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New competitor likely to bring enhancements to telco services

With its many barriers to entry, Singapore’s telecommunications industry is an oligopoly, like in many other countries. A firm needs massive capital to match up to the heavyweights’ economies of scale. That itself is a tall order.

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Chong Kai Sheng

With its many barriers to entry, Singapore’s telecommunications industry is an oligopoly, like in many other countries. A firm needs massive capital to match up to the heavyweights’ economies of scale. That itself is a tall order.

The company must also satisfy the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s licensing requirements and pass its background screening.

But we will finally see a new telecom company emerge in an industry dominated by the three giants: Singtel, M1 and StarHub (“Battle for 4th telco comes down to MyRepublic, Aussie firm TPG”; Nov 17).

As a consumer, I am looking forward to the potential enhancements to telco services, driven by a new competitor, and to what the new player can offer.

When 3G network services were blooming, users were offered 12GB of data usage priced at the basic tier. That changed, however, to a meagre 2GB as we transitioned to 4G network services.

The mobile data offered at similar prices in our neighbouring countries is significantly more. While our telecom industry offers good customer service and efficiency, our telcos can do more to justify the premium we pay monthly.

The oligopoly has been comfortable for too long, and consumers will benefit from the increased competition. For now, we can only hope.

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