The two winners will deploy StandAlone 5G networks early January 2021
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in Singapore awarded 5G licences to Singtel and a joint venture set up by MNO rivals StarHub and M1. The winners were each allocated 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band. The fourth MNO TPG failed to get a licence. Other mobile service providers, including the MNO TPG will be allowed to access these new 5G networks via wholesale agreements. Prices have not been disclosed but the high reserve price set at 55 MSGD (35.8 MEUR) may have forced StarHb and M1 to jointly bid.
IMDA confirmed that both winners will be given provisional awards during completion of regulatory processes, such as the selection of spectrum lots and confirmation of technical and legal matters, allowing them to start their deployments of 5G networks thereafter.
The two winners will deploy StandAlone 5G networks early January 2021 and will be required to provide coverage for at least 50% of Singapore by the end of 2022, scaling up to nationwide coverage by the end of 2025.
The regulator also confirmed its intention to allocate mmWave spectrum to MNOs for the provision of high capacity 5G hotspots on a localised basis, with each assigned 800MHz of the mmWave spectrum band.
