Now, analysts are questioning the competitiveness of the telco as the Republic transitions into a 5G standalone (5G-SA) model, which is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
Unlike the current non-standalone 5G networks which leans on existing 4G infrastructure, the 5G-SA runs on dedicated 5G infrastructure, delivering greater capacity, speed and consistent performance.
However, this transition exposes significant weakness in Simba, which some analysts describe as one of its biggest structural disadvantages.
Sachin Mittal, analyst at DBS Group Research, said: “All of Simba’s usable 5G capacity sits in a single 10 MHz of 2,100 MHz (of spectrum), while peers run their 5G-SA networks on 100 MHz of 3.5 GHz (of spectrum) apiece.”
Moreover, Simba does not hold any 1,800 MHz and 3.5 GHz – the two bands that carry the bulk of urban indoor capacity and 5G capacity respectively for other telcos, he added
The telco’s thin 5G-capable spectrum, coupled with a growing customer base, means that the telco is carrying more traffic with “very little spare room”, he noted.
The telco has 1.4 million active mobile subscribers as at Jan 31, an increase from 1.2 million from the year-ago period.
