5G spectrum win a much-needed boost for TPG, but still an uphill battle for the telco

LAST week's award of 5G spectrum was a sorely needed win for newcomer telco TPG Telecom - though it is still an uphill battle for it to gain ground on the Singapore incumbents.

TPG and its Australia-listed parent Tuas Ltd have just disclosed that the telco was provisionally awarded 2 paired lots of 2.1 GHz spectrum for S$31 million, with a 15-year licence.

The latest 5G auction results will likely be a game-changer for TPG, which lost out in last year's beauty contest for 3.5 GHz spectrum. At the time, it clinched only millimetre-wave (mmWave) spectrum, which can be used for localised networks and hotspots, but not island-wide coverage.