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Virtual telco Zero Mobile’s licence suspended over outstanding billing issues, company blacklisted: IMDA source: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/virtual-telco-zero-mobiles-licence-suspended-over-outstanding-billing-issues-company SINGAPORE — Zero Mobile, an Australia-based firm that provided virtual telco services here, has been suspended with immediate effect due to failures to address outstanding billing issues, Singapore’s telco regulator said on Thursday (March 12). The company and its directors have also been blacklisted, said the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in a statement. “This is due to Zero Mobile’s failure to address outstanding billing disputes with ex-subscribers in spite of IMDA’s reminders, following the cessation of Zero Mobile’s service plans in December 2019,” it said. The move comes after TODAY reported last December that the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which leased network capacity from Singtel, had scrapped all its existing mobile plans. However, chief executive officer Glenn Mohammed had said then that the company intended to roll out new ones in the following weeks. Despite Mr Mohammed’s assurance that Zero Mobile was committed to succeed in the Singapore market, the new plans were not launched and some Zero Mobile subscribers complained that they were still being charged for services that they had asked to cancel. On Thursday, IMDA said it has worked with the company to resolve issues with 230 ex-subscribers, which had been brought about by the cessation of the company’s services, such as porting over their numbers to other telcos. However, 12 of them have not resolved their billing issues with Zero Mobile. “IMDA takes the protection of consumers’ interests seriously. IMDA is investigating Zero Mobile for contraventions of consumer protection requirements under IMDA’s Telecom Competition Code, and will take enforcement action if there are any breaches,” the regulator said. “IMDA has also directed Zero Mobile to resolve its billing issues with ex-subscribers, and advises affected ex-subscribers to stop their recurring auto-payment arrangements.” If Zero Mobile fails to do so, its licence to operate will be cancelled on March 18, said the IMDA. Such an outcome would make Zero Mobile the first MVNO to shutter in Singapore in recent memory. TODAY has reached out to Zero Mobile for comment. Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/virtual-telco-zero-mobiles-licence-suspended-over-outstanding-billing-issues-company

Singapore to start 5G roll-out by 2020: Iswaran SINGAPORE plans to start rolling out fifth-generation mobile network technology, or 5G, by 2020. Minister for Communications and Information S Iswaran confirmed the market's timeframe expectations on Monday, in a move that he said was "to maintain Singapore's competitive edge in connectivity". The Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) "will launch a public consultation shortly" on regulatory framework and policy issues such as spectrum allocation, Mr Iswaran added. He was speaking at the Committee of Supply debate in Parliament, in a reply to a question from MP Ong Teng Koon (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) on the Republic's digital infrastructure capabilities. "The digital economy - streaming services, e-commerce and cloud computing - is built on the assumption of uninterrupted access to the Internet," Mr Ong had said. "Loss of connectivity can have potentially catastrophic business consequences ... What are our plans to ensure that our digital infrastructure is able to support our growing digital economy?" Mr Iswaran told the House in reply that "we aim to ensure that we have future-ready and globally competitive digital infrastructure, which is the bedrock of our digital economy". The minister noted that 5G is expected to be as much as 100 times faster than the present 4G systems, with up to 25 times lower latency or lag time, and as many as one million devices supported within one square kilometre - that is, 1,000 times denser than is now possible. "5G has the potential to fundamentally transform our businesses and the way they operate," said Mr Iswaran, pointing to "its capacity to handle many high-demand applications simultaneously". These could include network connectivity for self-driving vehicles, industrial automation and the Internet of Things, and nationwide sensor networks, he observed. Singapore's three incumbent network operators - Singtel, StarHub and M1 - have all kicked off 5G trials with industry partners, including a 5G pilot network in the one-north district, by Singtel and Ericsson. Meanwhile, the IMDA has been waiving the frequency fees associated with 5G trials since 2017. https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/singapore-to-start-5g-roll-out-by-2020-iswaran 5G lai liao ...