Simba Telecom

Last updated

Simba Telecom
Company type Private
ASX:  TUA
Industry Telecommunications
Founded1 July 2016;7 years ago (2016-07-01)
Headquarters1 Kaki Bukit View, Techview, Singapore 415941
Area served
 Singapore
Key people
 David Teoh (Executive Chairman) [1]
Products Mobile Services
Fibre Broadband
Revenue S$57.4 million (Sept 2022) [2]
Number of employees
Approx. 100
Website Official website OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

SIMBA Telecom Pte Ltd, formerly known as TPG Singapore, is a Singaporean telecommunications company and one of four major telecommunication company operating in the country.

Contents

TPG Singapore was founded in 2016 by Australian businessman David Teoh after winning an auction from Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for its airwaves. Until 2020, TPG Singapore was a subsidiary of TPG, an Australian telecommunications company founded by Teoh. After TPG merged with Vodafone Hutchison Australia to form TPG Telecom in 2020, TPG Singapore then became a subsidiary of Tuas Limited, a listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange that was also founded by Teoh. TPG Singapore adopted the current name SIMBA in April 2022 and remains a subsidiary of Tuas Limited

History

2016–2019: Founding as TPG Singapore

On 14 December 2016, it was announced that TPG had secured the fourth telecommunications license in Singapore for S$105 million (A$122 million). [3] The reserve price was only S$35 million, and TPG Singapore paid three times the minimum that was asked for by the Singapore authorities. [4] [5] [6]

They were provisionally allocated 60 MHz of spectrum made available in the New Entrant Spectrum Auction (NESA), with spectrum rights that commenced in April 2017. TPG was also expected to provide street level coverage nationwide within 18 months of the start date. [7]

On 21 December 2018, a call for 20,000 participants in a year-long trial was put out, [8] with another call for participants made in March 2019 while delaying the launch of the network to 2020. [9]

For voice communications, it makes use of Voice over LTE technology which saw subscribers have initial troubles setting up during the trial rollout at the start of 2019 as existing phones did not contain the configuration profile required for the VoLTE functionality to work. [10] These was largely resolved when the major brands added the configuration profile into their operating systems, with Apple adding the profile only in September 2019. [11]

In July 2019, a study by Opensignal found that TPG Singapore had slower network speeds and poorer connectivity than the established rival telcos. [12]

2020–present: Post merger of TPG Australia and Vodafone and rebrand to SIMBA

TPG launched commercial service in March 2020. [13]

Tuas Limited was incorporated in Australia on 11 March 2020 in anticipation of the demerger of the Singapore operations of TPG Telecom Limited (subsequently renamed to TPG Corporation Limited) resulting from the merger between TPG Telecom and Vodafone Hutchison Australia. [14] That merger attained final court approval on 26 June 2020 with the demerger of TPG Singapore becoming effective and under whose terms Tuas Limited has the rights to use the TPG brand in Singapore until June 2022. [15] [16]

In November 2021, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) [17] [18] announced that the telco has won the rights to the 2.1GHz spectrum of 5G network and services and is provisionally awarded [19] two lots of 5MHz of the spectrum. With accordance to IMDA, TPG Singapore would have the right to provide 5G network services, starting 1 January 2022. [18] As part of the regulatory process, TPG Singapore has to roll out the 5G network islandwide by the end of 2026. [18]

In April 2022, TPG Singapore was rebranded to SIMBA Telecom after the end of its 2 years' usage rights to use the TPG brand. [20] [21]

In March 2023, it was announced that SIMBA will be entering the internet service provider (ISP) market in Singapore, offering the first 2.5Gbps broadband service. It will be leveraging the existing network infrastructure in Singapore. [22]

Simba has 819k subscribers as at June 2023.

Network

Frequencies used on SIMBA Network in Singapore
BandFrequencyFrequency Width
(MHz)		ProtocolNotes
8 (900 MHz)(895~905; 940~950)2x10 LTE
1 (2100 MHz)(1920~1930; 2110~2120)2x10 LTE, 5G NR
40 (2.3GHz)2300~234040 LTE, 5G NR
38 (2600 MHz)2570~258010 LTE, 5G NR

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telecommunications in Singapore</span> Description of telecommunications in Singapore

The telecommunication infrastructure of Singapore spans the entire city-state. Its development level is high, with close accessibility to the infrastructure from nearly all inhabited parts of the island and for all of the population, with exceptions. Today, the country is considered an international telecommunications hub, an achievement that was driven by Singapore's view that high-quality telecommunications is one of the critical factors that support its economic growth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3G</span> Third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology

3G is the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. It is the upgrade over 2G, 2.5G, GPRS and 2.75G Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution networks, offering faster data transfer, and better voice quality. This network was superseded by 4G, and later on by 5G. This network is based on a set of standards used for mobile devices and mobile telecommunications use services and networks that comply with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. 3G finds application in wireless voice telephony, mobile Internet access, fixed wireless Internet access, video calls and mobile TV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TPG (Internet service provider)</span> Australian internet service provider

TPG is an Australian internet service provider that specialises in consumer and business internet services as well as mobile telephone services. As of August 2015, TPG is the second largest internet service provider in Australia and is the largest mobile virtual network operator. As such, it has over 671,000 ADSL2+ subscribers, 358,000 landline subscribers and 360,000 mobile subscribers, and owns the second largest ADSL2+ network in Australia, consisting of 391 ADSL2+ DSLAMs. It also operates in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">StarHub</span> Singaporean telecommunications company

StarHub Limited, commonly known as Starhub, is a Singaporean multinational telecommunications conglomerate and one of the major telcos operating in the country. Founded in 1998, it is listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M1 (Singaporean company)</span> Telecommunication company in Singapore

M1 Limited is a Singaporean telecommunications company and one of the major telcos operating in the country. M1 was founded in 1994 and traded on the Singapore Exchange from 2002 to 2019. M1 is a subsidiary of the Keppel Corporation and Singapore Press Holdings through their joint venture, Konnectivity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chunghwa Telecom</span> Taiwanese/Republic of Chinas telecommunications company

Chunghwa Telecom Company, Ltd. is the largest integrated telecom service provider in Taiwan, and the incumbent local exchange carrier of PSTN, Mobile, and broadband services in the country.

du (company) Dubai-based domestic telecom provider

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company P.J.S.C., commercially rebranded as du (دو) in February 2007, is one of the two main telecom operators in the United Arab Emirates. du offers fixed line, mobile telephony, internet and digital television services across the UAE. It also provides carrier services, a data hub, internet exchange facilities and satellite service for broadcasters. It expanded its services in support of economic and social transformation of UAE and operates subsidiaries such as EITC Investment Holdings Limited, Edara, Smart Dubai Platform Project Company LLC and EITC Singapore PTE. LTD.

Vodafone Albania is a major telecommunications company based in Tirana, Albania.

TPG Telecom Limited, formerly Vodafone Hutchison Australia and renamed following the merger with TPG, is an Australian telecommunications company. It is the second-largest telecommunications company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. TPG Telecom is the third-largest wireless carrier in Australia, with 5.8 million subscribers as of 2020.

In telecommunications, 4G is the fourth generation of cell phone mobile communications standards. It is a successor to the third generation (3G) standards. A 4G system provides mobile "ultra-broadband" Internet access. Major Australian telecommunications companies, and most resellers that use one of these major telcos, have been rolling out and continuing to upgrade 4G since 2011/2012.

3G mobile telephony was relatively slow to be adopted globally. In some instances, 3G networks do not use the same radio frequencies as 2G so mobile operators must build entirely new networks and license entirely new frequencies, especially so to achieve high data transmission rates. Other delays were due to the expenses of upgrading transmission hardware, especially for UMTS, whose deployment required the replacement of most broadcast towers. Due to these issues and difficulties with deployment, many carriers delayed acquisition of these updated capabilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SmarTone</span>

SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited (0315.HK), listed in Hong Kong since 1996 and a subsidiary of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited, is a leading telecommunications provider with operating subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Macau, offering voice, multimedia and mobile broadband services, as well as fixed fibre broadband services for both consumer and corporate markets. SmarTone spearheaded 5G development in Hong Kong since May 2020, with the launch of its territory-wide 5G services. SmarTone is also the first in Hong Kong to launch Home 5G Broadband service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airtel India</span> Indian telecommunications company

Airtel India commonly known as Airtel, is the second largest provider of mobile telephony and third largest provider of fixed telephony in India, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services. The brand is operated by several subsidiaries of Bharti Airtel, with Bharti Hexacom and Bharti Telemedia providing broadband fixed line services and Bharti Infratel providing telecom passive infrastructure service such as telecom equipment and telecom towers. Currently, Airtel provides 5G, 4G and 4G+ services all over India. Currently offered services include fixed-line broadband, and voice services depending upon the country of operation. Airtel had also rolled out its VoLTE technology across all Indian telecom circles.

MyRepublic Group Limited is a Singaporean communications service provider. Launched in 2011, MyRepublic currently operates in Singapore and licenses its platform to operators in Brunei and Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vodafone Idea</span> Indian telecommunications company

Vodafone Idea or Vi is an Indian mobile network operator with its headquarters based in Mumbai and Gandhinagar. It is an all-India integrated GSM operator offering 2G, 4G, LTE Advanced, VoLTE, 5G and VoWiFi service. As of 31 September 2023, Vi has a subscriber base of 219.8 million, making it third largest mobile telecommunications network in India and 11th largest mobile telecommunications network in the world. 'Vodafone Idea Limited' was created on 31 August 2018 by the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular. In 2020, the two separate brands Vodafone and Idea rebranded as Vi.

David Siang Hai Teoh is an Australian businessman. Until March 26, 2021, he was the executive chairman of TPG, a company he founded with his Taiwanese wife Vicky in 1992 after emigrating from Malaysia in 1986. He is also the founder and executive chairman of Tuas Limited, who owns Simba Telecom, a telecommunications company in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idea Cellular</span> Former Indian telecommunications company

Idea Cellular (commonly referred to as Idea was an Indian mobile network operator based at Mumbai, Maharashtra. Idea was a pan-India integrated GSM operator and had 220.00 million subscribers as of June 2018. Idea Cellular merged with Vodafone and is now known as Vodafone Idea or Vi.

Vodafone Australia is an Australian telecommunications brand providing mobile and fixed broadband services. Vodafone’s mobile network covers more than 23 million Australians, and Vodafone has commenced the rollout of its 5G mobile network. Vodafone NBN fixed broadband services are available in capital cities and selected regional centres. Vodafone is the third-largest wireless carrier in Australia, with 5.8 million subscribers as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now Telecom</span> Telecommunications company in the Philippines

Now Telecom Company, Inc. is a telecommunications firm based in the Philippines. The company provides broadband and fiber-optic communication services to upper-class residential and commercial areas in Metro Manila under the Now Fiber Air brand. The firm, along with Now Corporation and News and Entertainment Network Corporation (NEWSNET), formed the unified Now Network service.

References

  1. ↑ "TUAS - Building Better Connections". tuas.com.au.
  2. ↑ https://tuas.com.au/pdf/Tuas-Ltd-FY22-Investor-Presentation_For-ASX-Release.pdf
  3. ↑ "Australia's TPG wins battle for fourth telco licence in Singapore". TODAYonline. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "TPG outbids MyRepublic to snag Singapore's fourth telco license". ZDNet.
  5. ↑ "TPG more likely to outbid MyRepublic in the 4th telco race". sg.finance.yahoo.com. 9 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Australia's TPG wins battle for fourth telco licence in Singapore". TODAY.
  7. ↑ Ting, Lisabel (14 December 2016). "TPG Telecom wins rights to be Singapore's fourth telco". The Straits Times. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  8. ↑ Hariz Baharudin (21 December 2018). "Free mobile service trial from Singapore's 4th telco TPG from next year | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  9. ↑ Salim, Zafirah (31 December 2019). "S'pore's 4th Telco TPG Extends Its Free 4G Mobile Trial, Delays Commercial Launch To 2020". Vulcan Post. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "'Fittest will survive': Singapore's 4th telco TPG confident of thriving amid growing competition". CNA. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "TPG VoLTE is finally supported on iPhone for making voice calls over LTE – OCWorkbench" . Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  12. ↑ Wong, Lester (12 July 2019). "Fourth telco TPG confident of improving service after study shows it has slower speeds, poorer signal than rivals | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  13. ↑ Wong, Lester (31 March 2020). "TPG rolls out $10-for-50GB plan as it launches commercial services in Singapore | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "TPG and Vodafone Australia to merge into AU$15b telco named TPG". ZDNet.
  15. ↑ MarketScreener (30 June 2020). "TPG Corporation Limited completed the spin-off of Tuas Limited. | MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Vodafone Australia and TPG merger: Everything you need to know". ZDNET. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  17. ↑ "2.1 GHZ SPECTRUM RIGHT (2022) GRANTED BY THE INFO-COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY UNDER REGULATION 6 OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS (RADIOCOMMUNICATION) REGULATIONS TO TPG TELECOM PTE LTD ON 1 JANUARY 2022" (PDF).
  18. 1 2 3 Auto, Hermes (26 November 2021). "S'pore telcos, TPG provisionally awarded 2.1GHz spectrum rights for 5G networks | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com.
  19. ↑ Ng, Kelly (26 November 2021). "Singtel, M1-StarHub tie-up, and TPG provisionally awarded 2.1 GHz spectrum rights for 5G networks". www.businesstimes.com.sg. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  20. ↑ "TPG Singapore celebrates 2nd anniversary with half a million sign-ups milestone, announces rebranding initiative" (PDF) (Press release). Singapore. 4 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "Goodbye TPG. Hello to SIMBA Telecom!". www.hardwarezone.com.sg.
  22. ↑ "Tuas Limited Half Year Financial Year 2023 Results" (Press release). Singapore. 23 March 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.