SINGAPORE: StarHub announced on 12 August 2025 that it has acquired the remaining 49.9 per cent stake in MyRepublic Broadband, securing full control of the broadband business in Singapore.
According to a Singapore Exchange (SGX) filing, the transaction is valued at S$105.2 million, comprising S$94.3 million for shares and S$10.9 million for operational assets.
The acquisition includes the MyRepublic brand in Singapore and certain key assets linked to its broadband operations.
StarHub said the move strengthens its multi-brand, multi-segment strategy, allowing for greater service differentiation and cross-product bundling for customers.
Chief executive Nikhil Eapen described the deal as “an acceleration” rather than merely an acquisition, saying it builds on a “strong foundation for growth”.
He added that full ownership would enable StarHub to “move faster, go further, and serve customers with greater clarity and care”.
Eapen noted that Singapore’s broadband market is consolidating, with scale, quality, and resilience becoming increasingly important.
Smaller players without robust platforms may find it difficult to sustain operations, he said, positioning StarHub as a provider of reliable and consistent services.
The deal follows Keppel’s announcement on 11 August 2025 that it will sell M1’s telecom operations to Simba Telecom for an enterprise value of S$1.43 billion (US$1.11 billion).
StarHub initially acquired a 50.1 per cent stake in MyRepublic Broadband in 2022 after receiving approval from the Infocomm Media Development Authority.
Netizens Express Concern Over Consumer Impact
The announcement drew a wave of comments on social media platforms such as Reddit and CNA’s Facebook page, with many long-time MyRepublic customers expressing disappointment.
One user wrote that the acquisition was “not great for consumers”, warning that “prices are gonna be way higher since they’d make you sign up for packages/bundles”.
Another said they had been using MyRepublic since it launched and had not faced many problems, but feared the change.
“If StarHub is gonna take over I can prolly guess not just the package will be more expensive but the Internet will be shitty as well,” the user said.
One user said MyRepublic offered good value, whereas StarHub and Singtel were costly unless customers fully maximised all available perks.
Others accused StarHub of poor service, citing bad connections, price hikes, and unsatisfactory customer support.
One user shared a personal experience, stating: “I was supposed to get ~$15 off for EPL subscription as I have a mobile line with them.”
The user added that StarHub customer service claimed the discount was not applicable until the terms and conditions were quoted back to them, and it eventually took three months for the discount to be applied.
Another commenter remarked: “StarHub cannot even get its services right, still want to acquire. Not a smart move and waste of funds.”
Concerns Over Market Consolidation
Many netizens pointed out that the deal reduces competition, with the market potentially reverting to three main players – Singtel, StarHub, and M1 – as smaller companies are absorbed.
Some predicted that prices could increase and affordable data plans might disappear.
“Eventually all those small, slow-growth telecom companies will consolidate again to only three in the market,” one user wrote.
Another commented: “Basically buying out its competitors. So much for healthy competition…”
Calls for tighter regulation were raised, with one user saying that anti-trust and anti-monopolistic laws were needed, as mergers of this kind were not in the public’s interest.
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