M1 unveils major push to secure new consumer, business users

Singaporean wireless operator MobileOne Asia (M1) says it plans to launch a plethora of new services in a bid to increase market share in both the residential and business sector. Besides offering pay-TV, M1 also plans to offer corporate customers internet access and fixed telephony services it says, as well as ancillary products such as security and surveillance. M1 chief executive officer Karen Kooi is quoted as saying that her firm has already started work on launching a pay-TV service – via both mobile TV and through the internet – adding that if a government proposal concerning the development of ‘common’ set-top boxes comes to fruition, it will also launch a TV service via that platform. Ms Kooi declined to say though when these services would be launched, but did say that M1 would ‘not bid for exclusive or premium content’, but instead would ‘perhaps cross carry’. For the three months to 31 March 2010, M1’s net profit dipped 6% year-on-year to SGD39.3 million (USD28.5 million), despite a 33.6% rise in revenues to SGD249 million. The lower profit was due to ‘an adjustment for corporate tax rate reduction,’ Kooi said.