TPG has confirmed that it is seeking spectrum in an auction being conducted by Singapore’s Infocomm Development Authority (IDA).
In a statement released to the ASX, the Australian ISP said the IDA’s New Entrant Spectrum Auction “represents an opportunity to establish innovative and exciting mobile telecommunications products which will support Singapore’s evolving Smart Nation Capabilities”.
The IDA announced details in February of the framework for the New Entrant Spectrum Auction, with the organisation seeking to allocate a total of 60MHz of spectrum in the 900MHz and 2.3GHz bands through the process.
Only parties that do not operate a nationwide mobile network in Singapore are eligible to participate. Bidding will begin at S$35 million, with spectrum rights to commence in April next year.
The New Entrant Spectrum Auction will be followed by a General Spectrum Auction. The second auction will be open to incumbent operators M1, Singtel Mobile and StarHub Mobile as well as the winner of the new entrant auction, with an additional 175MHz of spectrum up for grabs.
In order to participate in the new entrant auction, TPG will have to be prequalified to bid. The telco said it will seek two lots of 2x5MHz in the 900MHz band.
Within Australia, TPG already has significant spectrum holdings. In February, along with Telstra, Vodafone and Optus it picked up spectrum in the 1800MHz band, adding to the 2.5GHz spectrum it obtained in the government’s 2013 ‘Digital Dividend’ auction.
“Following our purchase in 2013 of 2x10MHz of nationwide 2.5GHz spectrum, this further investment in spectrum represents the beginning of the next exciting chapter in TPG’s development,” TPG’s CEO, David Teoh, said after the 1800MHz auction.
“Fixed line broadband has to-date been the backbone of our growth but we believe that wireless connectivity will play and increasing role in the future needs of Australian telecommunications consumers.”
Within Australia, TPG currently operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) on Vodafone's network.