Singapore Telecommunications

Singapore's telecoms market is competitive, mature, innovative and stable. However, the size of the market means that there is little growth potential left in the domestic market. Indeed, SingTel's new CEO Chua Sock Koong is adamant that the correct strategy for the incumbent operator remains one of regional expansion and using the potential of India, Indonesia and the Philippines for growth.

Our projections suggest that there is no more growth potential in Singapore's saturated fixed-line market, with SingTel and StarHub having to offset declining revenues through increased consumer broadband usage, and in the case of StarHub the growing popularity of cable-TV services. We have, however, amended our wireless forecasts and suggest that there is still potential for growth in this sector, mainly from 3G mobile telephony services. Usage of non-voice services, such as messaging, and WVAS, such as music downloading and gaming, is on the increase, which means that the number of consumers in Singapore replacing their mobile devices with 3G compatible handsets is growing. So much so that by the end of 2010, BMI estimates that over 60% of Singapore's mobile customers will have access to 3G services.

Broadband growth is likely to be impressive in the coming years, with BMI expecting over 1mn subscribers by the end of 2008, and 1.75mn in all by the end of our forecast period. The government is keen to encourage mobile broadband usage, and as such plans to initiate a scheme under which free wireless internet access via a Wi-Fi enabled handset will be allowed for the next two years. The number of households with internet access is now 66% in Singapore, which also suggests considerable growth in consumer broadband usage in the coming years.

Singapore continues to be an investor friendly market, with little political or economic risk and a good potential as a manufacturing base. BMI has ranked Singapore in fifth position in our Business Environment Rankings. However, it is unlikely to be able to go any higher because of the size of the market and the lack of growth potential. Yes, next generation technologies can still push forward the market, but early in the next decade, it is likely that 3G mobile telephony will become saturated. Even broadband services should have a penetration rate of about 40% by 2010, whilst three quarters of households should have internet access.

Rather like Japan and Korea, Singapore could too become a springboard for growth in 3G mobile usage and broadband popularity. The government wants the island state to remain at the heart of telecommunications innovation, and this it is set to do throughout our forecast period and beyond.

Download a PDF or order a print copy and get three quarterly updates.

• Chapter 1 - Executive Summary
• Chapter 2 - Business Environment
  • Asia
  • Table: Singapore Business Environment SWOT
• Chapter 3 - Industry Forecast Scenario
  • Fixed-Line
  • Table - Singapore Telecoms Sector - Fixed-line - Historical Data & Forecasts
  • Mobile
  • Table - Singapore Telecoms Sector - Mobiles - Historical Data & Forecasts
  • Internet
  • Table: Singapore Telecoms Sector - Internet - Historical Data & Forecasts
• Chapter 4 - Macroeconomic Forecast Scenario
  • Slowing, But Still Strong
  • Table: GDP, Population & Output
• Chapter 5 - Country Snapshot: Singapore Demographic Data
  • Section 1: Population:
  • Table: Demographic Indicators (2005)
  • Table: Rural/Urban Breakdown
  • Section 2: Education & Healthcare
  • Table: Education
  • Table: Healthcare: Vital Statistics
  • Table: Healthcare: Expenditure
  • Section 3: Labour Market And Spending Power
  • Table: Employment Indicators
  • Table: Consumption and Stratification
• Chapter 6 - Competitive Landscape
  • Market Structure
  • Competitor Analysis
  • Table: Key Players - Singapore Telecoms Sector
  • Table: Selected Operators Financial Indicators
  • Key Players
  • Fixed-Line
  • Table: Regional Fixed-Line Penetration Overview
  • Mobile
  • Table: Regional Mobile Penetration Overview
  • Internet
  • Table: Regional Internet Penetration Overview
  • Market Data Analysis
  • Fixed-Line
  • Table: Singapore Local Access Market (June 2006)
  • Broadband
  • Table: Singapore Broadband Market (June 2006)
  • Mobile
  • Table: Singapore Wireless Market (June 06)
  • Table: Singapore Mobile ARPU, H1 2006 (Post-paid/Prepaid)
  • 3G
  • Table: Estimate Singapore 3G Market (June 2006)
  • Industry Developments
• Chapter 7 - Company Profiles
  • Regional Case Study - Motorola
  • Table: Motorola Net Sales by Region (US$mn)
  • Table: Motorola Market Sales by Locality of End Customer
  • Table: Leading Mobile Phone Handset Sales (mn) - Q306
  • Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel)
  • SingTel Mobile
  • MobileOne (M1)
  • StarHub
  • Ericsson
• Chapter 8 - BMI Forecast Modelling
  • How we generate our industry forecasts
  • Telecommunications Industry
  • Sources
• Chapter 9 - Appendix: Regional Demographic Data
  • Table- Manufacturing Wages (ave per annum), US$
  • Table - Population
  • Household Spending Per Capita, US$
  • Private Consumption Per Capita, US$ PPP
  • Market Size, GDP, US$bn