Singapore could have a fourth telecom services provider

[gzbkel]

Singapore could have a fourth telecom services provider

http://www.theedgesingapore.com/the-dail...iness.html
WRITTEN BY REUTS
THURSDAY, 26 JUNE 2014 09:13
Singapore could finally have a fourth full-fledged telecommunications company after more than a decade, the Straits Times reported.

Two-year-old local broadband services provider MyRepublic says it has fibre connections set up islandwide, and is prepared to begin providing mobile services.

Currently, there are three telecom providers in Singapore - Singapore Telecommunications Co, StarHub and M1.

[CityFarmer]

More info on the news. MyRepublic is cherry picking. Proposal of 4G-only, selective and smaller spectrum, waiver on minimum coverage requirement etc...Hmm...

(vested in M1)

MyRepublic aims to be 4th telco, but expects resistance

SINGAPORE — There are plenty of assumptions that would need to go MyRepublic’s way, as well as a helping hand from local regulator Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), before the fiber broadband provider can realise its goal of becoming the fourth telecom operator in Singapore.

In an interview with Channel NewsAsia on Thursday (June 26), MyRepublic CEO Malcolm Rodrigues acknowledged that the road to become the new telco in an already-saturated market is fraught with obstacles. These range from regulatory constraints, to initial cost outlay, and likely resistance from the three incumbents — SingTel, StarHub and M1 — “all along the way”.
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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/myr...epage=true

[CityFarmer]

Latest update on the news. The result will be known early 2015, nine months away...

One statement that catches my attention is

"MyRepublic expects the number of broadband Internet customers to exceed 25,000, or 1.8% of the market, by the end of July, Rodrigues said."

It means MyRepublic current market share is less than 1.8% (I reckon should be much less than 1.8%), which is tallied to my previous conclusion in M1 thread. Other RSVs are marginalized, without the mobile service.

(vested in M1)

MyRepublic plots mobile disruption in Singapore - Saturated market

...
SATURATED MARKET’
MyRepublic’s proposal includes using the incumbents’ networks while it builds out its own infrastructure, Rodrigues said.

“They’re fighting a very saturated market here,” Carey Wong, a Singapore-based telecommunications analyst from OCBC Investment Research, said in a phone interview. “It’s not going to be cheap to piggyback on existing telcos’ networks. It’s like taking a taxi versus driving your car. I’m not going to charge you the same price.”

Rodrigues said he expects the regulator to decide on the bidding process and offer the license in as early as nine months.

The Infocomm Development Authority, the regulator, intends to release its response in early 2015, it said in an e-mailed statement yesterday.
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http://www.theedgesingapore.com/the-dail...?showall=1

[CityFarmer]

More update on the MyRepublic funding.

I also noticed that a statement

"The firm currently commands about 5 per cent of the broadband market, something that Mr Rodrigues is confident he can grow to about 7 to 8 per cent over the next three to four years."

So up to June 2014, MyRepublic has secured 5% of market share, which means the growth is at the expense of others.

(vested in M1)

Fourth telco hopeful MyRepublic attracts S$30m from investors

SINGAPORE — Local fibre broadband service provider MyRepublic, which hopes to become the Republic’s fourth telco operator, has raised more than S$30 million in funding from two investors, laying down the first bricks in its bold ambition to penetrate a sector dominated by three players.

Indonesian telco Sunshine Network, owned by conglomerate Sinar Mas, has pumped in more than S$20 million, MyRepublic CEO Malcolm Rodrigues told TODAY in an exclusive interview. French telecoms billionaire Xavier Niel, founder of French telco Free, has also invested S$10 million, he added. Mr Rodrigues said Sunshine Network is interested in adopting MyRepublic’s low-cost model and sharing its platform, while Mr Niel aims to piggyback off MyRepublic’s expansion to countries such as New Zealand and Australia.

“The Indonesians said, ‘We like your operating model, we think we can borrow that model and apply it to the Indonesian market,’” said Mr Rodrigues, adding that Sunshine Network is looking to share MyRepublic’s cloud-based platform, which will, in turn, lead to lower operating costs.
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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/fou...-investors

[AlphaQuant]

Interesting coverage from Deutsche Bank:

***************

Our discussions with MyRepublic indicate a hunger for expansion
Broadband operator MyRepublic’s presence in the market is generally described as annoying but inconsequential by the big three operators. However with an additional S$30m in funding announced yesterday from Sinar Mas and French telecom billionaire, Xavier Niel, we expect the low-cost player to continue to grow. More worrying is MyRepublic’s stated desire to build a S$250m fourth mobile operator, subject to funding and spectrum.

We talked to MyRepublic yesterday, and consider it a growing threat to the established players in the sector. The combination of likely IDA support, and investor backing, appears to be coming together to create a longer term risk to industry pricing.

Fourth network threat
Later this quarter the IDA should rule on its proposal to open the mobile market to competition through MVNO support or a fourth network. The IDA received only a few submissions of which, having read the submission on the IDA website, we believe only my Republic seemed to have an ambitious plan. We expect the IDA to look to help MyRepublic, by allocating some 2.3GHz TD-LTE spectrum, plus some frequency sharing framework with the majors to allow it to provide competitive coverage. In its submission MyRepublic noted the opportunity to differentiate by offering a low-cost all-data service.

While the company would need funding, we believe the news today suggests it passes due diligence scrutiny, and we think while difficult there is likely a role and opportunity for a low-cost service in Singapore.


What happens next
MyRepublic appears to have its hands full, with roll-outs in New Zealand and Australia planned, and an eye on other opportunities regionally. As such, it may struggle to focus on Singapore ahead. However, as an entrepreneurial operator, with some aggressive backers, we will have to watch developments carefully. Xavier Niel’s Free mobile, gained 12% market share in France within two years of its 2012 launch, through offering heavily discounted plans – however it could rely on Iliard’s fixed network and large broadband customer base. (Read Report)

[CityFarmer]

MyRepublic is the forerunner for the likely 4th mobile operator...

MyRepublic to offer trial of mobile services from Oct 22

SINGAPORE: Internet service provider (ISP) MyRepublic announced a start date for its mobility trial and revealed that more than 13,000 individuals have indicated they are interested in participating in the trial.

In its press release on Thursday (Aug 27), the ISP said it will start its trial on Oct 22, and will be limited to a designated area within Jurong. It is also whittling down the number of participants to 500 and priority will be given to those who work or live near the Jurong East area, as well as MyRepublic subscribers, it said.

Blue areas indicate available outdoor coverage while purple areas indicate available indoor coverage. (Map: MyRepublic)

While mobile coverage will be limited to the designated area for the trial, there will be no limits on data usage for MyRepublic’s mobility trial participants, it added.

Chosen participants will be provided a smartphone and a mobile SIM card, and they will be able to keep the mobile phone if they complete a list of tasks by the end of the eight-week trial period. Trial registration will close on Sep 8, it said.

Additionally, the ISP said it would offer its broadband subscribers 12 months free subscription to unlimited local mobile data if they win the bid to become Singapore's fourth telco.

“It is an exclusive offer, our way of rewarding our customers who have been very supportive of our business and our mobility plans,” explained Mr Yap Yong Teck, MyRepublic Singapore’s Managing Director. “We want everyone to share our vision and excitement of what Singapore mobility should be.”
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/busi...80162.html

[CityFarmer]

MyRepublic is the front-runner of the fourth mobile operator competition, IMO...

MyRepublic raises S$23 million
25 Sep 2015 14:52
By Angela Tan

MYREPUBLIC, an upstart broadband provider in Singapore, has attracted S$23 million in capital, including investment from Brunei's leading telecommunications provider, DST, a major investor in the current round.

"We are convinced that this is an excellent opportunity to invest in MyRepublic, which is also in line with our future and active expansion plans," said Suhaimi Hussain, CEO of DST.
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Source: Business Times Breaking News