SmarTone-Vodafone yesterday launched the first so-called 'super-3G' service using technology widely touted by operators and equipment makers as key to making third-generation mobile technology finally deliver on its unfulfilled promise.
Even if it does, however, it may not do much to help the bottom line of service providers in the city's hyper-competitive mobile market.
Super-3G 'is a step forward but it is not a miracle cure for this market', said one telecommunications analyst.
SmarTone's three 3G rivals are all committed to launching the service, with CSL New World Mobility and Hutchison promising to launch before the end of the year.
There is little doubt the new service will turn some heads. The download speed on SmarTone's upgraded 3G network now reaches 1.8 megabits per second - five times faster than the 384 kilobits per second offered by rival operators.
Chief executive Douglas Li said this would jump up to 14.4 megabits per second within two years.
The upgrade relies on high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) technology, primarily through a software upgrade that increases bandwidth and decreases latency in 3G networks.
