SingTel plans to build 3G Asian mobile network<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, Asia's
\neighth largest telephone company, plans to build a Pan-Asia third
\ngeneration (3G) mobile network though joint ventures with
\nregional telecom players.<\/p>\n
Executive vice president Lucas Chow told reporters in a news
\nconference held late on Friday that the company was interested in
\nthe mobile markets of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia and
\nChina and was in talks with several operators in these countries.<\/p>\n
\"SingTel has an ambition to do a regional 3G network because
\nat the end of the day, size is everything...development costs are
\nhigh and we need to have an extensive rollout,\" Chow said, in
\ncomments embargoed for release until Monday.<\/p>\n
In SingTel's domestic market, Chow estimated that SingTel
\nwould need to spend S$1.3 billion (US$747 million) over 10 years
\njust building the network infrastructure for 3G.<\/p>\n
He said the figure excluded the cost of the license and also
\nproduct and content development that would be needed for 3G.<\/p>\n
Chow said his view was that 3G licenses should be given to
\ndominant players in their respective markets as they would
\nalready have the customer base which would need to migrate to the
\nnew network.<\/p>\n
He said SingTel's regional mobile strategy would vary from
\ncountry to country depending on the regulators and the
\nopportunity.<\/p>\n
In Hong Kong for example, which announced last week that it
\nwould offer four 3G licenses for auction to pre-qualified
\nbidders, Chow said SingTel was in talks with some operators for a
\njoint bid.<\/p>\n
\"Hong Kong is on our radar screen. Our best cast scenario is
\nto partner a good incumbent,\" he said, but he declined to say
\nwhich of the six domestic telecom operators SingTel was in talks
\nwith.<\/p>\n
SingTel was earlier reported to be in discussions with New
\nWorld Mobility, a unit of New World Development, for their mobile
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
\"We are still talking but these things don't happen overnight.
\nNew World is one possible partner for 3G,\" Chow said.<\/p>\n
He said while SingTel was always interested in buying network
\ninfrastructure (when they were for sale), it was also open to
\nbuying services on a wholesale basis from dominant players and
\nreselling them to the customer.<\/p>\n
Chow also gave an update on SingTel's 50:50 joint venture with
\nVirgin Mobile to offer mobile services in Asia first announced in
\nMay.<\/p>\n
He said the two companies were close to finalizing the
\nshareholders agreement and Virgin Mobile would offer its services
\nin Singapore in the first quarter of 2001.<\/p>\n
He said the joint venture, which would be run independently
\nwith a separate board, expected to take five percent of the
\nmobile market in Singapore within 18 months.<\/p>\n
It also plans to launch its services in Hong Kong and Taiwan
\nwithin the same time frame.<\/p>\n
On SingTel's recent acquisition of a stake in Indian telecom
\noperator Barrette Group, Chow said the focus would be to help the
\ncompany to build a national network.<\/p>",
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