Singapore Eyes 5G Takeover: 2.1 GHz Spectrum Auction on the Horizon
Picture this: Singapore’s 2.1 GHz band, which’s been serving 3G users for years, is set to flip houses for the next big thing—sweeping 5G coverage across the island. After all, the UK, Germany, and Hong Kong have already mixed this frequency into their own 5G pies.
Why the Mix‑and‑Match?
- IMDA is on the lookout for how to keep dreams of nationwide 5G stand‑alone (SA) networks alive, while still giving older‑school 3G subscribers a fair chance.
- The authority’s “open call for consultation” invites anyone interested to weigh in on the plan.
- The 2.1 GHz block will be broken into 12 paired lots. Each will cost roughly $10–$15 million. No company can snatch more than five lots to keep the game balanced.
Who’s on the List?
Our local heavy‑weights—Singtel and StarHub—have already snagged their 5G fancies in the first round, but the newest add‑on, M1, has just kicked off its SA rollout. Meanwhile, TPG, who missed out in the first auction, might get a second shot at breathing life into 5G with this new bid.
But remember: mobile made‑to‑order services (MVNOs) like Circles.Life, Gorilla Mobile, Grid Mobile, and the rest can’t bid directly. They’re dependent on the MNOs to get their signals.
5G in Numbers: The Singapore Story
Since the 5G launch, locals have been diving in: 16.6 GB per person per month runs like a freight train across the network.
- Average 5G download speed: 143.5 Mbps
- Peak download speed: 579.1 Mbps
- Upload speed: 21.2 Mbps
And about the actual experience—Singapore is cracking top‑5 scores in Video (80.5), Games (87.2), and Voice Apps (83.1), even beating Japan in all three categories, even though Japan had a head start.
