M1's 4G pricing plans 15-25% more expensive than SingTel's

But M1 offers more free minutes than SingTel.

According to Nomura, M1 is moving to tiered data pricing plans, and is also charging SGD11 more for 4G, effective 15 September. Its entry level plans now start at 2GB vs 12GB previously for new customers and re-contracts.

Here's more from Nomura:

SingTel announced similar plans in June this year, but the key difference is that M1 is looking to charge SGD10.70/mth more for 4G plans vs 3G, whereas SingTel offers both at the same price. M1’s 2GB and 3GB plans (for 4G) are around 15-25% more expensive than SingTel’s (on per GB basis), but offer more free minutes than SingTel’s.

The 12GB plans are priced similarly at SGD205-209/mth, as are excess data usage charges at SGD5.35 per GB. M1’s re-contracting customers will be given an additional 1GB data allowance.

Scope for some ARPU uplift, but may not be that material. M1 noted that 78% of customers use less than 2GB and 93% use less than 5GB. M1’s reported ARPU have ranged between SGD60 to SGD65 for the past two years now.

4G, yet another catalyst for tiered plans. As we have seen with various other telcos, 4G launches are being used as a catalyst/ event to re-price data, as telcos have struggled with data economics. This is a positive step for the industry – especially as iPhone-5 is expected to be launched next week (unclear on Singapore launch date) and there are again rising concerns on its impact on subsidies/ margins.

M1 now has a nationwide 4G network – offering up to 75Mbps speeds. M1 announced that it is now the first Singaporean operator with a nationwide 4G service on 1800MHz and 2600MHz. Theoretical speeds are expected to be 75Mbps vs 7.2Mbps for 3G, with typical speeds around 4-6x faster than 3G at 7Mpbs to 17Mbps (downlink).

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