What can boost Singapore's internet penetration to 85.3%?

The entry of a new telco is one.

Singapore's internet penetration could reach 85.3% by end-2021 with the help of the expansion of LTE networks and the launch of the new telco player.

According to PwC, high-speed penetration of mobile Internet connections will be 91.3%, a rise of 27.3 percentage points in 2021. Mobile Internet revenues will grow by a CAGR of 10.7% to US$2.3b over the forecast period, while total Internet access revenues will rise by a CAGR of 8.9% to US$3.3b.

Meanwhile, on the fixed side fibre-to-the-home/building (FTTH/B) is the dominant technology, accounting for over 75% of the market. PwC said cable and DSL are losing market share rapidly.

Currently, Singapore has three major mobile operators, with the incumbent SingTel the dominant provider but in December 2016 Australia’s TPG Telecom bid successfully for a new-entrant licence. TPG paid $105m (US$72.7m) for 900MHz and 2.3GHz spectrum and will become the country’s fourth LTE provider.