street level coverage.
These QoS standards are a set of minimum service quality standards established by TAS, which all licensed public cellular and paging operators must comply with. The QoS standards are to ensure that with intense competition in the telecommunication industry, the quality of service provision remains high and consumers' needs are well-served. Since the liberalisation of the cellular and paging markets on 1 April 97, the subscriber base has grown significantly. The mobile phone and paging services market has grown by 36% and 12% respectively, with mobile and paging subscriber base standing at 587,800 and 1,202,900 as of 31 July 1997. The cellular penetration rate as of 31 July 97 stands at 19.31 per 100 population compared to 14.16 per 100 population in Mar 97. Similarly, the pager penetration rate now stands at 39.5 per 100 population as of 31 July 97, compared to 35.2 per 100 population in March 97.
Note to editor:
Network availability of more than 99% means mobile phone and paging services operators have to ensure that their networks are up and running for more than 99% of the time and that subscribers do not experience any service disruption.
TAS has specified that mobile phone service coverage on the street should be more than 95%, while indoor coverage for public access areas of buildings should be more than 85%. For paging services, coverage should be more than 95% for both street level and in- building.
ANNEX 1: LIST OF BUILDINGS SURVEYED FOR IN-BUILDING CELLULAR RADIO AND RADIO PAGING COVERAGE
Name of Building
1. Apollo Centre
2. Centre Point Shopping Centre
3. Century Square, Tampines
4. CPF Tampines Building
5. Far East Shopping Centre
6. Far East Plaza
7. Forum Galleria
8. Hilton Hotel
9. Hyatt Regency Singapore
10. International Building
11. Liat Tower
12. Lido Cinema
13. Lucky Plaza
14. Ngee Ann City Tower A
15. Ngee Ann City Tower B
16. Orchard Point
17. Orchard Tower A
18. Orchard Tower B
19. Pacific Plaza
20. Palais Renaissance
21. Paragon
22. Pasir Central (N4)
23. Pasir Ris MRT
24. People's Park Centre
25. Scott Shopping Centre
26. Shaw House
27. Singapore Marriot Hotel
28. Specialist Shopping Centre
29. Tampines Mall
30. Tampines MRT/Bus Interchange
31. Tampines Sports Hall
32. The Heeren
33. The Mandarin Singapore
34. White Sands, Pasir Ris
35. Wisma Atria
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