IMDA extends 5G bid deadline to Feb 17

THE Singapore regulator has pushed back the deadline for 5G licence bids, citing "requests from the mobile network operators (MNOs) for more time to submit proposals".

Bidders now have until Feb 17, 2020 to make their pitches, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said on Thursday, in an update to the initial deadline of Jan 21.

With this move, 5G hopefuls have another month to turn in their applications for the four licences that went up for grabs when the IMDA opened the floor to applications on Oct 17, 2019.

Under the regulator's planned licensing regime, MNOs can, either singly or in team-ups, apply for two licences to run islandwide 5G systems, as well as up to two for smaller-scale networks.

Their proposals will be graded on weighted factors such as bid size, network design, resilience, roll-out and performance, as well as the companies' financial capability.

The IMDA's reason mirrors a similar deadline extension for the 5G industry consultation that preceded the licence applications in mid-2019.

But The Business Times (BT) understands that the latest extension is not expected to affect the rest of the timeline for Singapore's 5G roll-out, unveiled last year, which scheduled licence awards for mid-2020.

Australian newcomer TPG Telecom, which entered the Singapore market in late-2018, said that the scope of the 5G call for proposals was substantial and needs "deeper analysis". Without giving details on its plans, its spokesman added: "The extended timeline helps as we require further clarification and coordination with our various business partners and vendors."

Meanwhile, the incumbent listed telcos both confirmed that they are still sniffing at the fray.

A spokesman for StarHub told BT: "We appreciate the time extension for the submission of 5G proposals, and we are working towards the new closing date."

Singtel - where CEO Chua Sock Koong told reporters in November 2019 that "we would have to go for a nationwide licence" - also said through a spokesman that "we appreciate the extension".

Similarly, a spokesman for M1 said that the telco welcomes the decision "and we are working on it according to IMDA's requirements". Pointing to ongoing trials, he noted that the company also plans to develop more.

Singtel shares closed down S$0.03 or 0.89 per cent to S$3.36 on Thursday before the news, while StarHub added S$0.01 or 0.69 per cent to S$1.47.

M1 was privatised last year and is now a subsidiary of Keppel Corp, which ended flat at S$6.84.