M1 starts 3G trials

Singapore’s second largest cellular operator MobileOne (M1) has revealed that it will begin 3G trials on Friday. The company, which had 1.14 million subscribers at the end of September, says 100 corporate customers will be testing 3G data cards from now until January. The trial will be joined by a further 200 customers next month. M1 is investing SGD250 million in the development of its 3G service and expects to launch a full commercial service in the first half of next year. The country’s largest mobile operator, SingTel, which had 1.51 million subscribers by September, has already begun its own 3G trials and is planning to launch commercially early next year.