Singapore's Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) has awarded 175 MHz of new spectrum, in the 700 MHz, 900 MHz and 2.5 GHz bands, to four operators for a total SGD 1.145 billion. The auction includes the right to refarm spectrum coming available from the planned shutdown of GSM services later this month.
The IMDA said operators should be able to start deploying the spectrum from July for the 900 MHz and 2.5 GHz bands, while the 700 MHz band will be available from the start of 2018.
Singtel acquired the most in the auction, at 75 MHz for a total SGD 563.7 million, while Starhub bought 60 MHz for SGD 349.6 million. M1 bought 30 MHz for SGD 208 million, and newcomer TPG Telecom took 10 MHz for SGD 23.8 million.
StarHub Mobile said it was provisionally awarded 30 MHz in the 700 MHz band (3 spectrum lots), 10 MHz in the 900 MHz band, and 20 GHz in the 2.5 GHz range (4 lots).
Singtel took four lots of 10 MHz in the 700 MHz band for SGD 94 million each. In addition to its one reserved lot in the 90 MHz band at SGD 20 million, it acquired the other remaining 10 MHz in the band for SGD 132 million.
M1 also took one reserved lot in the 900 MHz band, plus 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band. TPG acquired just two lots at SGD 11.9 million each in the 2.5 GHz band.
