Australian company TPG Telecom secured 60 megahertz of spectrum for $73 million.
Australian operator TPG Telecom is set to become Singapore’s fourth mobile operator after the country’s Infocommunications Media Development Authority awarded 60 megahertz of spectrum in a recent spectrum auction.
According to the agency, TPG Telecom will pay approximately $73 million for 20 megahertz of spectrum in the 900 MHz band and 40 megahertz in the 2.3 GHz band. IMDA said TPG will have access to the spectrum beginning April 1.
TPG will be required to use the allocated spectrum to provide nationwide street-level “4G” coverage within 18 months; road tunnels and in-building service coverage within 30 months; and coverage for underground stations and lines within 54 months from gaining access to the spectrum.
IMDA said it plans to proceed with the second stage of the auction, dubbed the General Spectrum Auction, which is set to be open to existing mobile operators M1, Singtel Mobile and StarHub Mobile as well as to TPG. The second stage is set to begin during the first quarter of 2017.
AIS to expand 4G infrastructure in Thailand
Thai mobile carrier AIS said it plans to invest approximately $1.12 billion to expand its nationwide 4G network. The expansion is set to boost 4G coverage to 98% of Thailand’s population.
The telco currently counts 39.9 million subscribers, with 4G connections accounting for approximately 25% of its subscriber base. AIS said it expects 4G subscribers to account for 40% of the carrier’s overall subscriber base by the end of next year.
