Exits loom for new telco players amidst 5G roll-out

TPG is tipped to record losses.

New telco players are expected to exit as 5G is rolled out across at least half of Singapore by the end of 2022, according to a report by DBS Equity Research.

In particular, TPG may not last in the market without a nationwide 5G licence. The firm is expected to record a massive loss, as its annual revenue is projected to hit $36m at most even after 12 months of its commercial launch in mid-2020.

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are struggling as well. “The discontinuation of operations by MVNO Zero Mobile in December 2019 also shows that new players are struggling, and some of them may look to exit Singapore soon,” DBS Equity Research analyst Sachin Mittal said.

Also read: IMDA moves deadline of 5G licence bids to 17 February

Two MNOs will be chosen to deploy the 3.5GHz spectrum band on a standalone basis. StarHub and M1 are expected to bid jointly for a nationwide 5G licence in February 2020, whilst Singtel may likely go solo as it has the capacity to handle the capex on its own.

If you've been wondering whether SBR could work for your company — yes, probably.

A lot of the companies we partner with started as readers. They'd been following our coverage for a while, saw their own customers and competitors in it, and eventually asked the obvious question: could we do something with you? The answer is usually yes. The shape of it depends on what you're trying to do.

The options are broader than most people assume — thought leadership articles, sponsored content, industry summits across Southeast Asia, regional awards programmes, podcasts, and media placements in print and digital. Some partners use one channel; most use a mix. We figure out the right combination by starting with your brief, not with our rate card.

So if the question has been on your mind, here's the easy way to ask it.

We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how. It's a better use of everyone's time.

Book a meeting

| Or download the media kit (PDF)

240,000 senior readers quarterly in print Top 1,700 Singapore companies reached

7 markets across Southeast Asia