The digital telco war in Singapore

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Hi readers,

Here’s my flex of the day: I once owned the indestructible Nokia 3310. And it was truly as tough as the meme describes it (look up “Nokia 3310 meme” if you have not seen it). The screen never got broken, the battery lasted for weeks, and I could have given someone a concussion had I thrown it their way.

Those were the good old days. Choosing a mobile plan back then was also easier because there were only three telcos to choose from: Singtel, Starhub, and M1. Today, we have so many choices with much fancier names and features – like this new one that uses blockchain technology.

So today we look at:

• Who the players are in Singapore’s digital telco space
• Whether sufficient due diligence was conducted on Telio, the Vietnamese startup whose founder got sued?
• Other newsy highlights such as Grab partnering with WeWork and TikTok removing 7.2 million user accounts

PREMIUM SUMMARY

Ringing up Singapore’s competitive digital telco race

If there’s something Singapore doesn’t lack, it’s mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). The country has over a dozen of them including Circles Life, MyRepublic, and Gomo (run by Singtel). That already sounds like a lot, but last month, another new player joined the race. Is there room for more?

• Not King Kong: Gorilla Mobile is the shiny new entrant that’s shaking up the crowded scene with blockchain technology. Its “switchback” feature lets users turn unused data into digital “Gorilla Go” tokens, which can be used to offset future bills and redeem mobile services, or shared with others such as colleagues who are overseas.
• A different slice of the pie: Every MVNO is targeting a different niche. Gorilla Mobile is targeting business travelers and small businesses, Gomo is trying to entice millennials, and CMLink (operated by China Mobile) is appealing to the Chinese diaspora and the working professionals that travel between China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
• Competitors calling: Giga, Circles Life and Gomo are currently leading in market share according to third-party estimates. Will Gorilla Mobile have a shot?

Read more: The key contenders in Singapore’s competitive digital telco race

PREMIUM SUMMARY

Were stringent checks not conducted?