Singapore’s telecommunications industry is heading for another major shake-up after StarHub announced plans to acquire MyRepublic’s mobile business, bringing approximately 85,000 active subscribers under its ownership and strengthening its position in an increasingly competitive market.
Announced on October 8, 2026, the deal is expected to be completed by April 30, 2027, subject to the fulfilment of the required conditions. The acquisition follows StarHub’s earlier purchase of MyRepublic’s Singapore broadband business, giving the telecommunications giant a path towards full ownership of both MyRepublic’s broadband and mobile operations.
Despite the change in ownership, MyRepublic Mobile customers are not expected to experience service disruptions. Both companies have said subscribers will retain their existing plans and services while continuing to use StarHub’s mobile network.
The announcement was reported by AsiaOne, The Straits Times and The Business Times, highlighting the latest development in Singapore’s ongoing telecommunications industry consolidation.
85,000 Mobile Subscribers at the Centre of the Deal
MyRepublic’s mobile business had approximately 85,000 active subscribers and recorded a net profit of S$2.4 million for the 12 months ended June 30, 2026.
The Business Times reported that the business generated a blended average revenue per user of around S$13 per month.
The transaction value has not been fixed at a single publicly disclosed amount. Instead, it will depend on factors including the number of active 4G and 5G subscribers, average revenue per user and subscriber lifetime.
StarHub will also pay additional performance-based amounts linked to the migration of MyRepublic customers onto its network.
Under the reported arrangement, StarHub will pay MyRepublic S$1 million once 25,000 subscribers have migrated to StarHub’s network. A further S$1 million is payable if 50,000 subscribers have migrated by March 14, 2027.
These payments are separate from the main transaction value.
Will MyRepublic Customers Face Higher Bills or Lose Their Plans?
For existing subscribers, the immediate message from both companies is that services will continue without disruption.
StarHub has said the acquisition will preserve the MyRepublic Mobile brand and its existing customer proposition, allowing the business to continue serving users through a distinct offering while benefiting from StarHub’s network infrastructure.
MyRepublic Group chief executive Vaughan Baker reassured customers that their existing plans and services would remain unchanged during the transition.
The companies have also been progressively moving MyRepublic Mobile customers onto StarHub’s network, providing a foundation for the ownership transition.
However, customers should distinguish between the current commitment to service continuity and future commercial decisions. The announcement does not establish that prices or plan terms can never change in the future.
For now, subscribers do not need to assume that the acquisition automatically means higher bills, cancelled plans or an immediate change in their mobile service.
Why StarHub Is Expanding Its Mobile Business
The acquisition forms part of StarHub’s broader multi-brand strategy, which aims to serve different customer groups through distinct brands and service offerings while sharing network infrastructure.
By acquiring MyRepublic Mobile, StarHub can expand its customer base and strengthen the scale of its mobile operations without abandoning MyRepublic’s established identity.
StarHub chief executive Nikhil Eapen said the transaction completes a multi-year process that began with the company’s investment in MyRepublic Broadband in 2021.
StarHub completed its acquisition of the remaining 49.9 per cent stake in MyRepublic Broadband in August 2025, making the broadband business wholly owned by StarHub. The latest mobile acquisition would extend that ownership to MyRepublic’s mobile operations.
The company said greater scale would help it invest more effectively in network resilience, innovation and customer experience, including improvements associated with its 5G+ network.
Singapore’s Telco Industry Faces Growing Consolidation Pressure
The deal comes as Singapore’s telecommunications companies face intense price competition, pressure on mobile revenue and growing expectations for faster, more reliable connectivity.
The Business Times reported that StarHub’s mobile-service revenue fell 10.5 per cent year on year to S$245.3 million in the first half of 2026, compared with S$274.1 million in the corresponding period a year earlier.
Singtel Singapore’s operating revenue also declined 3.1 per cent year on year in its first quarter, with the company citing continued intense price competition.
These pressures have encouraged operators to look for ways to improve efficiency, expand their customer bases and spread network investment across more subscribers.
Mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, such as MyRepublic Mobile, provide mobile services using another telecommunications company’s network rather than operating their own complete radio-access infrastructure.
This model allows brands to compete through pricing, customer service and specialised plans without having to build an entire nationwide mobile network themselves.
However, smaller operators can face challenges when competing against larger companies with greater financial resources and established infrastructure.
In August 2026, StarHub and MyRepublic had already announced plans to move MyRepublic’s 4G subscribers from M1’s network to StarHub’s network, building on an existing wholesale partnership for 5G services.
The acquisition is therefore the next step in an existing commercial relationship rather than an entirely new partnership.
What the Deal Means for Singapore’s Mobile Market
The acquisition could strengthen StarHub’s ability to compete by bringing more customers and operations under one corporate group. It may also allow the company to coordinate network investment and mobile offerings more efficiently.
For consumers, however, the longer-term implications will depend on how the market evolves.
Greater scale can support infrastructure investment and service improvements, but continued competition remains important for keeping prices attractive and ensuring customers have meaningful choices.
The transaction also comes amid broader industry consolidation efforts. StarHub recently migrated customers from mobile brand redONE to its budget offering, eight, while separate discussions involving Keppel and M1 have drawn attention to possible further changes in Singapore’s telecommunications sector.
The proposed acquisition of MyRepublic Mobile does not mean all Singaporean mobile brands are disappearing. Instead, it illustrates how some brands may continue operating while relying on the infrastructure and ownership of larger telecommunications groups.
Acquisition Expected to Close by April 2027
The transaction is expected to be completed by April 30, 2027, subject to the applicable conditions being fulfilled.
Until then, StarHub and MyRepublic will continue managing the transition, with service continuity remaining a stated priority.
For MyRepublic Mobile subscribers, the immediate takeaway is reassuring: existing services are expected to continue, and the brand will be retained under the announced arrangement.
For Singapore’s wider telecommunications industry, however, the deal signals another significant step towards consolidation as operators seek greater scale in a market shaped by price competition, rising connectivity demands and costly network investments.
The bigger question is whether these changes will ultimately translate into better coverage, improved service and competitive prices for consumers — benefits that will become clearer as the acquisition progresses.
