OPERATING AND
FINANCIAL REVIEW
FINANCIAL REVIEW
COMPANY OVERVIEW
M1 is an established brand that provides
mobile communications services to over
1.6 million customers in Singapore, international
call services to mobile and fixed-line users,
wireless broadband services to home, office
and mobile users, and fixed broadband services
to home users.
M1 offers a wide range of mobile voice, non-voice
and value-added services on its nationwide
cellular network and is widely recognised as an
innovative operator. With emphasis on quality,
customer service, innovation and value, M1
aims to take the lead in personal voice, and
business and data communications. Customers
subscribe to M1’s mobile services on either a
postpaid or prepaid basis from a variety of price
plans. M1’s wireless broadband service M1
Mobile Broadband, offers customers a choice
of service plans at different downlink access
speeds. In August 2008, M1 became a fullfledged
broadband player when it introduced the
M1 Fixed Broadband service for home users.
The service can currently support downlink
and uplink speeds of up to 100 Mbps and
2 Mbps respectively.
M1 is an established brand that provides
mobile communications services to over
1.6 million customers in Singapore, international
call services to mobile and fixed-line users,
wireless broadband services to home, office
and mobile users, and fixed broadband services
to home users.
M1 offers a wide range of mobile voice, non-voice
and value-added services on its nationwide
cellular network and is widely recognised as an
innovative operator. With emphasis on quality,
customer service, innovation and value, M1
aims to take the lead in personal voice, and
business and data communications. Customers
subscribe to M1’s mobile services on either a
postpaid or prepaid basis from a variety of price
plans. M1’s wireless broadband service M1
Mobile Broadband, offers customers a choice
of service plans at different downlink access
speeds. In August 2008, M1 became a fullfledged
broadband player when it introduced the
M1 Fixed Broadband service for home users.
The service can currently support downlink
and uplink speeds of up to 100 Mbps and
2 Mbps respectively.
In the area of international call services, M1 offers
mobile and fixed-line customers International
Direct Dial (IDD) services using prefixes 002
and 021, and an International Calling Card
(ICC) service using prefix 1818. M1 also sells
international wholesale minutes to other
international service providers.
M1 commenced commercial operations in
April 1997 with the launch of its GSM network.
It subsequently rolled out a WCDMA network
and began offering 3G services in February
2005. In December 2006, the 3G network
was upgraded with High Speed Packet
Access (HSPA) to increase network efficiency
and support wireless broadband services.
The 3G/HSPA network was further upgraded
in 2008 and is currently capable of supporting
downlink and uplink speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps
and 5.76 Mbps respectively.
The Company holds a facilities-based operator
(FBO) licence and a telecommunication
dealer’s class licence issued by the Infocomm
Development Authority of Singapore (IDA),
and a Media Development Authority (MDA)
class licence. In April 2001, M1 also obtained
mobile and fixed-line customers International
Direct Dial (IDD) services using prefixes 002
and 021, and an International Calling Card
(ICC) service using prefix 1818. M1 also sells
international wholesale minutes to other
international service providers.
M1 commenced commercial operations in
April 1997 with the launch of its GSM network.
It subsequently rolled out a WCDMA network
and began offering 3G services in February
2005. In December 2006, the 3G network
was upgraded with High Speed Packet
Access (HSPA) to increase network efficiency
and support wireless broadband services.
The 3G/HSPA network was further upgraded
in 2008 and is currently capable of supporting
downlink and uplink speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps
and 5.76 Mbps respectively.
The Company holds a facilities-based operator
(FBO) licence and a telecommunication
dealer’s class licence issued by the Infocomm
Development Authority of Singapore (IDA),
and a Media Development Authority (MDA)
class licence. In April 2001, M1 also obtained
an FBO licence for the provision of 3G mobile
communication systems and services.
Additionally, M1’s wholly-owned subsidiary,
M1 Net Ltd, holds a service-based operator
(SBO) licence issued by the IDA and an MDA
class licence.
M1 has been listed on the Singapore Exchange
since December 2002.
In 2008, M1 achieved a net profit after tax of
S$150.1 million, which was 12.6% lower than
S$171.8 million achieved in 2007, mainly due
to higher acquisition and retention costs for
2008 and tax adjustment benefits in 2007.
Net profit margin on service revenue was
20.3%, down from 23.6% in 2007. Operating
revenue was stable at S$800.6 million while
service revenue grew 1.6% to S$738.5 million.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortisation (EBITDA) was 1.3% lower at
S$316.5 million, representing a margin of 42.9%.
As at 31 December 2008, M1 had a total of
1,631,000 mobile customers, comprising
883,000 postpaid customers and 748,000
prepaid customers. Based on market statistics
published by IDA, as at 31 December 2008,
M1’s overall market share of the mobile customer
base was 25.7%, comprising a postpaid share of
27.0% and a prepaid share of 24.3%.
MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
As at 31 December 2008, Singapore’s total
mobile subscriber base was 6,340,200,
representing a mobile penetration rate of
131.0%, which was 8.5 percentage points
higher than that a year ago.
One of the key market developments in 2008
was the introduction of Full Mobile Number
Portability (MNP) in June. With Full MNP, mobile
phone users can switch between telecom
service providers seamlessly and retain their
existing numbers. This compares to the previous
call-forwarding solution where calls made to a
mobile phone user’s old number were forwarded
to a new number, resulting in the user holding
two numbers. Leading up to Full MNP, mobile
communication systems and services.
Additionally, M1’s wholly-owned subsidiary,
M1 Net Ltd, holds a service-based operator
(SBO) licence issued by the IDA and an MDA
class licence.
M1 has been listed on the Singapore Exchange
since December 2002.
In 2008, M1 achieved a net profit after tax of
S$150.1 million, which was 12.6% lower than
S$171.8 million achieved in 2007, mainly due
to higher acquisition and retention costs for
2008 and tax adjustment benefits in 2007.
Net profit margin on service revenue was
20.3%, down from 23.6% in 2007. Operating
revenue was stable at S$800.6 million while
service revenue grew 1.6% to S$738.5 million.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortisation (EBITDA) was 1.3% lower at
S$316.5 million, representing a margin of 42.9%.
As at 31 December 2008, M1 had a total of
1,631,000 mobile customers, comprising
883,000 postpaid customers and 748,000
prepaid customers. Based on market statistics
published by IDA, as at 31 December 2008,
M1’s overall market share of the mobile customer
base was 25.7%, comprising a postpaid share of
27.0% and a prepaid share of 24.3%.
MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
As at 31 December 2008, Singapore’s total
mobile subscriber base was 6,340,200,
representing a mobile penetration rate of
131.0%, which was 8.5 percentage points
higher than that a year ago.
One of the key market developments in 2008
was the introduction of Full Mobile Number
Portability (MNP) in June. With Full MNP, mobile
phone users can switch between telecom
service providers seamlessly and retain their
existing numbers. This compares to the previous
call-forwarding solution where calls made to a
mobile phone user’s old number were forwarded
to a new number, resulting in the user holding
two numbers. Leading up to Full MNP, mobile
operators were aggressively marketing their
services to retain existing customers and attract
new ones. As a customer-focused service
provider, M1 spared no effort to ensure that it
remained competitive and that its customers
continued to receive the best deals. M1
proactively sought feedback on what customers
wanted and responded with a range of value-
for-money and innovative mobile price plans
that catered to the needs of a diverse range of
customers. As a result of these initiatives, the
Company was able to retain valuable customers
and at the same time attract new ones.
In line with M1’s strategic plan to become a
dynamic multiple-play service provider, the
Company participated actively in IDA’s Next
Generation National Broadband Network
(NGNBN) Request-For-Proposal (RFP) for
both the Network Company (NetCo) and the
Operating Company (OpCo). The NGNBN is part
of the Singapore Government’s Intelligent Nation
2015 (iN2015) masterplan to entrench Singapore
as an Infocomm hub, stimulate business growth
and enhance social vibrancy. The NGNBN will be
capable of delivering high speed fixed broadband
services to retain existing customers and attract
new ones. As a customer-focused service
provider, M1 spared no effort to ensure that it
remained competitive and that its customers
continued to receive the best deals. M1
proactively sought feedback on what customers
wanted and responded with a range of value-
for-money and innovative mobile price plans
that catered to the needs of a diverse range of
customers. As a result of these initiatives, the
Company was able to retain valuable customers
and at the same time attract new ones.
In line with M1’s strategic plan to become a
dynamic multiple-play service provider, the
Company participated actively in IDA’s Next
Generation National Broadband Network
(NGNBN) Request-For-Proposal (RFP) for
both the Network Company (NetCo) and the
Operating Company (OpCo). The NGNBN is part
of the Singapore Government’s Intelligent Nation
2015 (iN2015) masterplan to entrench Singapore
as an Infocomm hub, stimulate business growth
and enhance social vibrancy. The NGNBN will be
capable of delivering high speed fixed broadband
symmetric access of 1Gbps or more, with an
initial provisioning of 100 Mbps. M1 partnered
StarHub and Qatar Investment Authority and
bidded for the NetCo RFP, as part of the Infinity
Consortium. Although the consortium’s proposal
was not chosen as the winning NetCo bid, M1’s
in-depth involvement in the NetCo RFP stood the
Company in good stead in preparing its response
to the OpCo RFP, for which M1 submitted a bid
in December 2008 as a single entity. The result
of the OpCo RFP is expected to be announced
in the first quarter of 2009. Regardless of the
tender result, the introduction of the NGNBN
will provide a neutral and transparent Open
Access environment where M1 can compete
more effectively in the fixed space as a Retail
Service Provider.
MOBILE
The postpaid mobile segment remains key
to M1’s business. As at 31 December 2008,
M1’s postpaid customers formed 54.1% of its
total mobile customer base, and contributed
88.1% of its total mobile telecommunications
revenue in 2008. While voice revenue constituted
the majority of postpaid service revenue, M1
experienced steady growth in non-voice usage.
initial provisioning of 100 Mbps. M1 partnered
StarHub and Qatar Investment Authority and
bidded for the NetCo RFP, as part of the Infinity
Consortium. Although the consortium’s proposal
was not chosen as the winning NetCo bid, M1’s
in-depth involvement in the NetCo RFP stood the
Company in good stead in preparing its response
to the OpCo RFP, for which M1 submitted a bid
in December 2008 as a single entity. The result
of the OpCo RFP is expected to be announced
in the first quarter of 2009. Regardless of the
tender result, the introduction of the NGNBN
will provide a neutral and transparent Open
Access environment where M1 can compete
more effectively in the fixed space as a Retail
Service Provider.
MOBILE
The postpaid mobile segment remains key
to M1’s business. As at 31 December 2008,
M1’s postpaid customers formed 54.1% of its
total mobile customer base, and contributed
88.1% of its total mobile telecommunications
revenue in 2008. While voice revenue constituted
the majority of postpaid service revenue, M1
experienced steady growth in non-voice usage.
Contribution from non-voice services rose to
23.4% of service revenue from 21.6% in the
preceding year, driven mainly by growth in the
mobile broadband customer base.
As part of the Company’s continuous proactive
drive to provide customers with better value
and to retain customers ahead of Full MNP,
M1 introduced three new postpaid price plans
– SunSaver, SunSaver Plus and SunMax
in March 2008, offering enhanced benefits to
customers. All three plans feature per-second
billing, all-day free incoming calls, free unlimited
local talktime to three M1 numbers and free
IDD calls to a host of destinations for an
affordable fee, among other features. To reward
customers and help them save on their bills,
M1 subsequently launched the Multi Line Saver
Scheme which entitles customers with three,
four or five M1 lines (on selected price plans) to
25%, 30%, and 35% discount off their monthly
subscription fees respectively. In April 2008, M1
launched its “You Deserve Better” campaign
to encourage customers to give feedback on
mobile-related issues and their preferences, in
order to serve them better. This initiative resulted
in the launch of two new price plans – the M1
SunShare Plan and the M1 DIY Plan. The
former is a supplementary plan that allows
customers to add up to four lines to a main line,
with both main and supplementary lines sharing
SMS/MMS and talktime bundles, and enjoying
unlimited outgoing talktime within the group of
lines. The latter gives customers the flexibility to
design their own mobile plan to suit their needs.
In addition, M1’s existing Talk All U Can Plan
was enhanced to give customers more value and
benefits. Similarly, for the corporate segment, M1
introduced several new initiatives and price plans
to improve its value proposition and build deeper
relationships with its corporate customers.
To encourage data usage, M1 launched two
plans for customers to enjoy unlimited data
roaming on the Celcom network in Malaysia
and the Smartone Vodafone network in Hong
Kong for three months between September
and December 2008. One of these plans also
enabled customers to enjoy very low data
roaming rates in over 40 countries in Asia-
Pacific and Europe.
23.4% of service revenue from 21.6% in the
preceding year, driven mainly by growth in the
mobile broadband customer base.
As part of the Company’s continuous proactive
drive to provide customers with better value
and to retain customers ahead of Full MNP,
M1 introduced three new postpaid price plans
– SunSaver, SunSaver Plus and SunMax
in March 2008, offering enhanced benefits to
customers. All three plans feature per-second
billing, all-day free incoming calls, free unlimited
local talktime to three M1 numbers and free
IDD calls to a host of destinations for an
affordable fee, among other features. To reward
customers and help them save on their bills,
M1 subsequently launched the Multi Line Saver
Scheme which entitles customers with three,
four or five M1 lines (on selected price plans) to
25%, 30%, and 35% discount off their monthly
subscription fees respectively. In April 2008, M1
launched its “You Deserve Better” campaign
to encourage customers to give feedback on
mobile-related issues and their preferences, in
order to serve them better. This initiative resulted
in the launch of two new price plans – the M1
SunShare Plan and the M1 DIY Plan. The
former is a supplementary plan that allows
customers to add up to four lines to a main line,
with both main and supplementary lines sharing
SMS/MMS and talktime bundles, and enjoying
unlimited outgoing talktime within the group of
lines. The latter gives customers the flexibility to
design their own mobile plan to suit their needs.
In addition, M1’s existing Talk All U Can Plan
was enhanced to give customers more value and
benefits. Similarly, for the corporate segment, M1
introduced several new initiatives and price plans
to improve its value proposition and build deeper
relationships with its corporate customers.
To encourage data usage, M1 launched two
plans for customers to enjoy unlimited data
roaming on the Celcom network in Malaysia
and the Smartone Vodafone network in Hong
Kong for three months between September
and December 2008. One of these plans also
enabled customers to enjoy very low data
roaming rates in over 40 countries in Asia-
Pacific and Europe.
Take-up for M1 Mobile Broadband gained
traction in the year, riding on attractively-priced
plans that catered to the needs of a diverse
range of customers and the upgrade of M1’s
HSPA network. During the year, M1 offered
two new competitive mobile broadband plans
supporting downlink and uplink speeds of up
to 7.2 Mbps and 2 Mbps respectively.
Amid stiff market competition, M1’s prepaid
customer base grew 10.1% over the previous
year to 748,000. During the year, the Company
under took several initiatives to enhance its
prepaid price plans and to provide superior
value to customers. These included giving more
bundled local and IDD talktime, incentivising
and rewarding customers who topped up
their M Cards with higher value and roadshow
promotions targeted at various foreign ethnic
communities. In addition, M1 launched a
prepaid value-added service, M Card Family &
Friends, which gives bundled local talktime to
three pre-selected local fixed or mobile numbers
belonging to M1 or other local operators for a
very low monthly subscription fee.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
In 2008, M1 launched numerous innovative and
exciting services, including:
traction in the year, riding on attractively-priced
plans that catered to the needs of a diverse
range of customers and the upgrade of M1’s
HSPA network. During the year, M1 offered
two new competitive mobile broadband plans
supporting downlink and uplink speeds of up
to 7.2 Mbps and 2 Mbps respectively.
Amid stiff market competition, M1’s prepaid
customer base grew 10.1% over the previous
year to 748,000. During the year, the Company
under took several initiatives to enhance its
prepaid price plans and to provide superior
value to customers. These included giving more
bundled local and IDD talktime, incentivising
and rewarding customers who topped up
their M Cards with higher value and roadshow
promotions targeted at various foreign ethnic
communities. In addition, M1 launched a
prepaid value-added service, M Card Family &
Friends, which gives bundled local talktime to
three pre-selected local fixed or mobile numbers
belonging to M1 or other local operators for a
very low monthly subscription fee.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
In 2008, M1 launched numerous innovative and
exciting services, including:
• MiWorld GO, M1 Jukebox: These services
give customers unlimited streaming and
downloading of songs on their mobile
phones from an extensive collection of titles
of different genres, leveraging on smarter
devices and faster network speeds.
• M1 DataSave: With this service, M1
helps safeguard customers’ contacts, text
messages and pictures so that customers
do not have to worry about losing their data
should they lose their phones.
• Videomail: With Videomail, callers can leave
video messages for M1 customers when
they are not contactable through video calls.
A first in Singapore, this simple and convenient
service provides customers with an affordable
and novel means to stay in touch with family
and friends wherever they are.
• M1 Fixed Broadband: Launched in
August, M1 Fixed Broadband offers
customers access to broadband services
in their residences with downlink and uplink
speeds of up to 100 Mbps and 2 Mbps
respectively. Available in four plans with
unlimited usage per plan, this service offers
customers a variety of speeds depending
on individual needs.
give customers unlimited streaming and
downloading of songs on their mobile
phones from an extensive collection of titles
of different genres, leveraging on smarter
devices and faster network speeds.
• M1 DataSave: With this service, M1
helps safeguard customers’ contacts, text
messages and pictures so that customers
do not have to worry about losing their data
should they lose their phones.
• Videomail: With Videomail, callers can leave
video messages for M1 customers when
they are not contactable through video calls.
A first in Singapore, this simple and convenient
service provides customers with an affordable
and novel means to stay in touch with family
and friends wherever they are.
• M1 Fixed Broadband: Launched in
August, M1 Fixed Broadband offers
customers access to broadband services
in their residences with downlink and uplink
speeds of up to 100 Mbps and 2 Mbps
respectively. Available in four plans with
unlimited usage per plan, this service offers
customers a variety of speeds depending
on individual needs.
• M1 DuoSIM: Another first-in-Singapore
service, M1 DuoSIM offers customers the
convenience of seamless dual-SIM access
in a single handset, and is available on the
postpaid plan or as a prepaid card. M1
DuoSIM is useful to customers who need
to subscribe to multiple lines but wish to
separate personal and business calls by
switching between lines instead of carrying
two handsets. It also benefits inbound
roamers who want a local number without
having to swap SIM cards or carry multiple
devices.
• Lonely Planet M-Site: This joint service
with Lonely Planet provides M1 customers
exclusive real-time access to Lonely Planet’s
rich library of travel content through Lonely
Planet’s mobile Internet site (m-site) hosted
on M1’s mobile portal MiWorld Mobile.
This is a continual effort by M1 to further
expand the diverse range of information and
entertainment already available to customers
on MiWorld Mobile.
• KidSAFE: A first such service worldwide,
KidSAFE aims to address parents’ concerns
for safe and secure usage of mobile phones
by their children. This service allows parents
to define and manage the authorised senders/
recipients of calls and text messages to and
from their child’s mobile phone, and blocks
unauthorised usage.
• M1 MobileCam: This is an easy-to-use and
affordable home surveillance mobile service
to help consumers monitor their homes
remotely via 3G video calls from their mobile
phones. It comprises a compact portable
wireless mobile camera device inserted
with a MobileCam SIM card. The registered
MobileCam user and his/her list of authorised
viewers (including non-M1 customers) can
make video calls to the MobileCam for real-
time viewing.
In August 2008, M1 partnered the national
broadcaster MediaCorp, SingTel and StarHub
service, M1 DuoSIM offers customers the
convenience of seamless dual-SIM access
in a single handset, and is available on the
postpaid plan or as a prepaid card. M1
DuoSIM is useful to customers who need
to subscribe to multiple lines but wish to
separate personal and business calls by
switching between lines instead of carrying
two handsets. It also benefits inbound
roamers who want a local number without
having to swap SIM cards or carry multiple
devices.
• Lonely Planet M-Site: This joint service
with Lonely Planet provides M1 customers
exclusive real-time access to Lonely Planet’s
rich library of travel content through Lonely
Planet’s mobile Internet site (m-site) hosted
on M1’s mobile portal MiWorld Mobile.
This is a continual effort by M1 to further
expand the diverse range of information and
entertainment already available to customers
on MiWorld Mobile.
• KidSAFE: A first such service worldwide,
KidSAFE aims to address parents’ concerns
for safe and secure usage of mobile phones
by their children. This service allows parents
to define and manage the authorised senders/
recipients of calls and text messages to and
from their child’s mobile phone, and blocks
unauthorised usage.
• M1 MobileCam: This is an easy-to-use and
affordable home surveillance mobile service
to help consumers monitor their homes
remotely via 3G video calls from their mobile
phones. It comprises a compact portable
wireless mobile camera device inserted
with a MobileCam SIM card. The registered
MobileCam user and his/her list of authorised
viewers (including non-M1 customers) can
make video calls to the MobileCam for real-
time viewing.
In August 2008, M1 partnered the national
broadcaster MediaCorp, SingTel and StarHub
to jointly conduct a consumer mobile TV trial
using Digital Video Broadcasting – Handheld
(DVB-H) technology, to deliver broadcast
services to mobile devices. Customers from the
three mobile operators were invited to participate
in the trial, which lasted till October 2008. As
part of the trial, participants were able to view
six dedicated channels and enjoy a variety of
television programmes across different genres,
including comprehensive coverage of the Beijing
Summer Olympic Games. The trial provided
M1 with the opportunity to better understand
consumer preferences and behaviour regarding
mobile TV.
BRANDING
“You Deserve Better” – A Brand That
Truly Listens
With “You Deserve Better” as the main theme
for the year, M1 set out to listen to what
customers want and to fulfill their needs. This
initiative involved two phases – Firstly, surveying,
listening and gathering feedback and ideas from
customers, and secondly, delivering on their
feedback and suggestions. The outcome of this
successful campaign was the introduction of
several new and innovative price plans that are
well-tailored to customers’ needs.
M1 has always been regarded as a challenger
brand, from breaking the monopoly of the
incumbent in earlier days to providing class-
leading customer service, innovative products
and services and price plans with exceptional
value. The Company’s promise to customers
is that it will continue to be a brand that truly
listens to them, fulfills their needs and exceeds
their expectations.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Customer service continues to be one of M1’s
key differentiators and the Company strongly
believes that its strength in this attribute is even
more critical in the increasingly competitive
business environment. For M1, all customers
are important and the Company does its
using Digital Video Broadcasting – Handheld
(DVB-H) technology, to deliver broadcast
services to mobile devices. Customers from the
three mobile operators were invited to participate
in the trial, which lasted till October 2008. As
part of the trial, participants were able to view
six dedicated channels and enjoy a variety of
television programmes across different genres,
including comprehensive coverage of the Beijing
Summer Olympic Games. The trial provided
M1 with the opportunity to better understand
consumer preferences and behaviour regarding
mobile TV.
BRANDING
“You Deserve Better” – A Brand That
Truly Listens
With “You Deserve Better” as the main theme
for the year, M1 set out to listen to what
customers want and to fulfill their needs. This
initiative involved two phases – Firstly, surveying,
listening and gathering feedback and ideas from
customers, and secondly, delivering on their
feedback and suggestions. The outcome of this
successful campaign was the introduction of
several new and innovative price plans that are
well-tailored to customers’ needs.
M1 has always been regarded as a challenger
brand, from breaking the monopoly of the
incumbent in earlier days to providing class-
leading customer service, innovative products
and services and price plans with exceptional
value. The Company’s promise to customers
is that it will continue to be a brand that truly
listens to them, fulfills their needs and exceeds
their expectations.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Customer service continues to be one of M1’s
key differentiators and the Company strongly
believes that its strength in this attribute is even
more critical in the increasingly competitive
business environment. For M1, all customers
are important and the Company does its
utmost best to reach out and listen to them and
responds to their needs in ways that exceed their
expectations. M1 wants its customers to know
that it truly listens and cares.
NETWORK
M1 initiated a major enhancement to its 3G
and HSPA networks in 2008, upgrading all
base stations to the latest fourth generation IP
infrastructure in preparation for the advent of
HSPA Evolution and LTE (Long Term Evolution)
architecture. The enhancement was completed
in the third quarter of the year and M1 was
the first cellular mobile operator in Asia to
commercially offer a wireless broadband service
at downlink and uplink throughput speeds of up
to 14.4 Mbps and 5.76 Mbps respectively. The
Company also continued its cellular backhaul
self-provision programme and enhancement of
international connectivity, in addition to numerous
cost-saving initiatives.
responds to their needs in ways that exceed their
expectations. M1 wants its customers to know
that it truly listens and cares.
NETWORK
M1 initiated a major enhancement to its 3G
and HSPA networks in 2008, upgrading all
base stations to the latest fourth generation IP
infrastructure in preparation for the advent of
HSPA Evolution and LTE (Long Term Evolution)
architecture. The enhancement was completed
in the third quarter of the year and M1 was
the first cellular mobile operator in Asia to
commercially offer a wireless broadband service
at downlink and uplink throughput speeds of up
to 14.4 Mbps and 5.76 Mbps respectively. The
Company also continued its cellular backhaul
self-provision programme and enhancement of
international connectivity, in addition to numerous
cost-saving initiatives.
RETAIL DISTRIBUTION
M1 has an island-wide network of operator-
owned retail shops (M1 Shop) and operator-appointed distributor outlets that serve the
consumer segment, as well as an enterprise
sales team that serves the business segment.
As at 31 December 2008, M1 operated a total
of 13 M1 Shop outlets. In addition, M1 runs
an e-shop, which sells mobile phones and
accessories online.
M1 has an island-wide network of operator-
owned retail shops (M1 Shop) and operator-appointed distributor outlets that serve the
consumer segment, as well as an enterprise
sales team that serves the business segment.
As at 31 December 2008, M1 operated a total
of 13 M1 Shop outlets. In addition, M1 runs
an e-shop, which sells mobile phones and
accessories online.
