SingTel mobile users top 124m
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS (SingTel) said its mobile subscribers grew by a record 12 million in the first quarter to top 124 million users at the end of March, the largest such base in Asia outside of China.
"It marks the fourth consecutive quarter that the number of regional mobile subscribers has increased at a record pace," SingTel said in a statement.
"This is the largest mobile customer base in Asia outside of China." Compared to a year ago, the number of mobile users increased by 46 per cent or 39 million subscribers, said SingTel. The increase was driven by SingTel's regional mobile associates especially in India and Indonesia where the fast growing markets have further scope to expand. Bharti of India signed another record 5.2 million mobile users in the first quarter to bring its overall base to 37 million at the end of March while Indonesia's Telkomsel added 3.3 million users to 39.9 million.
In Australia, wholly owned SingTel Optus successfully defended its position in the competitive market as it added 60,000 customers during the quarter to increase its base to 6.74 million. At home in Singapore, SingTel's mobile users rose by 56,000 during the first quarter to 1.82 million. It gave no other figures for its other Asian markets in Thailand, the Philippines, and Bangladesh.
The telecom firm, majority owned by state-linked investment firm Temasek Holdings, owns stakes in several regional mobile operators as part of a strategy to tap fast growing markets in Asia and reduce reliance on its home market of four million.
Apart from Bharti and Telkomsel, SingTel has stakes in Thailand's Advanced Info Service, Globe Telecom in the Philippines and Pacific Bangladesh Telecom.
The company is due to release its earnings for the year to March today.
Established in 1974, Temasek owns stakes in some of Asia's best-known companies including Singapore Airlines.
It has stepped up its investments in Asia's emerging economies in recent years. Temasek's corporate portfolio is valued at $129 billion.AFP
"It marks the fourth consecutive quarter that the number of regional mobile subscribers has increased at a record pace," SingTel said in a statement.
"This is the largest mobile customer base in Asia outside of China." Compared to a year ago, the number of mobile users increased by 46 per cent or 39 million subscribers, said SingTel. The increase was driven by SingTel's regional mobile associates especially in India and Indonesia where the fast growing markets have further scope to expand. Bharti of India signed another record 5.2 million mobile users in the first quarter to bring its overall base to 37 million at the end of March while Indonesia's Telkomsel added 3.3 million users to 39.9 million.
In Australia, wholly owned SingTel Optus successfully defended its position in the competitive market as it added 60,000 customers during the quarter to increase its base to 6.74 million. At home in Singapore, SingTel's mobile users rose by 56,000 during the first quarter to 1.82 million. It gave no other figures for its other Asian markets in Thailand, the Philippines, and Bangladesh.
The telecom firm, majority owned by state-linked investment firm Temasek Holdings, owns stakes in several regional mobile operators as part of a strategy to tap fast growing markets in Asia and reduce reliance on its home market of four million.
Apart from Bharti and Telkomsel, SingTel has stakes in Thailand's Advanced Info Service, Globe Telecom in the Philippines and Pacific Bangladesh Telecom.
The company is due to release its earnings for the year to March today.
Established in 1974, Temasek owns stakes in some of Asia's best-known companies including Singapore Airlines.
It has stepped up its investments in Asia's emerging economies in recent years. Temasek's corporate portfolio is valued at $129 billion.AFP
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