Singapore's Evolving 5G Spectrum and Deployment Plans

Singapore's Evolving 5G Spectrum and Deployment Plans

The Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore has been very proactive with public consultations relating to 5G with the issuance of the second public consultation. Many of the spectrum and technical issues that the IMDA addressed in its first public consultation as well as the issues brought forth in the second consultation are issues that many countries in Asia/Pacific are having to wrestle with, including cross-border midband spectrum coordination, 700MHz analog switch off, C-band and Ka-band satellite coprimary sharing, the role of mmWave, indoor coverage, infrastructure sharing, and wholesale business models. "Because of the limited availability of the C band in Singapore, plus the potential identification of exclusion zones for the C band, it appears that mmWave will need to play a larger role in Singapore than it does for larger neighboring countries for both capacity and small cell mobility coverage," says Bill Rojas, adjunct research director, IDC Asia/Pacific. "Satellite will continue to play a strategic role in Singapore's maritime sector so for the time being, C band at 3.7–4.2GHz will need to remain as a primary satellite status," he further adds.

Please Note: Extended description available upon request.