UMTS licensees fulfil network rollout commitments

Singapore’s three mobile operators – MobileOne, SingTel Mobile and StarHub – have successfully met the regulator, the IDA’s, licence requirements for the nationwide rollout of their 3G networks and services. The IDA stipulated that ‘at least 95% of street-level 3G radio coverage on the island of Singapore’ should be provided for by 31 December 2004: all three achieved radio coverage ratings of over 98%. In an attempt to drive uptake for high speed mobile services, the regulator has also said that mobile operators will be given the opportunity to charge different prices for calls within and outside of their own networks. As such the operators will have a commercial incentive to ‘define and expand the experience of 3G customers’ and ensure a good level of services according to their specific business strategies.