Provision of Space in Buildings for Deployment of Telecom Equipment

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) what is the rationale for requiring owners and developers of buildings to provide mobile deployment space to telecommunications licensees free of charges or payment; (b) how many other countries in the world have such similar requirement; and (c) whether this practice benefits telecommunication licensees at the expense of owners and developers of buildings.

Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Businesses and consumers rely increasingly on mobile telephone services and expect better mobile coverage. In response to this, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) enhanced the quality of service (QoS) standards imposed on mobile operators for both in-building and outdoor mobile coverage. IDA also reviewed the Code of Practice for Info-Communication Facilities in Buildings. This was to ensure that building developments would be equipped with minimum space and facilities necessary for mobile operators to deploy additional equipment needed for better mobile coverage. The requirement to provide this minimum amount of mobile deployment space (MDS) at no charge to the mobile operators was meant to facilitate quick deployment of mobile equipment, so that end-users could benefit faster from the improved mobile coverage.

Notwithstanding the above, existing lease agreements for space purposed for the provision of mobile coverage within the developments will be allowed to continue until their expiry. Developments would only need to comply with the new MDS requirement after the expiry of these existing agreements.

Singapore is one of the few countries known to have imposed QoS standards on telecommunication services for compliance purposes and similarly for the MDS requirement. Such measures are implemented to protect and benefit consumers and businesses. In fact, the most direct and immediate beneficiaries of improved mobile coverage are the building residents and tenants themselves. These new requirements have also taken into account industry feedback via two rounds of public consultation. Both public consultations saw no objections from most respondents, who understood and acknowledged the need to facilitate the better mobile coverage within building developments for the benefit of end-users.