Singaporean fibre broadband provider MyRepublic, which is backed by Indonesian telco Sunshine Network and French telecoms billionaire Xavier Niel, has launched a 1Gbps no-contract broadband plan in the country, claiming a first for the city-state. MyRepublic, which is actively pursuing its bid to secure the country’s fourth mobile licence, including signing up to the government’s HetNet trials in Jurong Lake District later this year, says it remains committed to expanding its offerings as an internet service provider (ISP). The operator’s new service plan is aimed squarely at Singaporeans who desire a greater level of flexibility in their service and are unwilling to commit to a one- or two-year contract. As such, its plan will cost SGD69.99 (USD53) per month for the privilege of a non-binding 1Gbps connection, compared to a typical 24-month contract cost of SGD49.99. In a release, the ISP said its offer will cater for the ‘small but significant base of customers who shun the lengthy obligations that come with conventional contracts’.
It has been noted however, that MyRepublic’s strategy is not exactly new. In 2013 it launched a mass market, no-contract fibre-based plan (peak 100Mbps), costing SGD59 per month. Rival ViewQuest also has a no-contract 200Mbps fibre-optic broadband offer, but perhaps what differentiates MyRepublic is that this week’s announcement is for the first no-contract ultra-high speed plan.