Singapore in ‘win-win’ scenario with 5G come 2025

Among Asean markets, Singapore is expected to capture the largest share of potential value from 5G. This is so because by 2025, the Republic is projected to achieve ASEAN’s most positive “win-win” scenario, where businesses are revolutionised by 5G-enabled technologies and faster mobile services are ushered in for consumers.

According to AT Kearney, within the ASEAN, 5G could bring in Singapore U$4.3 billion to US$5.8 billion more a year in operator revenues by 2025, or 12% more than what telcos are making now. Enterprise turnover could grow by between 18% and 22%, while consumer revenues are pegged to rise by 6% to 9%.

“Given the otherwise widely stagnating revenues of telecom operators both in the region and around the world, this is an astonishing opportunity that operators must make all efforts to capture,” analysts said.

But, even though the biggest shares of 5G-added revenues will likely go to bigger countries such as Indonesia, the AT Kearney analysts still expect Singapore to be leading its peers in 5G adoption in South-east Asia.

All in all, Singapore telecom operators could pick up as much as 40% of the enterprise revenue up for grabs, against 30% in Indonesia or 25% in the Philippines.

Singapore is also pegged to reach 5G penetration of 56.9% by 2025, beating out Malaysia’s 39.8%, and Thailand’s 33%.

The Republic could see telco revenues up by between US$370 million and US$510 million a year by then, on the back of enterprise business.

Of that, as much as US$220 million may be from enterprise users, with another US$50 million from over-the-top firms that use the connectivity as a platform for other consumer or enterprise services. Consumer mobile will make up the rest of the projected turnover in Singapore.

Strategic clusters for 5G development

Singapore regulators have already identified six strategic clusters for 5G development: maritime operations, urban mobility, smart estates, Industry 4.0, and consumer and government applications. They plan to start rolling out the 5G network next year, with fuller coverage from 2023 onwards.

Industry 5G projects now under way include Singtel’s advanced manufacturing tie-up with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research; M1’s robotics research with the Singapore University of Technology and Design; and both operators’ smart port trials with state-owned PSA. -/TISG