Telecommunications industry in Singapore
Singapore is considered an international telecommunications hub due to its highly developed network and progressive regulatory environment. With four mobile network operators and 11 virtual network operators, the value added of the sector to the country's economy has been steadily increasing in recent years.
The four licensed telecom providers, Singtel, M1, StarHub, and TPG, were recently joined by other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) such as Circles.Life, MyRepublic, and Gorilla Mobile. The advent of lower-cost plans offered by the new players and incumbent telcos’ sub-brands, such as Singtel’s Gomo and StarHub’s Giga, have led more to seek new SIM-only and off-contract plans across multiple telcos. In the financial year 2023, the operating revenue of Singtel was valued at approximately 14.62 billion Singapore dollars. In comparison, StarHub's total revenue amounted to approximately 2.33 billion Singapore dollars in 2022.
Telecommunications infrastructure and providers
Singapore is one of the most connected countries and one of the most advanced information and communications technology (ICT) markets in the world. The growth of the sector is seen as a source of economic and social development, in line with the smart nation initiative. With its well-developed telecom infrastructure, Singapore has one of the fastest mobile internet speeds in the region, becoming the first country in the world to achieve nationwide 5G coverage. This connectivity is complemented by the fiber network operated by NetLink Trust. The next-generation national broadband network (NBN) aims to improve the economy’s competitiveness through ultra-high-speed broadband access nationwide. In the fiscal year 2022, Netlink NBN Trust's fiber-based end-user network reached approximately 1.49 million residential homes.The four licensed telecom providers, Singtel, M1, StarHub, and TPG, were recently joined by other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) such as Circles.Life, MyRepublic, and Gorilla Mobile. The advent of lower-cost plans offered by the new players and incumbent telcos’ sub-brands, such as Singtel’s Gomo and StarHub’s Giga, have led more to seek new SIM-only and off-contract plans across multiple telcos. In the financial year 2023, the operating revenue of Singtel was valued at approximately 14.62 billion Singapore dollars. In comparison, StarHub's total revenue amounted to approximately 2.33 billion Singapore dollars in 2022.
