Rare public consultation on Simba-M1 deal will test our telco values
In an age of cyberthreats and foreign interference, decisions on who controls core infrastructure must go beyond closed-door reviews
THE Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA) decision to launch a on Simba’s proposed acquisition of M1 is rare – and significant.
Public consultations are typically reserved for major policy shifts. In this case, the scale of the decision – two telcos combining networks that serve millions of consumers – makes transparency essential.
By opening the process that concludes on Nov 7, 2025, IMDA is giving not just industry players but also consumers, cybersecurity experts, and civil society a seat at the table. This matters because the merger is not just a corporate transaction, but a test of how Singapore governs critical national infrastructure in an era of rapid digitalisation and rising global risk.
In Parliament in September last month, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann warned that Singapore must “strengthen its defences” against evolving foreign interference tactics. Her remarks highlight a growing awareness that our vulnerabilities are no longer confined to politics or media, but extend deep into the systems that power our daily lives, including our telecoms networks.
A stark reminder of this persistent global threat is the 2024 cyberattack on telecommunications companies and infrastructure around the world. The security breach gave the hackers, dubbed Salt Typhoon by Microsoft cybersecurity researchers, access to call record metadata – the who, what, when, and where of phone calls – and even the contents of some messages, according to The Guardian.
The cyberattack hit three of the largest telecommunications networks in the US, prompting a US senator to call it the “worst telecom hack in (the) nation’s history”. Security firm Trend Micro notes that the hackers, also known as Earth Estries and UNC2286, have targeted critical industries such as telecommunications and government entities in the US, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and South Africa in recent years.
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While such complex security and sovereignty issues are paramount to regulators, the public’s immediate concerns may be more practical.
What’s on consumers’ minds
At a time when the government is also focused on helping Singaporeans manage the rising cost of living, the outcome of IMDA’s consultation is likely to reflect a balancing act: keeping prices competitive while ensuring our telecommunications infrastructure remains secure and trustworthy.
For many Singaporeans, the first question is simple: What does this mean for my phone bill? It’s a natural concern. In today’s hyperconnected society, mobile connectivity is as essential as water or power.
In their public proposal to IMDA, Simba and M1 have pledged to retain their popular S$10 and S$12 mobile plans for at least two years, and to maintain pricing for existing customers during that period. This commitment is welcome and shows awareness of what matters most to households watching their monthly bills.
But there will be inevitable questions about what happens after this two-year period. Once consumers are locked into contracts, will the new entity see fit to raise prices?
Some analysts have already cautioned that Singapore’s era of bargain mobile plans may be nearing its end, where the merger could ease the intense price competition that has defined the market for nearly a decade – reducing incentives to keep plans at rock-bottom levels once consolidation sets in.
What consumers may not see
Beyond price and service, there are other questions worth asking.
M1’s ongoing legal dispute with Circles.Life is a timely reminder that affordability is not the only dimension consumers should care about. Circles.Life’s parent company, Liberty Wireless, has sued M1, alleging that it failed to negotiate in good faith over their mobile virtual network operator contract. The case raises questions about how fair and open network access will remain if consolidation proceeds, and why public scrutiny matters.
The recent outages experienced by Australia’s Optus, a subsidiary of Singtel, threw this into even sharper relief. Singtel has apologised for an emergency call outage at Optus linked to four deaths, explaining that a deviation from standard procedures during a network firewall upgrade triggered the 13-hour technical failure. When such an essential service can fail so gravely, the stakes of telecom consolidation become not just business risks, but systemic ones.
At the same time, the technologies underpinning our networks carry geopolitical weight. Simba currently relies on Huawei equipment for its 5G networks, which has been banned in the United States and the United Kingdom over national security concerns.
Meanwhile, when nationwide 5G network contracts were awarded in 2020, Singtel selected Swedish firm Ericsson, while the StarHub-M1 consortium partnered Finland’s Nokia, choices made after a rigorous evaluation that emphasised security, resilience and a clear awareness of their national responsibility.
Some observers note that Singtel and StarHub have links to the Singapore government via shareholdings by Singapore investment company Temasek or Temasek-linked firms. Simba is wholly owned by Australia-listed Tuas Limited, which was founded by Australian businessman David Teoh, its principal shareholder.
As Singapore continues to grapple with evolving foreign interference tactics, decisions about vendor selection and network control take on added significance for our resilience and public trust.
Telcos today are custodians of vast amounts of personal and national data. As networks consolidate, so too does the risk. Cybersecurity and data hygiene must therefore be part of what we consider “value for money” – not an afterthought once prices are set.
Why this consultation matters
IMDA’s decision to invite public feedback is therefore crucial. It ensures the conversation around the M1-Simba deal is not limited to corporate boardrooms. The consultation offers a rare chance to test the merger’s promises and to set clear standards for the future – from maintaining affordable plans and fair access for virtual operators, to strengthening commitments on data protection and network resilience.
Singapore’s digital infrastructure has long been a source of national strength. As we enter an era where both cost pressures and cyberthreats are growing, the question is not simply whether the merger will lower prices, but whether it will enhance public trust in the systems that keep the country connected.
The writer is a former Nominated Member of Parliament and journalist. A communications specialist, he is a senior adviser for The Asia Group, and also chairs an expert panel on strategic communications for the Singapore Ministry of Defence.
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