StarHub Launches Four New Home Broadband Plans for
Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN)
To Complement Existing High-Speed Services over Cable
– Current MaxOnline Express and MaxOnline Premium Customers Can Expect Speed Boost in Near Future
– Introduces New Wireless Home Gateway to Access StarHub Services and Content –
– Announces Internet TV and Online Gaming Initiatives ?C
Singapore, 2 September 2010 will soon be able to enjoy ultra-high speed broadband services from StarHub, and experience a whole suite of new value-added services that will enhance their Digital Home of the Future.
This announcement follows the recent commercial launch of Nucleus Connect, Singapore’s Next Gen NBN Operating Company, which provides Retail Service Providers (RSPs) such as StarHub with open access and wholesale connectivity services on the Next Gen NBN. Nucleus Connect was appointed by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA Singapore) on 3 April 2009 to design, build and operate the active infrastructure of this super highway.
Neil Montefiore, chief executive officer of StarHub said, “StarHub has been spearheading the digital revolution in the home for many years, by providing Singapore’s first 100Mbps home broadband service through MaxOnline Ultimate since 2006. We have offered a complementary range of value-added content services such as StarHub TV Online, StarHub TV on Mobile, StarHub Music Store, interactive digital television and so on. Now with the Next Gen NBN, it gives us more opportunities to extend our leadership in both technology and content, both in the home and out. We will not only remain competitive with our value-packed plans, but we will be more focused on developing a comprehensive suite of home solutions that everyone in the family can interact and enjoy with peace of mind.”
New Residential Broadband Plans
With the commercial availability of the Next Gen NBN in homes, StarHub is pleased to announce four new home broadband plans under the ‘MaxInfinity’ brand. Utilising the new fibre-optic network, MaxInfinity will provide customers with local broadband speeds ranging from 100Mbps to 1Gbps. One major feature of the plans is the good level of international bandwidth provided, including up to 100Mbps for MaxInfinity Supreme, the highest international broadband capacity on offer than any other local operator in Singapore. In addition, all MaxInfinity plans will be bundled with a 2Mbps MaxMobile mobile broadband service and a free MicroSIM card. As usual, StarHub will also be offering a comprehensive series of Hubbing packs which bundles three basic pay TV groups. Details of these four plans as well as their associated Hubbing packs, are outlined in Appendix A.
To celebrate the introduction of MaxInfinity, customers can enjoy a three-month free trial of StarHub’s new MaxInfinity Ultimate plan. They should visit www.starhub.com/maxinfinity or visit StarHub’s booth at COMEX (Level 3, rooms 325-326) at Suntec Exhibition and Convention Centre, from 2-5 September 2010 to register. StarHub will select 1,000 trialists for this free trial, if they register anytime in September. Note that the trialists’ homes must already be connected to the Next Gen NBN before they can be selected and the service activated. StarHub expects to launch all four MaxInfinity plans shortly.
In addition to the introduction of the new MaxInfinity plans, StarHub is announcing that it will be revising some of its current MaxOnline offerings. Both MaxOnline Express and MaxOnline Premium customers will also receive a speed boost in the near future.
Introducing StarHub’s Wireless Home Gateway
Beyond just access, StarHub will also be focusing on delivering significant premium branded content and more wireless value-added services to homes across Singapore. To ensure that StarHub customers can enjoy the full suite of these services, StarHub will be introducing a new device for the home.
Called the StarHub Wireless Home Gateway (HG), it will serve as the enabler for all of the operator’s range of current and future broadband, voice, Internet TV and IPTV services. Not only will the device act as a conduit to access StarHub services, it will also allow home users to seamlessly connect a multitude of wired and wireless devices including fixed line phones, web cameras, surveillance equipment, smart mobile devices, network-enabled television sets and more, for a complete Home Networking experience.
The HG supports complete Gigabit Ethernet (GE) networking in the home, allowing users to connect all Internet-based home devices together, either directly via wires or wirelessly through its in-built 802.11N functionality. The HG is equipped with 4 GE LAN ports and comes with a comprehensive suite of built-in security features to help parents control what content their children are able to access online.
New Value-Added Entertainment Content
With high-speed broadband access becoming a reality, content will soon become a key differentiator for StarHub. With its leadership in offering over 150+ pay TV channels ranging from news to entertainment, kids and lifestyle genres, StarHub also aims to provide unique value-added entertainment content over multiple platforms to all homes in Singapore.
One such initiative is StarHub’s intention to launch Internet TV with over 1,000hrs of TV-quality paid video content and a multitude of English and ethnic channels from StarHub’s comprehensive suite of pay TV content. Users will soon be able to choose the movie or TV series they most want to watch easily and quickly from a central library of video content. The service will be available to all broadband customers in Singapore, and will be feature both free and paid video content. It is accessible from any local Internet connection in and out of the home, and will support a variety of video formats. StarHub will soon be opening up trials for the service soon.
As a complement to watching video content on multiple devices, StarHub will be introducing a new online gaming portal for all broadband customers in Singapore. The online games portal will allow users to play selected online games for free as well as purchase other game titles. They may also purchase game credits, enjoy game previews and special offers with StarHub gaming partners. In addition, StarHub will soon introduce Singapore’s first multiplayer 3D racing game set in a realistic and beautiful Singapore city racetrack. Up to eight players will meet in an intense head-to-head racing with eight different vehicles. The game will feature a real road racing experience with 3D VisionTM technology and highly simulated vibration feedback system to reproduce realistic vehicle collision, leaping and drifting experience. More information on StarHub’s 3D gaming initiative will be disclosed soon.
Added Neil, “StarHub now can offer a complete range of home broadband services to suit every consumer’s needs; for those that simply require a basic broadband package for simple surfing, to those that require ultra-high speed connections to enable advanced multimedia services. We continue to maintain our leadership in the broadband space with the launch of the new 1Gbps broadband plan with up to 100Mbps of international speeds. In addition, we offer the best combination of fast fixed and mobile broadband services, with a full suite of Digital Home solutions and a comprehensive entertainment bundle. Customers will be able to enjoy significant benefits when they join the growing StarHub family.”
For more information on StarHub, visit www.starhub.com.
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APPENDIX A: STARHUB’S NEW AND REVISED PLANS
ACCESS PLANS
Features MaxInfinity Ultimate MaxInfinity Elite MaxInfinity Platinum MaxInfinity Supreme
Promo Price w/GST $68.27 $82.18 $102.93 $395.90
Download Speeds of up to 100Mbps 150Mbps 200Mbps 1 Gbps
Upload Speeds of up to 50Mbps 75Mbps 100Mbps 500Mbps
International speed 15Mbps 15Mbps 25Mbps 100Mbps
Mobile Broadband Free 2Mbps x 24mths promo + Free micro SIM (Valid till 30 Sep 2010)
Home Phone Line Free till 31 Dec 2011
SafeSurf Free till 31 Dec 2010
Hub Troopers Service Call P P P P
Wireless Home Gateway (Gbps home networking) P P P P
Music Store 10 Free DRM-free songs worth $10
HUBBING PACKS
Features MaxInfinity Ultimate
Hubbing Pack MaxInfinity Elite
Hubbing Pack MaxInfinity Platinum Hubbing Pack
Promo Price w/GST $86.88 $102.72 $118.77
Download Speeds of up to 100Mbps 150Mbps 200Mbps
Upload Speeds of up to 50Mbps 75Mbps 100Mbps
International Speed 15Mbps 15Mbps 25Mbps
Cable TV 3 Basic group with up to 28 channels of world-class content + 50% off HubStation HD rental + free 6 months Basic Upsize Groups
Home Phone Line Free till Dec 2011
SafeSurf Free till Dec 2010
Hub Troopers Service Call One Free Service Call within 12 months
Music Store 10 Free DRM-free songs worth $10
Hardware Wireless Home Gateway (Gbps home networking) Wireless Home Gateway (Gbps home networking) Wireless Home Gateway (Gbps home networking)
| Trailblazing speeds for the best online experience | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MaxOnline Premium | MaxOnline Ultimate | MaxInfinity Ultimate | MaxInfinity Elite | MaxInfinity Platinum | MaxInfinity Supreme | |
| Downlink | Up to 30Mbps* | Up to 100Mbps | Up to 100Mbps | Up to 150Mbps | Up to 200Mbps | Up to 1Gbps |
| Uplink | Up to 2Mbps | Up to 10Mbps | Up to 50Mbps | Up to 75Mbps | Up to 100Mbps | Up to 500Mbps |
| International | 18Mbps | 30Mbps | 15Mbps | 15Mbps | 25Mbps | 100Mbps |
| Usual price | $81.32 | $124.12 | $124.12 | $136.96 | $158.36 | $395.90 |
| Promo Price | $56.92 | $80.68 | $68.27 | $82.18 | $102.93 | Nil |
| % discount | 30% | 35% | 45% | 40% | 35% | – |
| Benefits | FREE SafeSurf** | |||||
| FREE home phone line## | ||||||
| Speed boost of up to 100Mbps at partner sites+ | Free StarHub TV Online Channels^ | FREE 2Mbps Mobile Broadband^^ FREE SIM or microSIM^^ FREE Hub Troopers service call” FREE 10 DRM music downloads** |
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