Speculation grows over StarHub, M1 merger by June 2025 as telcos defer spectrum payment

SPECULATION is growing around a merger between telcos StarHub and M1 after a Macquarie report had analyst Foo Zhiwei noting that StarHub has deferred the payment for its 700-megahertz (MHz) spectrum to somewhere between November 2024 and end-June 2025.

Similarly, M1’s parent company Keppel has also deferred its payment for the same spectrum to June next year, Foo reported on Nov 5.

These moves suggest that one party may try to close the deal before June to avoid the spectrum fees.