SINGAPORE-Following its fast-forwarded liberalization plans announced earlier this year, the Singapore government awarded 58 new telecom licenses. The Ministry for Communications and Information Technology awarded five new facilities-based licenses and 24 new services-based licenses. The rest were given to companies currently offering telecom-related services.
MCI Worldcom Asia and AT&T Worldwide Telecommunications are among the new players.
The Singapore government moved its liberalization plans ahead by two years, effectively throwing the industry wide open to competition almost immediately.
StarHub Pte Ltd. plans to begin offering mobile services on April 1, competing with incumbents MobileOne and SingTel Mobile. Third-generation licenses in Singapore could be awarded by the end of the year.
