By Juan Pedro Tomás
Singapore carriers secured additional spectrum for the provision of 5G services after local regulator Infocomm Media Authority (IMDA) awarded spectrum in the 2.1 GHz band.
This spectrum is in addition to the first tranche of 3.5 GHz spectrum awarded in June 2020 for the deployment of 5G nationwide networks.
“The 2.1 GHz spectrum rights auction is a key milestone in Singapore’s 5G journey to have a world-class, secure and resilient infrastructure, putting Singapore in a stronger position to grow our 5G innovation ecosystem; and positioning us for the next bound of growth in the digital economy,” IMDA said in a release.
The successful bidders were Singtel, a consortium comprising local carriers M1 Limited and StarHub and TPG Telecom.
IMDA said that both Singtel and the M1-StarHub Consortium secured 5 lots of 5 MHz paired spectrum while TPG Telecom obtained 2 lots of 5 MHz paired spectrum.
“Singtel and the M1-StarHub Consortium may use the new spectrum to enhance the coverage and capacity of their existing 5G Standalone (SA) networks deployed with the first tranche of spectrum issued by IMDA in 2020. Both Singtel and M1-StarHub consortium are on track to establish two nationwide networks with full-fledged 5G SA capabilities with at least 50 per cent coverage by end-2022, and nationwide coverage by end-2025,” IMDA said.
“TPG will be required to deploy a new 5G network in the same manner and time frame as Singtel Mobile and the M1-StarHub Consortium’s deployment conditions. TPG must roll out a 5G SA network with at least 50 per cent coverage within two years, and nationwide 5G SA coverage within five years, from the commencement of its 2.1 GHz spectrum rights.
IMDA said that winning bidders will have rights to the 2.1 GHz spectrum for deployment of 5G network and services from 1 January 2022.
Last year, local telco Singtel and a joint venture between StarHub Mobile and M1 were awarded licenses to build two nationwide SA 5G networks in Singapore. The winners were each allocated 100 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band.
IMDA noted that other mobile operators will be able to access these network services through a wholesale arrangement.
Under the conditions stipulated in the spectrum auction, the two winners were expected to start deploying SA 5G networks in January 2021 and were also required to provide coverage for at least half of Singapore by the end of 2022, scaling up to nationwide coverage by the end of 2025.
