Singapore's telecoms regulatory body, IMDA last week announced Singtel and the Joint-Venture Consortium (JVCo) formed by StarHub and M1 as the winners of its 5G Call for Proposal (CFP).
Singtel and JVCo will be allocated radio frequency spectrum to deploy nationwide 5G networks. Other mobile operators can access these network services through a wholesale arrangement. Additionally, IMDA will allocate mmWave spectrum to mobile network operators to deploy localised high-capacity 5G hotspots. With this, M1, StarHub, Singtel, TPG Telecom and mobile virtual network operators would be able to offer retail 5G services to end users.
The winners will roll out 5G Standalone (SA) networks from January 2021, keeping pace with first-mover cities in other countries. The winners will be required to provide coverage for at least half of Singapore by end-2022, scaling up to nationwide coverage by end 2025.
Both winners will be given provisional awards, pending their completion of regulatory processes, such as selection of spectrum lots and confirmation of technical and legal matters. IMDA will issue 5G licences to the respective winners once they have completed these processes.
