MyRepublic, TPG Telecom and airYotta submitted expressions of interest in mobile carrier license
Three companies have submitted expressions of interest in participating in an upcoming spectrum auction to become Singapore’s fourth mobile operator.
The three companies are local broadband provider MyRepublic, Australian internet service provider TPG Telecom and airYotta.
The latter company, airYotta, was created by former executives from Consistel subsidiary OMGTel. The recently formed firm said it aims to deploy an LTE-Advanced Pro network to provide 4G services in Singapore if the bid is successful.
MyRepublic said it aims to deploy a pre-“5G” network in Singapore using hetnet technologies including small cells.
“TPG notes the very positive step taken by the IDA to encourage a fourth entrant by making a substantial portion of spectrum available for sale to new entrants only,” TPG Telecom said in a statement.
Singapore aims to award 60 megahertz of mobile spectrum in the 900 MHz and 2.3 GHz bands. Singapore’s current mobile operators are Singtel, StarHub and M1.
India telco Reliance Jio to launch 4G LTE services next week
In other APAC news, Indian telecom operator Reliance Jio Infocomm confirmed it will launch commercial LTE services on Sept. 5.
Reliance Jio launched a 4G trial for employees in late 2015. The telco’s 4G network currently reaches 1,800 cities and towns and more than 200,000 villages. By March 2017, Reliance Jio aims to cover 90% of the nation’s population with its 4G infrastructure.
The first telecom operator to hold a pan-India unified license, Reliance Jio holds “liberalized” spectrum across the 800 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2.3 GHz bands. In addition, the operator has entered into spectrum-sharing agreements with Reliance Communications to gain access to more airwaves in the 800 MHz band and plans to extend those agreements to gain pan-Indian 800 MHz frequencies.
Rival operators Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular already offer LTE services.
