Webscale and transmission network operators' interests are aligning as the 5G era dawns
Consistel said to pull ahead in Singapore telco bid
Singapore's Consistel is reportedly pulling ahead of MyRepublic in the race to secure funding to make a play to become the market's fourth mobile operator.
Consistel has so far lined up at least S$400 million ($293.8 million) worth of the S$1 billion in funding it plans to raise ahead of a planned spectrum auction in the third quarter, and expects to be able to raise the remainder by the end of the month, the Singapore Business Review reported, citing a Maybank analyst.
Consistel is reportedly considering a range of funding options, including term loans, equity, and potentially vendor financing.
By contrast, MyRepublic had aimed to complete an S$250 million funding round by April, but has so far not reported any progress with this goal.
Consistel is a wireless networking equipment provider specializing in distributed antenna systems (DAS). The company first expressed an interest in becoming Singapore's fourth MNO - through subsidiary OMGtel - in 2014, not long after MyRepublic announced its MNO ambitions.
Regulator IDA plans to hold an auction to select Singapore’s fourth mobile operator in the third quarter, with a reserve price of around S$35 million. A dedicated auction for the potential new market entrants will be held ahead of a general auction open to all takers.
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Webscale and transmission network operators' interests are aligning as the 5G era dawns
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