Australia-based TPG Telecom has submitted the winning bid of SGD 105 million for the fourth mobile operator licence in Singapore, the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced. The company will be provisionally allocated 60 MHz of spectrum, comprising 20 MHz in the 900 MHz spectrum band and 40 MHz in the 2.3 GHz spectrum band. TPG will use the newly acquired spectrum to provide 4G services.
The new spectrum rights are expected to commence on 1 April 2017 at the earliest. TPG will be required to use the allocated spectrum to provide nationwide street level coverage for 4G within 18 months from the start of the new spectrum rights; road tunnels and in-building service coverage within 30 months from the start of the new spectrum rights; and coverage for MRT underground stations/lines within 54 months from the start of the new spectrum rights.
TPG outbid the start-up MyRepublic, backed by French businessman Xavier Niel, and the local company AirYotta for the licence. The IMDA is soon expected to launch the second stage of the auction, the General Spectrum Auction (GSA). This tender will be open to existing MNOs M1, Singtel and StarHub. TPG may also participate in the GSA3. IMDA aims to start the GSA in the first quarter of 2017.
