Ensuring Sufficient Mobile Network Coverage in Residential Estates or Public Areas
Ministry of Digital Development and InformationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling’s inquiry into how IMDA ensures adequate mobile coverage in residential areas and underground MRT stations and whether standard contract templates can facilitate equipment installations. Minister S Iswaran stated that MNOs must meet IMDA’s Quality of Service Framework standards for outdoor and indoor areas, verified through regular island-wide testing and published results. IMDA requires MNOs to investigate coverage complaints and make reasonable efforts to improve service levels in a timely manner. Regarding installations, Minister S Iswaran highlighted the Code of Practice for Info-communication Facilities in Buildings as the baseline for contractual terms between MNOs and building owners. This code specifies procedures for both parties to address deployment concerns and reach amicable outcomes for essential mobile connectivity.
Transcript
73 Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) how does IMDA ensure mobile network operators (MNOs) provide sufficient coverage for users in residential estates or public areas especially at underground MRT stations; and (b) whether IMDA will consider assisting with a standard contract template that can be used by MNOs and building owners (private condominiums) to fairly address the concerns of installations.
Mr S Iswaran: All mobile network operators (MNOs) must comply with IMDA’s standards for nationwide mobile coverage under IMDA’s Quality of Service Framework, which covers outdoor and indoor areas, including MRT stations and tunnels. IMDA conducts regular island-wide tests to ascertain that the MNOs have met and continue to meet these standards. The results from these tests are published on IMDA’s website. Where there are complaints of poor coverage in specific areas, IMDA requires the MNOs to investigate each complaint and make all reasonable efforts to improve coverage in a timely manner.
On installation, given the importance of mobile connectivity services to Singapore, IMDA has put in place a Code of Practice for Info-communication Facilities in Buildings. The Code of Practice specifies procedures to be observed by both MNOs and building owners for the deployment of mobile network equipment in buildings. This Code of Practice may be used by both parties as the baseline for contractual terms governing such deployments. IMDA expects MNOs to work with building owners to address concerns relating to the deployments, and achieve an amicable outcome.