SIMBA Telecom discussion thread

[whatheheck]

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/local-telcos-enjoy-more-growth-205917846.html
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jialat . machiam back to that sinktel 12Gb that time to 2Gb plans . enjoy while it last and don't anyhow watch YouTube on mobile next time


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[XiaoWangZi85]

jialat . machiam back to that sinktel 12Gb that time to 2Gb plans . enjoy while it last and don't anyhow watch YouTube on mobile next time


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Even if SIMBA will eventually get acquired, despite its best efforts, and only because it entered the 4G market at a very late stage, and only because it did not have the opportunity to enter the 5G market together with the rest...

Honestly,...

Never mind.

Hopefully the one acquiring SIMBA is another reliable telco like SIMBA.

 

[crystalnox]

Even if SIMBA will eventually get acquired, despite its best efforts, and only because it entered the 4G market at a very late stage, and only because it did not have the opportunity to enter the 5G market together with the rest...

Honestly,...

Never mind.

Hopefully the one acquiring SIMBA is another reliable telco like SIMBA.

The sub headline says "Industry Consolidation", so who do you think could be the aquirer?

 

[firesong]

The sub headline says "Industry Consolidation", so who do you think could be the aquirer?

I'm guessing... M1.

 

[XiaoWangZi85]

The sub headline says "Industry Consolidation", so who do you think could be the aquirer?

More likely is SIMBA acquire the MNVOs, and Starhub acquire M1.

Let's not forget, SIMBA's parent is TPG Australia, which is a major telco in Australia.

 

[crystalnox]

More likely is SIMBA acquire the MNVOs, and Starhub acquire M1.

Let's not forget, SIMBA's parent is TPG Australia, which is a major telco in Australia.

Why would SIMBA aquire MVNOs who lease their competitors network infrastructure when they have their own physical infrastructure? Besides, TPG's pricing already competitive enough, no need for more sub brands.

Plus didn't you get the news that SIMBA got cut off from their parent already? That's the whole reason for the rebranding to SIMBA:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/vodafone-australia-and-tpg-merger-everything-you-need-to-know/https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/a...access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

 

[XiaoWangZi85]

Why would SIMBA aquire MVNOs who lease their competitors network infrastructure when they have their own physical infrastructure? Besides, TPG's pricing already competitive enough, no need for more sub brands.

Plus didn't you get the news that SIMBA got cut off from their parent already? That's the whole reason for the rebranding to SIMBA:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/vodafone-australia-and-tpg-merger-everything-you-need-to-know/https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/a...access_token=83ff96335c2d45a094df02a206a39ff4

Okay. Never mind.

Actually, I'm sure a lot of people who subscribe to SIMBA were doing it partly to use SIMBA as the stepping stone to get the more expensive telcos like Singtel and Starhub, when SIMBA eventually gets acquired.

And partly because of the free roaming to Johor Bahru.

In a way, it is an investment.

The "return on investment" looks quite promising.

Just think about what Singtel or Starhub may offer the affected SIMBA customers when they acquire SIMBA.

Of course, I'm aware that Singtel and Starhub will be reading this forum. So, maybe eventually also won't offer such a promotion. Just ask the affected customers to take it or leave it only.

 

[XiaoWangZi85]

jialat . machiam back to that sinktel 12Gb that time to 2Gb plans . enjoy while it last and don't anyhow watch YouTube on mobile next time


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Honestly, I agree.

SIMBA's mobile plan is allowing me to watch YouTube videos using the mobile data to my heart's content.

However, if this kind of offer won't last forever, then we should really enjoy it while it is still available.

 

[crystalnox]

Okay. Never mind.

Actually, I'm sure a lot of people who subscribe to SIMBA were doing it partly to use SIMBA as the stepping stone to get the more expensive telcos like Singtel and Starhub, when SIMBA eventually gets acquired.

I can tell you, eventual acquisition is the absolute last thing on their minds when they subscribe SIMBA.

They subscribe to SIMBA simply because it's only $5/10 for a huge amount of data, and the added free roaming just sweetens that deal.

Just think about what Singtel or Starhub may offer the affected SIMBA customers when they acquire SIMBA.

Absolutely nothing, because what other options do affected customers have to run to?

 

[Hi1307]

SIMBA getting acquired is the worst thing that could happen to SG. Still rmb paying $60++ for 4GB of data. Our economy is literally enabled by the internet and having 4GB only is actually going to push us into a recession. Temasek wouldn't allow SingTel and Keppel (M1) to do that.

Anyway, looking at their balance sheets they still have enough cash for just over 1yr of operations at current income levels. Plus their loss is narrowing every year so I think they can stretch their remaining cash for longer.

SIMBA is unlikely to acquire any MVNOs because their spectrum is already very congested (even M1 is more than 2x faster than them according to OpenSignal). StarHub might actually acquire M1 though, they already share a lot of infra and M1 has suffered a lot of price erosion over the years (although StarHub has very similar prices to M1 now with their promos).

Overall I think SIMBA still has a niche in the industry and caters well to their target audience (people who aren't sensitive to speed and heavy data users). If they keep growing their userbase like they have been doing I believe that they will be in the black soon, which will give them enough cash to avoid consolidation.

 

[firesong]

SIMBA getting acquired is the worst thing that could happen to SG. Still rmb paying $60++ for 4GB of data. Our economy is literally enabled by the internet and having 4GB only is actually going to push us into a recession. Temasek wouldn't allow SingTel and Keppel (M1) to do that.

Anyway, looking at their balance sheets they still have enough cash for just over 1yr of operations at current income levels. Plus their loss is narrowing every year so I think they can stretch their remaining cash for longer.

SIMBA is unlikely to acquire any MVNOs because their spectrum is already very congested (even M1 is more than 2x faster than them according to OpenSignal). StarHub might actually acquire M1 though, they already share a lot of infra and M1 has suffered a lot of price erosion over the years (although StarHub has very similar prices to M1 now with their promos).

Overall I think SIMBA still has a niche in the industry and caters well to their target audience (people who aren't sensitive to speed and heavy data users). If they keep growing their userbase like they have been doing I believe that they will be in the black soon, which will give them enough cash to avoid consolidation.

You can't really go into the black with customers mainly taking up $5 and $10 plans, while the incumbents have $60-200 plans that have much healthier profit margins. There aren't enough economies of scale to make that all sustainable. We also need to factor in their operation costs - rental, staffing, advertising, etc...

#justsayin

 

[Hi1307]

You can't really go into the black with customers mainly taking up $5 and $10 plans, while the incumbents have $60-200 plans. #justsayin

Definitely can. If SIMBA stopped upgrading their network right now and just operated as-is, with the current number of customers, they would be making a profit.

It just shows how much profit the other telcos (esp SingTel) are making.

Tuas (SIMBA's parent company) earned $22mil from their operating activities from 1/7/2021 to 30/6/2022. They only made an overall loss because they spent $60mil on investing and upgrading their network.

They lost $26mil overall last year, and they still have $50mil in the bank. At their rate of income growth, the amount of money left in their balance sheets should last 2 years+.

 

[firesong]

Definitely can. If SIMBA stopped upgrading their network right now and just operated as-is, with the current number of customers, they would be making a profit.

It just shows how much profit the other telcos (esp SingTel) are making.

Tuas (SIMBA's parent company) earned $22mil from their operating activities from 1/7/2021 to 30/6/2022. They only made an overall loss because they spent $60mil on investing and upgrading their network.

They lost $26mil overall last year, and they still have $50mil in the bank. At their rate of income growth, the amount of money left in their balance sheets should last 2 years+.

They are bound by agreement with IMDA to deploy their 5G network by a certain deadline or be fined. They also have yet to meet their deployment requirements for 4G. Their capex is already committed.

They cannot just arbitrarily decide not to invest, because there are contracts already committed to. You cannot base on their past year's operating expenses, because it does appear that they were very conservative in deploying their 5G networks, unlike Singtel and the JvCo who were quite a bit more active.

 

[Hi1307]

They are bound by agreement with IMDA to deploy their 5G network by a certain deadline or be fined. They also have yet to meet their deployment requirements for 4G. Their capex is already committed.

They cannot just arbitrarily decide not to invest, because there are contracts already committed to. You cannot base on their past year's operating expenses, because it does appear that they were very conservative in deploying their 5G networks, unlike Singtel and the JvCo who were quite a bit more active.

They have already met their 4G requirements last year when they finished MRT deployments. IMDA only regulates coverage.

They are also investing in 5G faster than IMDA's requirements. IMDA only specifies 50% coverage by Dec 2024, but SIMBA aims for 60% coverage by Dec 2023 at their current investment level.

 

[Ye_Rongtian]

Hi guys, I am looking at this simba plan SIMBA SuperRoam. Does anyone use this plan? It says 10 GB for 57 GB destinations, so does it means I can use the full 10 Gb in one place and been renew by a new billing month? Appreciate your help to explain on this

Yup but beware it use up quite fast. Probably in 10mb blocks.

 

[dam02sg1]

Yup but beware it use up quite fast. Probably in 10mb blocks.

Thanks for the reply

 

[stillgottheblues]

They have already met their 4G requirements last year when they finished MRT deployments. IMDA only regulates coverage.

They are also investing in 5G faster than IMDA's requirements. IMDA only specifies 50% coverage by Dec 2024, but SIMBA aims for 60% coverage by Dec 2023 at their current investment level.

When are they going to support more handsets?

 

[Habrosus]

When are they going to support more handsets?

I don’t think even their counter staff will know

 

[WHLN17]

Anyone know whether SIMBA free roaming works in Maldives? TIA.

 

[crystalnox]

Anyone know whether SIMBA free roaming works in Maldives? TIA.

https://www.simba.sg/roaming