Blurred lines as telcos revamp mobile products

Singapore

WITH the consumer market in revolt, telcos here are rolling out mobile plans that are big on data, flexibility and digital self-help options.

In this, incumbent mobile network operators (MNOs) may be taking a leaf out of the playbook of the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that lease frequency spectrum from them.

But as the line between MNO and MVNO mobile offerings starts to blur, operators may have to rethink their arrangements with the "digital telcos" that rent network space from them.

PwC has just projected that the Republic will see fixed broadband penetration slip by 1.68 per cent in the next five years, even as mobile access is expected to grow by 5.98 per cent.

The firm noted in a report last week: "Mobile network sharing is becoming the norm, with virtual operators taking advantage of incumbents' infrastructure and luring consumers with aggressive pricing stra…