Who Owns Simba, the Company Buying M1 for $1.43 Billion?

Monday, August 11, 2025 – Keppel Corporation has announced it will sell its subsidiary M1’s telecommunications business to rival Simba Telecom for $1.43 billion.

The deal had been expected by industry insiders, though many believed StarHub would be the likely buyer. Keppel said the move will create new revenue opportunities and jobs because Simba and M1 have the least overlap in resources.

Who is Simba?

Simba is Singapore’s fourth telecommunications company. It was previously known as TPG Singapore and entered the market in 2016 after winning a spectrum auction held by the Infocomm Development Authority (now IMDA).

Simba is owned by Tuas Limited, an Australian-listed company formed in March 2020. Tuas was created when TPG Australia merged with Vodafone Hutchison Australia in June 2020. After the merger, TPG’s Singapore operations were separated and transferred to Tuas.

The telco rebranded as Simba in 2022 after its rights to use the TPG brand expired. It operates only in Singapore and launched commercial services in 2020. Its first offering was a SIM-only plan with 50GB of data for $10 a month, the cheapest in the market at the time.

The company is chaired by Australian billionaire David Teoh, who is also the executive chairman of Tuas. Simba’s CEO is Richard Tan, based in Singapore.

What is Simba Known For?

Simba is popular for its affordable mobile plans. Seniors can get 400GB for just $5 a month. Its 5G packages range from 400GB to 700GB, covering Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong. The SuperRoam10 plan offers 400GB for $10 monthly.

How Big is Simba?

As of December 2024, Simba had over one million mobile subscribers. It ranks fourth in Singapore’s telco market, behind Singtel (4.5 million customers), StarHub (around 2 million), and M1 (about 2 million).

Impact of the Deal on Customers

Keppel said combining M1 and Simba will benefit customers through better service quality, faster 5G expansion, and improved infrastructure. The merger will help both companies operate more efficiently and strengthen Singapore’s telecom industry for the future.

“Together, M1 and Simba can scale faster, optimise resources, and boost digital investment,” said Keppel CEO Loh Chin Hua.