Aspiring entrants to mobile market will need deep pockets

Singapore

IF there were ever any doubts about the government's intention to pave the way for a fourth telco operator in Singapore, they were dispelled by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) last week.

Despite the industry's chorus that there was no need - or room - for a new mobile phone operator (MNO), the IDA stuck to its earlier decision, taken last year in July, and unveiled more details about the reserved spectrum to be allocated to a new MNO. It also announced that it was reserving a part of the lucrative 900 MHz band, which enables better indoor connectivity, within the 60 MHz of spectrum to be set aside for the fourth operator; and it has reduced the reserve price from the S$40 million announced last year to S$35 million.