Singapore - Mobile Communications - Market Overview

Synopsis

The mobile market in Singapore is characterised by its energy and innovation. Even when growth appeared to have slowed somewhat, there was still considerable effort going into value-added products and services. The market initially approached the launch of 3G with a degree of caution. As the licences were issued and the networks rolled out, some of the major operators and, to some extent, the government were circumspect about the prospect of next generation of mobiles. However, coming into 2011 3G subscriptions comprised some 66% of the total mobile subscriber base of almost eight million. And overall this represented a mobile penetration rate of 144%. Singapore has the lowest mobile prices in the world as a proportion of income according to the ITU’s most recent ICT development index.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Singapore’s mobile market
  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 Major mobile operators
  • 2.3 Market statistics
  • 2.4 Average revenue per user (ARPU)
• 3. Mobile networks
  • 3.1 GSM
  • 3.2 Third generation (3G)
    • 3.2.1 Overview
    • 3.2.2 3G services and developments
    • 3.2.3 3G auction – 2010
  • 3.3 High-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA)
  • 3.4 Fourth generation (4G) and long-term evolution (LTE)
    • 3.4.1 LTE trials
    • 3.4.2 Planned 4G auction
• 4. Mobile voice services
  • 4.1 Prepaid
  • 4.2 International roaming
  • 4.3 Satellite mobile
• 5. Mobile data services
  • 5.1 Short messaging service (SMS)
  • 5.2 Payment systems
  • 5.3 Smartphones
    • 5.3.1 Developments in 2010
• 6. Mobile content and applications
  • 6.1 Development activity
    • 6.1.1 Developments in 2009
    • 6.1.2 Developments in 2010
  • 6.2 Mobile TV
• 7. Related reports

• Table 1 – Singapore – mobile operators, subscribers and annual change – 2010
• Table 2 – Singapore – mobile operators by share of total mobile market – 2010
• Table 3 – Singapore – estimated 3G mobile subscribers by operator – 2010
• Table 4 –Mobile subscribers - 2G and 3G, prepaid and postpaid – May 2011
• Table 5 – Mobile subscribers – 1997 - 2012
• Table 6 – Mobile services revenue – 1993 - 2010
• Table 7 – Fixed-line versus mobile subscriptions and teledensity – March 2011
• Table 8 – Overall mobile services ARPU – 2002 - 2010
• Table 9 – Singapore – mobile operators – ARPU – postpaid and prepaid – 2010
• Table 10 – 3G mobile subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 11 – Prepaid subscribers – 1999 - 2011
• Table 12 – Prepaid vs postpaid – share of 2G market – 2007 - 2011
• Table 13 –Mobile subscribers – prepaid and postpaid – 2G and 3G – May 2011
• Table 14 – Total SMS messages per month – 2004 - 2010

• Chart 1 – Singapore – mobile subscribers and ARPU – 2002 - 2010

• Exhibit 1 – Third generation licensees, spectrum and vendors
• Exhibit 2– SMS and advertising
• Exhibit 3 – Self-regulation of content