MyRepublic Mobile discussion thread

[skazzz]

It feels like StarHub is trying to eliminate its competitors by acquiring them one by one, as we've seen with RedONE and MyRepublic.

Despite the bold statements from the CEO about revenue growth and price increases, customer service at StarHub and Eight has not shown the same level of improvement.
The products may be good, but the service experience appears to be getting worse.

If you rarely need customer support, it may not make much difference.
However, when assistance is required, the declining service quality becomes noticeable.

This feels like yet another cycle of decline in the making.

The surprising part is that MyRepublic is still turning a good profit in the MVNO space, given that the profit figures already account for all expenses, including manpower and day-to-day operating costs.

 

[firesong]

StarHub to acquire MyRepublic’s mobile business amid ongoing telco consolidation
https://www.straitstimes.com/busine...ile-business-amid-ongoing-telco-consolidation

Realistically this changes very little for MR Mobile subscribers since both 4G (migration in progress) and 5G networks are under StarHub. But we also gleaned the ARPU of $13 from MR Mobile subscribers here, suggesting most users are on 4G plans or the lower tier 5G plans.

Given the costs of living rising faster than salary increases over the past 2 (or more) decades, it's no surprise that ARPU is around $10-15.

It does invite questions: why are telcos spending so much to market and push higher value plans. Who are these customers? And more realistically, how many of these users are paying for their own plans without company subsidy or cover - and what are their reasons?

 

[froztheart]

It feels like StarHub is trying to eliminate its competitors by acquiring them one by one, as we've seen with RedONE and MyRepublic.

Despite the bold statements from the CEO about revenue growth and price increases, customer service at StarHub and Eight has not shown the same level of improvement.
The products may be good, but the service experience appears to be getting worse.

If you rarely need customer support, it may not make much difference.
However, when assistance is required, the declining service quality becomes noticeable.

This feels like yet another cycle of decline in the making.

The surprising part is that MyRepublic is still turning a good profit in the MVNO space, given that the profit figures already account for all expenses, including manpower and day-to-day operating costs.

Agreed, eight & GIGA's CS are almost non-existent.
MR's support is decent.

 

[froztheart]

Given the costs of living rising faster than salary increases over the past 2 (or more) decades, it's no surprise that ARPU is around $10-15.

It does invite questions: why are telcos spending so much to market and push higher value plans. Who are these customers? And more realistically, how many of these users are paying for their own plans without company subsidy or cover - and what are their reasons?

Given the costs of living rising faster than salary increases over the past 2 (or more) decades, it's no surprise that ARPU is around $10-15.

It does invite questions: why are telcos spending so much to market and push higher value plans. Who are these customers? And more realistically, how many of these users are paying for their own plans without company subsidy or cover - and what are their reasons?

I believe we still have quite a good number of people that are lazy/uninformed/worried of changes/paid by companies for their mobile expenses. Likely marketing for these bigger consumer group as compared to us that actively look for and action on to benefit our wallets.

Similar to the OEM where changing out to these electricity retailers provide discounts over SP, but most are still on SP for reasons like "convenience/worried of changes" etc.

 

[xiaofan]

Given the costs of living rising faster than salary increases over the past 2 (or more) decades, it's no surprise that ARPU is around $10-15.

It does invite questions: why are telcos spending so much to market and push higher value plans. Who are these customers? And more realistically, how many of these users are paying for their own plans without company subsidy or cover - and what are their reasons?

1. This forum is more geared toward SIM Only plans and also no discussions about phone plans (mainly Singtel and M1 phone plans with 24 months contract, but also Starhub SIM Only Plan DeviceDollar scheme).

In reality there are still plenty of users on those plans.
1) Users who like flagship Apple iPhone and Android Phones.
2) Company subsidy
3) Rich
4) Uninformed
5) Dare not change

2. On the SIM Only side, there are also users who do not mind paying a bit more for certain benefits.

Example from Singtel SIM Only Plans.
https://www.singtel.com/personal/mobile/plans/sim-only
1) Priority Plus (5G+ Priority) at S$49.50 per month
1 additional mobile line that shares your plan’s local data, talktime, SMS
$10 monthly cashback on a new phone with PayLater
2) Priority Ultra (5G+ Priority) at S$72 per month
1 additional mobile line that shares your plan’s local data, talktime, SMS and Worldwide Roaming (up to 18GB)
$20 monthly cashback on a new phone with PayLater

3. And certain S$20i-ish plan may also have quite some followers.
1) S$19.25 Singtel 5G+ Enhanced Lite plan (CIS offer, Recontract offer, ex-Singtel user coming-back offer).
2) S$22.4 Starhub 5G Lite plan (with Passion Card offer)

4. In the end, Starthub and Singtel may still want to keep S$20-ish ARPU as much as possible.

Starhub 1H 2026 Update
https://ir.starhub.com/newsroom/20260813_073302_CC3_SHHISGERJI3O68OA.3.pdf

 

[xiaofan]

The following slide from StarHub 1H 2026 Update also shows that they are really ignoring giga.
https://ir.starhub.com/newsroom/20260813_073302_CC3_SHHISGERJI3O68OA.3.pdf

 

[xiaofan]

Reference from the earlier discussions.

SIM Only plans are very popular in this forum section, with SIMBA, eight and Zym being the top three threads in terms of number of posts.

M1 and Starhub MNO SIM Only plan threads are not popular at all. Only SingTel SIM Only thread is popular.

Then there are basically no threads talking about Singtel and M1 mobile plans with device contract (typically 24 month contract) even though I believe there are many customers using these plans.

Starhub's new no contract SIM Only plans use "Device Dollar" to compete with Singtel and M1 mobile plans with device contract (typically 24 month contract).

SingTel SIM Only plans also support Pay Later for those who want to buy mobile phones using installment.

Not so sure if there are statistics of market share of Singtel and M1 mobile plans with device contract (typically 24 month contract).

From the Telco iPhone 18 Series threads (Pro, Pro Max and Duo), it seems that Singtel 24 month mobile contracts plans are still popular.

But I understand Singtel also offers iPhone 18 Series (Pro, Pro Max and Duo) for the SIM Only plans, not so sure what is the split between phone plans and SIM Only plans for the iPhones.

1) 28 pages as of now
Thread '[Singtel] 18th Gen. iPhone availability and discussions [No Sales/Trades/Flip]' https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...and-discussions-no-sales-trades-flip.7222063/

2) 3 pages as of now

Thread '[Starhub] 18th Gen. iPhone availability and discussions [No Sales/Trades/Flip]' https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...and-discussions-no-sales-trades-flip.7222064/

3) Single page as of now
Thread '[M1] 18th Gen. iPhone availability and discussions [No Sales/Trades/Flip]' https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...and-discussions-no-sales-trades-flip.7222065/

Indeed, that is the situation for die-hard iPhone fans. Not surprisingly after all as it is the best way to get an expensive iPhone by paying it slowly month by month over 24 months. Upcoming iPhone Duo next month will see the same trend.

Crazy way of throwing money away. Sigh, it is just a phone. Gen Z...

It’s not just Z, plenty of millennials are interested too. Eventually you will see Alpha’s carrying it in sec school as well.

The singtel iphone contract plan is popular because of the fam plan which allows consumers to upgrade their phones every year with all the vouchers and benefits of the plan

 

[xiaofan]

Another reference from Starhub Mobile thread.

For those who want iPhone 18 Pro Max, indeed the calculation may make sense...

Right now there is 670 discount/device subsidy for the iphone 18 pro max 256gb on the max plan with paylater

If you choose 24 months installment, the 670 averages out to $28. Which is the same price as your max plan with cis, essentially your max plan is free if you look at it a certain way.

If you look at it from a cashflow and TCO perspective;


First payment $107.89 ( plan $48.36 + paylater installment $59.53)

2nd to 24th month payment $87.89 ( plan $48.36 + paylater installment $39.53)


Total cost 2129.36. whereas the iphone retails for $2099.

You pay $30 for 24 months of unlimited plan with 20gb global roaming. Monthly just $1.25. Better than the price of eight, simba and everyone else.

Yup

For my case,

CIS 38% off Max plan
$48.36 x 24 = $1160.64

Phone Cost after port-in promo and pay later discount
$72.04 + $52.04 x 23 = $1268.96 (1st month cannot deduct $20 device dollars)

Total Cost of iPhone 18 Pro Max 512GB Ownership
$2429.60 vs Retail $2399

So take it as $30.60 for 2 year mobile phone plan

 

[JAYSCS]

Another reference from Starhub Mobile thread.

For those who want iPhone 18 Pro Max, indeed the calculation may make sense...

To lots of people, it is a kinda most chio and status symbol to use iPhone (esp orange Pro Max, future will be Burgundy Pro Max and iPhone Duo) and Samsung S Ultra or Z Fold series.

 

[koohansen]

To lots of people, it is a kinda most chio and status symbol to use iPhone (esp orange Pro Max, future will be Burgundy Pro Max and iPhone Duo) and Samsung S Ultra or Z Fold series.

Nothing to do with status symbol, even foreign workers doing road works are using them.

iPhone holds its value even after 4 years, which makes replacing it more economical rather than changing the battery. I traded in my iPhone 14 Pro Max 256 for $675. A flagship Android likely loses half its value in 6 months. You can sell it at an even higher value in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam.. etc

Before fanboy label comes.. I also own a Pixel for my own tinkering with Android system, and I was an early adopter of Android since HTC Dream, Nexus One...etc

 

[JAYSCS]

Nothing to do with status symbol, even foreign workers doing road works are using them.

iPhone holds its value even after 4 years, which makes replacing it more economical rather than changing the battery. I traded in my iPhone 14 Pro Max 256 for $675. A flagship Android likely loses half its value in 6 months. You can sell it at an even higher value in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam.. etc

Before fanboy label comes.. I also own a Pixel for my own tinkering with Android system, and I was an early adopter of Android since HTC Dream, Nexus One...etc

It is still a status symbol, you simply further elaborate why so with good resale value as u mentioned. Isnt all luxury goods have good resale value? Cos it is a an object of desire.

 

[IOKNEE]

hi guys, how to send feedback regarding MyRepublic Mobile customer support?

 

[gapboy]

hi guys, how to send feedback regarding MyRepublic Mobile customer support?

https://myrepublic.net/sg/store/ go to their store direct will be easier then

 

[IOKNEE]

https://myrepublic.net/sg/store/ go to their store direct will be easier then

Do you mean the online guys are rude but the guys at the store are not?

BTW, I thought it's a trivial issue that I can settle within 10 minutes while rolling on my bed, instead of traveling to their store and queue, and probably still need to pull the bank statement and scan for the payment log using my phone.

 

[froztheart]

hi guys, how to send feedback regarding MyRepublic Mobile customer support?

What do you want to feedback about to begin with? The rudeness to ask for your payment proof?
Might want to give them a call instead? The last time I was advise to call in to tech support and request for transfer for billing issue that I had recently too.

Technical Support at Your Fingertips​

Our Technical Support team is ready to assist you at +65 6717 1680, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 10pm. For Mobile concerns, press 1 and then 5.

 

[IOKNEE]

What do you want to feedback about to begin with? The rudeness to ask for your payment proof?
Might want to give them a call instead? The last time I was advise to call in to tech support and request for transfer for billing issue that I had recently too.

Technical Support at Your Fingertips​

Our Technical Support team is ready to assist you at +65 6717 1680, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 10pm. For Mobile concerns, press 1 and then 5.

The guy ignored me when I asked which specific billing months he were requesting and he kept repeating the same thing like a robot. He kept asking for proof of payment, but he didn't state what kind of documents to serve as proof, and when I sent him the MyRepublic invoice, he asked for some f*cking proof of payment again. I felt as if I were a customer service officer and he was my valued customer, and I had to understand his vague demand and appease him instead.

 

[froztheart]

The guy ignored me when I asked which specific billing months he were requesting and he kept repeating the same thing like a robot. He kept asking for proof of payment, but he didn't state what kind of documents to serve as proof, and when I sent him the MyRepublic invoice, he asked for some f*cking proof of payment again. I felt as if I were a customer service officer and he was my valued customer, and I had to understand his vague demand and appease him instead.

I feel you but I'm used to CSO being silly so this is nothing new to me.
End of the day as long as I get what I need/want then all's good, too much hassle unless its really unreasonable/illogical.

 

[IOKNEE]

I feel you but I'm used to CSO being silly so this is nothing new to me.
End of the day as long as I get what I need/want then all's good, too much hassle unless its really unreasonable/illogical.

If all the CSOs are like him, I prefer to be served by an AI chat bot instead. Professional, straight to the point, and I don't give a f*ck to the people who lose their jobs to AI, as long as I get what I need.

 

[froztheart]

If all the CSOs are like him, I prefer to be served by an AI chat bot instead. Professional, straight to the point, and I don't give a f*ck to the people who lose their jobs to AI, as long as I get what I need.

There's times where AI chatbot works but times where an agent will better to "negotiate".

 

[Jirachi]

To lots of people, it is a kinda most chio and status symbol to use iPhone (esp orange Pro Max, future will be Burgundy Pro Max and iPhone Duo) and Samsung S Ultra or Z Fold series.

Residual value. Most yearly upgrades are people who does not really care much about features but to roll body value to the next phone. Doing so also refreshes the warranty and battery health.