4 factors that can push Singapore to be a frontrunner in 5G rollout

The city-state's telco players are already on the move.

Singapore's favourable regulatory environment can pave way for it to be a leading player in 5G implementation.

According to BMI Research, the recent announcement of Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) that waives frequency fees for 5G network trials goes to show how committed the city-state is to drive 5G uptake.

More so, Singapore's telco operators are all collaborating with firms on 5G trials, with Singtel conducting trials with Ericsson, and Starhub and M1 in partnerships with Huawei.

"We expect Singtel's strong position in the market and the added competition brought by new entrant TPG to support the push for 5G. The pace of take-up will depend on how attractive plans are, and whether or not they support the migration of customers," BMI Research said.

Meanwhile, it also pointed out the city-state's highly mature mobile market, which is driven by converged services and the upselling of premium value-added services.

"With 3G/4G penetration nearing 100% in 2017, low organic subscriber growth prospects, and a strong consumer appetite for data services and premium products, we expect consumer readiness to be ripe once 5G is commercialised," BMI said.

Lastly, Singapore's Internet of Things (IoT) push supports 5G take-up, as the technology's greater speed and lower latency will help with the quality of smart city applications and IoT services such as connected cars and robotics.

"Enterprise will, therefore, have a key role in driving 5G in Singapore, and in turn, IoT solutions will take a more prominent space for operators. Security risks will be the main hurdle to overcome," BMI explained.

Reaching the people who run Asia's businesses is harder than it used to be.

Inboxes are crowded. Attention is short. The executives you most want to reach — the founders, CFOs, and operators who actually move budgets — are the hardest to find through the usual channels. If you're building a company, a category, or a reputation, you already know this.

We've spent twenty years building the room they read. Singapore Business Review is where senior decision makers in Singapore and across Southeast Asia come for business coverage they can't get elsewhere — in print, online, and in person at the summits and roundtables we host across seven markets.

If you have something these readers should know about — a point of view worth publishing, a product worth their attention, an event worth their time — we'd like to hear what you're trying to do.

Book a meeting

| Or download the media kit (PDF)

240,000 senior readers quarterly in print Top 1,700 Singapore companies reached

7 markets across Southeast Asia