Like my mother used to say, there’s always a higher mountain out there.
Even though I kept telling her that Mt Everest’s the highest mountain in the world, she refused to believe me.
Guess what, guys? She might be wrong about mountains but when it comes to internet speeds, she’s right.
Or at least, she will be right.
Because by Jan 2021, we could be enjoying 5G networks.
IMDA Announces Winners For 5G Networks
Back in mid-February, IMDA received three bids from telcos in Singapore for 5G network licenses.
One from Singtel, one from TPG Telecom and one from a joint venture between M1 and Starhub.
On 29 Apr, they announced that Singtel and StarHub-M1 has won.
They revealed that they’ve evaluated the proposals based on the following factors:
- network design and resilience
- network rollout and performance
- the price offered for one lot of 3.5Ghz band
- financial capability.
Sounds chim but basically, it means that the 5G networks that will be deployed are the fastest, most reliable and cost-effective networks that Singapore has to offer.
In theory lah.
Rollout Could Start From Jan 2021
Both Singtel and StarHub-M1 will each be given 100Mhz of the 3.5Ghz radio frequency spectrum to deploy 5G networks across the nation.
Other than that, they’ll also be allocated 800Mhz of the millimetre wave spectrum (mmWave).
Other operators will also be allocated some of the mmWave spectrum as well to provide “retail 5G services” to their customers.
By the way, 5G network speeds are twenty times the speed that we enjoy now on the 4G network.
It was added that Singtel and StarHub-M1 will start to roll out standalone 5G networks from Jan 2021.
Dates To Look Out For
By Jan 2021, 5G networks start rolling out.
By end-2022, half of Singapore must have 5G network coverage.
And by the end of 2025, the whole of Singapore must have 5G network coverage.
IMDA is also doing its part to ensure that the winners keep to the deadline by offering “provisional awards” when they manage to hit the milestones.
Some example includes being able to select spectrum lots and the confirmation of technical and legal matters.
I’m just hoping that my data plan won’t be cut down to 100Mb, just like how my 12Gb became 1Gb when 4G first came out.
