Disappointed that personal hotspot not enabled in new iPads

Question

Dear Apple,
I currently own a iPad, the original one, and was eagerly awaiting the release of the new iPad in Singapore.
I was going to buy it soon, but I read in Digital Life today, the IT pull out in the Singapore newspapers that the personal hotspot feature is not enabled for iPads sold here.
Why is this so?
Singapore telecommunications regulations does not allow telcos to lock devices, even if customers bought devices with subsidies. At the same, Singapore consumers can purchase iPads from non telco retailers.
Why are the interest of telcos put ahead of consumers? As consumers, we can purchase devices and services separately, and combine them in any way we see fit.
Please enable this feature, otherwise I will sit on the sidelines, and continue using my original iPad.
For potential new iPad customers, please like this post so Apple know how important this issue is for their customers.
Thank you.
Alex C.

Answer 1

I don't understand the logic of applying the norm in US to Singapore.
There are 3 mobile providers in Singapore, all running on GSM. Telecommunications regulations bar telcos from locking handsets, and the penetration rate of mobile phones is higher than 100%, which means there are quite a few people who carry more than 1 phone around.
There is no limitation of tethering in Singapore by the telcos, the competition is such that the first telco who tries to force the rule onto their customers, would start seeing customer defections very quickly.
For my case, I subscribed to a mobile broadband plan that equipped me with a mobile wifi router, and then I cut the SIM card to size and placed it in my iPad. Why should I need permission from my telco to enable tethering? It was meant to be tethered to in the first place.