Singaporean mobile operator MobileOne Asia (M1) has ratcheted up competition in the domestic telecoms market by announcing plans to enter the city state’s residential fixed line broadband sector, offering high speed internet connections of up to 100Mbps. M1, which has been offering mobile broadband services since 2006, says it is taking the fight to SingTel and StarHub in the fixed broadband segment via four new price plans offering unlimited downloads at varying connection speeds. The company’s chief executive Neil Montefiore said the move was designed to reposition the firm as it looks to develop fresh revenue streams that complement its existing service portfolio. ‘The launch of M1 Fixed Broadband is an important step in our planned transformation from a single-play mobile operator to a dynamic multi-play operator with interests in both the mobile and fixed sectors,’ he said, adding: ‘The proliferation of the internet and the increasing demand for internet bandwidth also make this an opportune entry into the fixed broadband market.’
According to the country’s telecoms industry watchdog, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), household broadband penetration reached 83.9% at the end of May 2008, up from around 78% at the start of the year. At the same date, Singapore counted more than 3.9 million broadband connections, broken down as 507,300 xDSL lines, 411,900 cable modems, 3,800 leased lines and 2.98 wireless connections (include all retail broadband internet access subscriptions with a connection >256kbps, provided via 3G, 3.5G/HSDPA, WiMAX or its equivalent and Wi-Fi hotspots and/or Wireless@SG subscriptions).