5G licences: Will industry partners bite?

SINGAPORE regulators' final plans for 5G telecom licences seem to anticipate a voracious appetite from mobile network operators (MNOs).

As many as four licences are up for grabs, under a framework announced last week. Two nationwide providers are guaranteed, with up to two more smaller-scale licences available too.

With its unexpected decision to possibly dole out twice as many licences as was originally suggested, the regulator has amply provided for the supply side of the 5G equation.

But the worst-case scenario, which the regulator is working visibly hard to ave…