22 Sep

StarHub invests in MyRepublic’s Broadband Unit

StarHub Store

STARHUB announced intentions to purchase a majority 50.1 percent share in MyRepublic’s Singapore broadband business for an initial price of S$70.8 million, subject to a number of modifications.

On the condition that financial performance indicators are satisfied, a deferred payment of S$92 million will be payable. This brings StarHub’s investment in the jointly held business – MyRepublic Broadband – to S$162.8 million. StarHub’s internal financial reserves will be used to fund the transaction.

In addition, upon conclusion of the transaction, StarHub would provide a loan of S$74.2 million to a MyRepublic entity called MyRepublic Holdings. This money will be utilized to pay down MyRepublic Holdings’ debt. The broadband companies that will be transferred to MyRepublic Broadband are currently held by MyRepublic Holdings.

MyRepublic will keep the remaining 49.9% interest in MyRepublic Broadband, while StarHub retains the option to buy it out in the future.

The current senior management team, which includes MyRepublic co-founder and CEO Malcolm Rodrigues, is anticipated to continue in place. Mr Rodrigues, a former executive at StarHub, established MyRepublic in 2011.

The proposed deal, according to StarHub, will consolidate and enhance its position in the Singapore broadband market, increasing its market footprint to 40% and guiding long-term company growth.

According to StarHub, MyRepublic Broadband is profitable and expanding, with a 6% share of Singapore’s broadband market.

MyRepublic’s broadband business earned S$18.6 million before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation in the fiscal year ended June 2021. This number is based on pro forma management accounts and will be audited. The total revenue was S$63.9 million. The net profit attributable to the share purchased by StarHub is S$5.2 million.

Assuming the deal was completed on December 31, 2020, StarHub’s profits per share for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 would have increased to 8.99 Singapore cents from 8.66 Singapore cents.

StarHub stated that with the purchase, MyRepublic’s broadband customers would get access to expanded products from its consumer and enterprise business sectors. This will encompass StarHub’s broadband, over-the-top content, and cloud gaming goods and services.

According to the telecom, the collaboration will also generate mutually advantageous prospects through scale and synergies in terms of combined go-to-market options, future wholesale products, and cost savings.

“We are excited to collaborate with MyRepublic to increase innovation and provide greater value to more clients in Singapore. Covid-19 has demonstrated the importance of high-quality broadband services to our society, and we plan to scale up and provide better and faster services to our consumers while realizing high-quality profits accretion “Nikhil Eapen, CEO of StarHub, said

On Tuesday, StarHub shares finished S$0.02, or 1.6 percent higher, at S$1.24.

This article was first sighted on The Business Times

02 Jan

Turning it off and on again: The power of the power cycle

Popularised by shows like The IT Crowd, it’s a question thats become a joke, a meme, a clich: Have you tried turning it off and again?

For all the derision and disbelief it gets, turning a device off and on again a process technically known as performing a power cycle or reboot has been proven to fix all kinds of issues. Engineers, computer scientists and tech workers at all levels swear by the humble power cycle.

You’ve probably power cycled your personal computer at some point when a program stopped responding, or your modem and WiFi router when your internet connection had issues. What you might not know is that power cycling is used to fix problems in all kinds of electronic equipment, from cameras to network servers in data centres to even commercial aircraft.

In fact, on the Apollo 14 mission to the moon, the astronauts were instructed by mission control to power cycle the landing radar circuit breaker after it failed to lock on. They did and it saved the landing.

So the next time you hear tech support ask that question, I can assure you that tech support isn’t being lazy by suggesting a power cycle! If turning it off and on again works for multi-million dollars pieces of equipment, it can work for you.

So why do we power cycle our WiFi router?

Any WiFi router is basically a small computer with a specific purpose. Like a PC or smartphone, a WiFi router has a lot of programs running as well as its own internal memory which tracks and records data like the network activity running through it.

The longer the device runs, the more likely an error or a bug might occur in its many processes, resulting in a memory leak or corrupted data being transmitted over the network or the system just crashing.

Doing a power cycle basically ends every single process and returns the computer to a known, stable state. You’re not solving the problem so much as wiping the slate clean and allowing the computer to restart all its processes from a clean slate.

In many cases, it’s much more effective to return a computer back to this known base state rather than to spend time and resources trying to diagnose exactly which process went wrong and fix it.

In other words, power cycling doesn’t actually fix the cause of the problem but if it’s just a one-time software error or bug, it’s an easy way to get rid of it.

There are reasons to wait

While turning it off and on again sounds simple enough, people tend to skip one of the important bits: waiting 10 to 30 seconds before you power up the device again.

This waiting window is for the power in your device’s power capacitors (basically little batteries that store energy) to discharge and every bit of memory cleared. This ensures that your WiFi router is properly rebooted and returned to a stable state.

Electric capacitors

That said, if you’re power cycling your WiFi router and modem to troubleshoot an internet connection issue, you may need to wait a few minutes for your Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) network to release your modems information i.e. to terminate its existing session.

Turning your modem back on would then allow it to acquire new information i.e. start a new session when reconnecting to the ISP’s network.

On a final note, it’s important to note that doing a power cycle (or a reboot) is not the same as doing a reset. So if you see a little button on your WiFi router that says reset, don’t push it if you’re just looking to do a power cycle.

Remember: doing a power cycle or reboot is different from a reset, don’t press that little “reset” button unless you have to!

A reset typically means reverting the device to its original default factory settings and erasing any updates, new passwords, or any configurations you’ve made to it since you took it out of the box.

Article first sighted on MyRepublic Blog

30 Nov

TVB Anywhere X MyRepublic

Watch the latest TVB dramas with TVB Anywhere Premium at only $4.98/mth (U.P. $5.98/mth)!

Lower Subscription Fees

Enjoy a special subscription of $4.98/mth (U.P. $5.98/mth)

One Bill

Enjoy the convenience of viewing your TVB and internet subscription in one simple bill

No Contract Required

No minimum contract means absolute freedom! Cancel anytime you wish to.

FAQs

TVB Anywhere is TVB’s legitimate over-the-top (OTT) service exclusively for Singapore audience offering an enormous archive of classic and latest TVB programs. For more info on the App, you may refer to this website (https://www.tvbanywhere.com.sg/)

You may download “TVB Anywhere SG” application via Google Play or Apple App store.

As long as your Operating system is iOS 9.1 or above or Android 5.0 or above, you are able to use TVB Anywhere SG application.

Unfortunately, the application is only available via the TVB Anywhere app on mobile devices (phone/ tablet) at this moment. You can cast your mobile device onto your compatible TV if required.

Yes, normal data consumption will be applicable as per your mobile plan.

You may sign up to “TVB Anywhere Premium” as a Value-Added Service, when you apply for our mobile or broadband service. Signing up is easy, simply go to http://order.fibrebb.sg for broadband plans or http://order.fibrebb.sg/mobile for mobile plans.

For existing customers, you may add-on TVB Anywhere Premium via MyAccount. Application for TVB Anywhere Premium will take up to 2 working days

You will receive your login credential via email from TVB in 1 to 2 working days after your service is activated.

If your service is already activated or you are our existing customer, you may check your junk/spam mailbox as the email with your credential may have landed there.

Alternatively, you may also try to reset your password on the “TVB Anywhere SG” application, a new password will be sent to your registered email address.

There will be no difference in content offering for the TVB Anywhere Premium. However, MyRepublic customers will be able to enjoy direct billing on your MyRepublic bill, as well as a special rate of $4.98/mth for mobile/ broadband subscribers. For a limited time period till 31 December 2018, MyRepublic customers can also enjoy 3 months of subscription free.

MyRepublic broadband customers can also sign up the 1Gbps fibre broadband with TVB Anywhere Premium bundle, where they can enjoy 24 months access of TVB Anywhere Premium at no additional cost.

MyRepublic mobile and broadband subscribers may add on the TVB Anywhere Premium as a Value-added service, and enjoy 3 months free subscription, $4.98/mth applies thereafter. Promotion is valid till 31 December 2018.

MyRepublic broadband customers can also sign up the 1Gbps fibre broadband with TVB Anywhere Premium bundle, where they can enjoy 24 months access of TVB Anywhere Premium at no additional cost.

You may terminate your subscription via MyAccount. The request will take up to 2 working days and you may check the Account Expiry date via the TVB Anywhere App, under “Account”.

Yes, you may subscribe to TVB Anywhere Premium (via MyRepublic) via MyAccount or sign up online. We will require up to 2 working days to activate the TVB Anywhere Premium (after your mobile/ broadband order is completed), and you will receive an activation email from TVB once the request is successful. Your login and password will be the same since you already have a TVB Anywhere account.

If you wish to switch your TVB Anywhere Premium billing to MyRepublic, you will need to cancel the subscription on Google Play/ App Store, and subscribe to TVB Anywhere Premium via MyRepublic MyAccount. Application will take up to 2 working days.

Do try to uninstall/ install your TVB Anywhere application to try. If you are still not able to use TVB Anywhere Application, do drop an email to cs@tvbanywhere.com.sg and TVB will get back to you in 3 working days. 

Yes you can! You may use the same credential on different devices (mobile phone and tablet only). You can watch up to a maximum of 3 simultaneous viewing. 

TVB Anywhere currently supports Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and English displays (subjected to availability).

14 Nov

Fibre Services outage

SINGAPORE – A fibre broadband service disruption in the eastern part of Singapore on Wednesday afternoon (Nov 14) has affected about 10,000 customers and some of them might get services back after only more than 24 hours.

In a statement on Wednesday night, NetLink Trust – the country’s fibre broadband network builder – said that services will be progressively restored by late Thursday afternoon.

It first received reports of a fibre service interruption at around 2.50pm. This means some customers might be without fibre broadband services – which includes Wi-Fi Internet connection – for more than 24 hours.

The outage affected users of all three major telcos and Internet service provider MyRepublic.

NetLink Trust said that the interruption was caused by a third-party contractor which severed a number of fibre cables while performing construction works along Tampines Avenue 9.

The network builder deployed its recovery team onsite and fibre service restoration is underway. It is also working with relevant parties to restore services to all affected areas, which includes the vicinity around Pasir Ris, Tampines, Changi and Loyang.

It urged affected customers to monitor NetLink Trust’s website at www.netlinktrust.com for updates.

Earlier in the day, Singtel, StarHub, M1 and MyRepublic posted on their Facebook pages that users in some areas like Tampines and Pasir Ris might experience difficulties accessing fibre Internet services, including Wi-Fi, television and phone services.

Singtel also said that some of its Wi-Fi hot spots on the island were affected, but these services have since been fully restored, according to an update at 6.46pm.

But fibre broadband, fixed voice and Singtel TV services in the north-eastern part of Singapore services remain affected.

Some netizens said that areas like Punggol and Sengkang were also affected by the fibre broadband downtime.

Housewife Kendra Koh, 26, a StarHub customer who lives in Pasir Ris, said she began experiencing difficulties connecting to Wi-Fi at around 3pm. She eventually had to buy unlimited mobile data for one day from another mobile service provider for one of her two cellphones so that she could connect her Internet TV set to the phone’s wireless hot spot.

“This is not the first time that this has happened. It has happened at least a couple of times recently and it’s quite ridiculous,” said Ms Koh.

Telco regulator Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said that it is aware that a cable cut incident resulted in the service disruption to fixed-line telecom services to users in some eastern parts of Singapore such as Tampines.

“IMDA is investigating the incident and has asked affected service providers to restore services expeditiously,” he said.

In an update at 9.18pm, StarHub said that as a gesture of goodwill and appreciation, it will offer affected fibre customers a $10 rebate on their December bill.

Singtel also said that it would follow up with affected customers to waive their local mobile data charges until services are restored.

At 7.15am on Thursday morning, M1 said in a statement on its Facebook page that about half of its affected customers had their services restored.

As of 9.49am, Singtel said that progressive restoration of the affected broadband services was at 80 per cent. It also added that all fixed voice services had been restored by 2am.

StarHub said at 10.50am that NetLink Trust had restored approximately 80 per cent of the affected underground fibre cables serving its customers.

Article first sighted on The Straits Times.

21 Jun

MyRepublic Launches Mobile Plans

MyRepublic said during a media briefing that the three plans – Smart, Mega and Xtra – will cost S$35, $55 and $85 a month for 7GB, 12GB and 25GB data, respectively.

The 25GB plan for Xtra subscribers will include 2GB roaming data for seven markets, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippines and Taiwan, said MyRepublic CEO Malcolm Rodrigues.

To check out the plans, go to http://order.fibrebb.sg/mobile

For existing broadband customers, the company is also dangling incentives for them to sign up, if they haven’t done so. They stand to get 3GB more data for the Smart plan, and 8B more for the Mega and Xtra plans.

The mobile plans all come with features like “boundless data”, which will not penalise consumers for busting their data caps with extra charges but will see surfing speeds lowered instead. This was a feature announced when they launched two mobile plans for its existing customer base back in May.

MyRepublic plans 1

MyRepublic’s chief marketing officer Shivendra Singh said during the briefing that this, among other features, are to “ensure we are trustworthy” to the consumer. Unlimited data plans, he elaborated, are “not honest” as they usually come with hidden provisos, but its boundless data plans means “customers don’t need to worry about excess data charges”.

Mr Rodrigues also told Channel NewsAsia on the sidelines that based on customer response following the launch of Uno and Ultimate for “friends of MyRepublic”, feedback has been “good”, particularly for those who have busted their data caps and had their surfing speeds managed.

“It’s like when we drop from 4G to HSPA today. You probably can’t watch a high-definition video, but you can still do stuff like send WhatsApp messages,” he said.

MyRepublic plans 2

These plans will also have 1,000 minutes of talk time and 1,000 SMS text messages, free local delivery of SIM cards and activation, the company said, adding new customers can sign up from Thursday.

Key to the user experience is the MyRepublic mobile app, available for both iOS and Android devices, said Mr Singh. Users will be able to customise their mobile plan, such as signing up for data boosters or roaming packages on the fly, and track their usage from the app.

The intention behind its design is for users to do what they need within three clicks in the app, he added.

These on-the-go provisioning of services are enabled through the company’s “thick MVNO model”, which it said is first of its kind in Singapore.

CEO Rodrigues said it is a “multimillion-dollar network system” that allows it greater control over the delivery of services to customers compared to traditional MVNO arrangements which sees these operators just resell products from the main telco.

This appeared to be similar to rival MVNO Circles.Life’s platform Circles-X. When asked what’s the difference, Mr Singh declined to comment on its competitor’s products.

CONSUMERS TO BENEFIT FROM LOOMING COMPETITION

Analysts Channel NewsAsia spoke to ahead of the launch on Thursday predicted a period of fierce competition in the local telecoms market, with consumers the main beneficiaries.

Mr Shiv Putcha, contributing analyst at IDC, said the Singapore market is not big enough to support four full-fledged telcos and four MVNOs.

“At roughly 8.5 million subscriptions, the Singapore market is already over-penetrated,” Mr Putcha said. “We expect a period of fierce competitive intensity and there will be some clear winners and losers, with the incumbents, especially the smaller ones, likely to cede ground and market share.”

With the pending entrance of fourth telco TPG Telecom, as well as the introduction of new MVNOs in the past year, consumers will “benefit immensely” from lowered prices, higher data bundles and flexible plans, the analyst said.

He also expects to see the telco incumbents – Singtel, StarHub and M1 – make renewed investments on customer experience.

Canalys research analyst Nguyen TuanAnh echoed similar thoughts, saying that consumers will benefit from the rise of MVNOs.

He pointed to similar developments in Japan last year which suggest that full-fledged telcos, while benefiting from leasing spectrum to MVNOs, will also reduce prices to maintain their subscriber base.

These telcos also have more tools than just reducing costs, as they can turn to digital content for growth, the Canalys analyst said

For instance, while they may not match MVNOs in attractive price packages, bundling data with content such as free streaming of Spotify or Netflix for example, is a “great way” for them to remain subscribers and improve revenue.

Source: CNA/zl
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/myrepublic-launches-3-mobile-plans-talks-up-customer-focus-10454664

31 Mar

MyRepublic Wifi Halo

Great Design. Great Performance.

Wi-Fi routers work best when placed out in the open. That’s why we designed the MyRepublic Wi-Fi Hub and Wi-Fi Halo to not only provide fast speeds for all your devices, but to fit in your living room.

The Fastest 802.11ac Wi-Fi Standard

Featuring the latest 802.11ac technology and up to 4×4 spatial streams, MyRepublic Wi-Fi routers offer data rates up to three times faster* than the previous 802.11n Wi-Fi standard.

Better Speeds with MU-MIMO and Beamforming

Get better performance with the Wi-Fi Halo with MU-MIMO technology allowing each device their own dedicated high-speed connection. Beamforming further focuses the Wi-Fi signal on each device, improving Wi-Fi speeds.

Simultaneous Dual-Band Support

Both the MyRepublic Wi-Fi Hub and Wi-Fi Halo transmit on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands at the same time, allowing your devices to connect on the band allowing the fastest possible performance.

*Based on theoretical peak speeds. Actual speeds will likely be lower.

For a detailed list of technical specifications for the Wi-Fi Hub and Wi-Fi Halo, click here.

28 Feb

This is how the MyRepublic Wi-Fi Halo will make you believe in routers again

Your home router has one job: So why does it make it so hard to do that job? From dropped connections, to complicated setups, to indecipherable troubleshooting menus, to looking like a gaudy blot in the middle of your living room.

But the MyRepublic Wi-Fi Halo is different. Thank goodness it’s different. The first thing you’ll realize is that it doesn’t look like a mechanical bug that might rise to life and gobble your cats. Instead, the Wi-Fi Halo has a streamlined exterior with gently soft ambient lighting on its underside.

But don’t underestimate its minimalist design. The Wi-Fi Halo is a state of the art AC2200 dual-band router with a four-stream, four-antenna engine that features modern Multi-User (MU-MIMO) Beamforming technology for fast and reliable internet connections for multiple devices.

The Wi-Fi Halo also solves the most vexing parts about routers for most people: setting up and troubleshooting. A Setup Wizard helps you get connected in minutes and helps you to change your default passwords easily, the first line of defense against internet attacks.

Instead of a confusing interface that looks like a leftover from the 90s, the Wi-Fi Halo comes with a modern UI that anyone can use.

Instead of a confusing interface that looks like a leftover from the 90s, the Wi-Fi Halo comes with a modern UI that anyone can use.

A built-in firewall also secures your home network, and parental controls, as well as a Wi-Fi analyzer, gives you fine-tuned power over internet use. The router even comes with guest networks set up and easily toggled on, so you don’t have to worry about sharing your personal network’s password with visitors.

If you need help with the Wi-Fi Halo, MyRepublic customers can have router issues diagnosed and even fixed remotely by the MyRepublic customer service team, instead of having to wait for a technician to drop by.

With your permission, customer service agents can remotely fix common issues like checking the network connection status, checking which devices are connected, resetting the network password and updating the firmware.

It’s like having your own IT department ready to help you with Wi-Fi woes. And if you prefer not to have remote access to your Wi-Fi Halo, you can easily disable the function under its settings.

The Wi-Fi Halo normally commands a price tag of S$349, but new and existing MyRepublic customers can get a great deal on the router. Depending on their choice of MyRepublic fiber broadband plan, customers will receive a discount on their purchase of a new Wi-Fi router, ranging from $70 to $350 – the latter essentially making the Wi-Fi Halo available for free. Get your free Halo with one of these great plans here.

To find out more about the MyRepublic Wi-Fi Halo, click here.

31 Jan

8 Reasons Why Your Company Needs A 1Gbps Internet Connection

Get more things done more efficiently and securely with our suite of MyRepublic Secure Broadband solutions.

In this age of real-time information and global economy, the speed and efficiency of a company’s Internet connection can make or break it. While speeds of 100Mbps may seem sufficient, limiting your company’s Internet bandwidth may well limit your company’s true potential.

MyRepublic Business

1. Empowering your company in today’s era of cloud computing

More businesses are running their operations with cloud computing solutions transitioning to software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications such as Office 365, Google Apps, Salesforce and so on. In fact, the International Data Corporation (IDC) expects cloud software to grow surpass $112.8 billion by 2019. However, taking advantage of SaaS applications mean higher network traffic. As more applications are hosted externally, having Internet with larger bandwidth ensures optimum user experience while accessing cloud services.

2. Expands your business reach and creates new market opportunities

More businesses are going online. E-commerce is growing at an explosive rate with global B2C e-commerce sales amounting to more than US$1.2 trillion. A stable and super high-speed Internet connection has never been more important for supporting inquiries and online sales from customers all over the world. With a 1Gbps Internet connection, your business can easily take advantage of this enormous global online market demand and create new business opportunities.

3. It supports and optimises operations for peak periods

Wile seasonal holidays are a boon for business and revenue, they can also be a bane to operational capabilities. Spikes in customer traffic due to seasonal sales, month-end closings and other peak periods can cause serious bottlenecks, affecting productivity and interfering with the all-important customer experience. A 1Gbps connection provides you a buffer for spikes in customer demand and ensures that any sudden surge in requests can be processed quickly, allowing your business to stay competitive and deliver consistently.

4. It enriches your relationship with your customers

Communication is a key part of business and today’s Internet technology offers a number of exciting ways to communicate with your clients across the world: digital voice, video, desktop collaboration, telepresence etc. With various forms of multimedia access powered by apps like Skype, WebEx, Facetime, Google Hangouts, creating and maintaining crucial customer relations has never been easier. As such, it is imperative that you have sufficient bandwidth to prevent laggy or choppy calls. Having a 1Gbps connection facilitates smooth and stable communications, allowing you to fully convey the best features of your products as well as provide the best customer service.

5. Lightning fast uploads and downloads

As our capacity to store and process data grows exponentially, so do the size of our data files. In fact, 90% of the world’s data has been generated over the last two years. Businesses today increasingly have to handle and work with large files like high definition images, videos and large slide presentations. With a 1Gbps connection, the larges file s can be easily downloaded in minutes, emails with large attachments can be sent quickly, and regular file and system backups can be completed in no time.

6. Improve communication and productivity of your workforce

The core strength of a businesses lies with the effective employee communication. Slow internet speeds as a result of limited bandwidth, coupled by a high volume of communication during busy hours can hinder your company’s productivity. A high speed connection give businesses the assurance of sufficient bandwidth to support centralised unified communications across multiple departments and remote offices, enabling better collaboration and faster information sharing.

7. Support the increasing use of multiple device per employee in the office

The one-computer-per-employee model has dramatically shifted in years to a bring-your-own-device workplace culture. Professionals now conduct their business not only through a desktop but also laptops, smartphones and tablets. With more devices connected to the office network, there is high amount of traffic generated from video calls, streaming files, email and internet browsing. A 1Gbps connection ensures that there is enough bandwidth to go around.

8. Enables new ways of working

The workplace have evolved dynamically in recent years with the rise of part-time, freelance economy and global coma pines. Telecommuting is becoming increasingly common in the era of cloud computing. A high-speed internet connection to the office allows employees greater flexibility and faster access to their work-related resources, empowering them to work from home or outside the office, anytime and anywhere.

Get the Gig for your business! Check out the latest MyRepublic plans for Business here and empower your business now!