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It is competing with TPG in the New Entrant Spectrum Auction (NESA), the first of a two-stage process to auction spectrum for services such as 4G

When news of MyRepublic’s proposed telco price plans were made public early this year, incumbent telcos in Singapore rushed to stem the hype by counter offering with more incentives and attractive deals.

Since then, talk of MyRepublic’s telco aspirations has simmered down (save for the announcement of its official bid)

Now, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) may have put a damper in its ambitions with the announcement of Australia-based telecommunications company TPG Telecom Pte Ltd (TPG) joining the bid.

Both companies will participate in the New Entrant Spectrum Auction (NESA). This is the first of a two-stage process to auction spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) and IMT- Advanced services (for example, 4G services). Both MyRepublic and TPG will bid for the 900 MHz and 2.3 GHz bands.

The successful bidder will officially become Singapore’s 4th Mobile Network Operator (MNO).

A third bidder, airYotta Pte Ltd, had filed an Expression of Interest (EOI) but did not meet the pre-qualification criteria.

For context, IMDA’s pre-qualification criteria covered management and operational experience in public communication networks and retail telecommunication services.

IMDA also looked at whether the prospective new entrants have the financial, technical and engineering capabilities required to establish a telecommunication system for the purpose of providing 4G and/or IMT-Advanced services.

IMDA hopes to conclude the NESA process by the end of this year.

MyRepublic, it’s time to cross your fingers.

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Image Credit: MyRepublic

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