Singapore internet start-up MyRepublic plans to launch mobile services on the local market in October this year. To provide its mobile service, MyRepublic will buy airtime in bulk from Singtel, StarHub or M1, instead of building its own mobile network, The Straits Times reports. MyRepublic received its MVNO licence in June.
According to MyRepublic CEO Malcolm Rodrigues, the operator will offer "generous mobile data" in Singapore. "We are committed to being disruptive," he said, declining to provide further details related to the new service.
An M1 spokesman said the company was not in talks to provide network capacity to MyRepublic. StarHub said it is "in talks with interested parties on MVNO partnerships" but declined to name these interested parties.
MyRepublic currently has 70,000 fibre broadband subscribers across Singapore. It hopes to grab a 5-6 percent share of Singapore's mobile market in five years. The operator also hopes to become profitable by mid-2018, as an initial public offering (IPO) is planned for the end of 2018. It is evaluating whether to list in Singapore, Hong Kong or Australia. Proceeds from the IPO will be used to power the company’s expansion in eight other regional markets including Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.
