Singapore Government triples number of broadband providers in the country

Internet Business News, May 25, 2005

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The government of Singapore has announced that it is to triple the number of broadband operators in the country to six and allow them to operate over wireless technology, which is set to cause Internet costs in the country to fall.

The Infocomm Development Authority has awarded licenses to four new entrants after a government auction - Pacific Internet, MobileOne, inter-touch Holdings and Qala Singapore. They are also allowing existing operators - SingTel and StarHub - to operate over wireless systems. The IDA said the wireless services can begin operating from 1 July.

Bidders are reported to have paid between SGD215,200 (USD130,400) and SGD550,000 dollars for a single lot on the frequency spectrum, with some companies investing in multiple lots.

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