Simba faces possible fines, licence cancellation over allegations of intentional spectrum misuse

Simba's unauthorised spectrum use was allegedly intentional and approved by senior management. The telco is also accused of deliberately failing to fully comply with an order to produce documents.

A Simba shop at Canberra Plaza in Singapore on Aug 18, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Ooi Boon Keong)

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SINGAPORE: Telecommunications operator Simba could face fines, suspension or cancellation of its licence over alleged unauthorised spectrum use and other regulatory breaches, according to new details of an ongoing investigation disclosed by its Australian parent company Tuas on Monday (Oct 26).

In a filing to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Tuas said the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) had issued Simba a notice to show cause, setting out six allegations involving unauthorised spectrum use, breaches of telecommunications regulations and concerns about the company's governance and compliance practices.

These include allegations that Simba's unauthorised use of radio frequency bands was intentional and approved by its senior management, and that the telco deliberately failed to fully comply with an order to produce documents.

The filing also outlined potential regulatory actions being considered by IMDA, including financial penalties and the suspension or cancellation of Simba's spectrum rights or telecommunications licence.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less IMDA previously disclosed in May that it was investigating Simba over possible unauthorised spectrum use, prompting it to suspend its review of the telco's proposed S$1.43 billion (US$1.11 billion) acquisition of rival operator M1. The deal was subsequently terminated.

IMDA previously disclosed in May that it was investigating Simba over possible unauthorised spectrum use, prompting it to suspend its review of the telco's proposed S$1.43 billion (US$1.11 billion) acquisition of rival operator M1.

The deal was subsequently terminated.

ALLEGED UNAUTHORISED SPECTRUM USE AT MORE THAN 100 SITES

According to Monday's filing, IMDA alleged that Simba deployed dynamic spectrum sharing technology at about 133 sites for intermittent periods in 2022 and 2023.

This allowed the telco to use the 2100 megahertz (MHz) frequency band for both 4G and 5G services, even though it was authorised to use the band only for 5G.

Dynamic spectrum sharing is a technology that allows different generations of mobile networks, such as 4G and 5G, to share the same frequency band.

IMDA also alleged that Simba used spectrum in the 2340MHz to 2360MHz band at about 92 sites for intermittent periods between 2023 and 2026, despite not having authorisation to do so.

The regulator alleged that both instances of unauthorised spectrum use were intentional and approved by Simba's senior management.

Separately, IMDA alleged that Simba deployed 5G indoor radio access network equipment at two locations in 2023 before receiving authorisation to do so. Approval was only granted on Nov 14 that year.

The regulator also alleged that Simba did not fully comply with an order to produce documents, and that its failure to do so was deliberate and intentional.

IMDA further raised concerns about deficiencies in Simba's governance and compliance culture, which it considers should be addressed through additional regulatory obligations.

POSSIBLE FINES AND LICENCE CANCELLATION

IMDA could impose financial penalties of up to 10 per cent of the annual turnover of the relevant part of Simba's business or S$1 million, whichever is higher.

Other possible actions include suspending or cancelling Simba's spectrum rights or telecommunications licence, shortening its licence period, or imposing additional regulatory obligations to address governance deficiencies.

Simba has until Nov 16 to respond to the show cause notice.

Tuas noted that IMDA has not reached any conclusions on whether regulatory action should be taken against Simba or what form such action might take.

"Simba intends to respond to the Show Cause Notice," the company said.

"As the matter remains under consideration by the regulator and no findings have been made or confirmed, Tuas does not intend to provide further comment on the matters raised in this announcement."

INVESTIGATION LED TO COLLAPSE OF M1 DEAL

IMDA first disclosed its investigation into Simba in May, saying it had uncovered possible unauthorised spectrum use by the telco.

The regulator suspended its review of Simba's proposed S$1.43 billion acquisition of M1, saying the findings of its investigation could be material to its assessment of the deal.

The proposed acquisition, which would have consolidated two of Singapore's four mobile network operators, was subsequently terminated after the deadline for its completion passed.

Monday's filing sets out more specific allegations, including that certain instances of unauthorised spectrum use were intentional and approved by senior management.

Radio frequency spectrum refers to the electromagnetic waves used to carry wireless communications, including mobile phone calls and data.

IMDA regulates the allocation and assignment of spectrum to telecommunications operators, which are authorised to use specific frequency bands for their services.

These rules are intended to prevent interference between wireless services and ensure that operators use spectrum in accordance with their assigned rights and licence conditions.

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据称，Simba未经授权使用频谱的行为是故意的，并得到了高层管理人员的批准。这家电信公司还被指控故意不完全遵守提交文件的命令。

2025年8月18日，新加坡堪培拉广场的Simba商店。（图片：CNA/Ooi Boon Keong）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：据其澳大利亚母公司大士集团周一（10月26日）披露的正在进行的调查的最新细节显示，电信运营商Simba可能因涉嫌未经授权使用频谱和其他违反监管规定而面临罚款、暂停或吊销执照。

Tuas 在提交给澳大利亚证券交易所 (ASX) 的文件中表示，资讯通信媒体发展局 (IMDA) 已向 Simba 发出责令说明理由通知，其中列出了六项指控，涉及未经授权使用频谱、违反电信法规以及对该公司治理和合规实践的担忧。

这些指控包括：辛巴公司未经授权使用无线电频段是故意的，并得到了其高级管理层的批准；以及该电信公司故意不完全遵守出示文件的命令。

该文件还概述了IMDA正在考虑的潜在监管措施，包括罚款以及暂停或取消Simba的频谱权利或电信许可证。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，大挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局（IMDA）此前于5月披露，正在调查Simba可能存在的未经授权使用频谱的行为，这促使其暂停了对Simba拟以14.3亿新元（11.1亿美元）收购竞争对手M1的审查。该交易随后被终止。

新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局 (IMDA) 此前在 5 月份披露，正在调查 Simba 可能存在的未经授权使用频谱的行为，这促使 IMDA 暂停了对 Simba 拟以 14.3 亿新元（11.1 亿美元）收购竞争对手 M1 的审查。

该交易随后终止。

据称在超过100个地点存在未经授权的频谱使用行为

根据周一提交的文件，IMDA 指控 Simba 在 2022 年和 2023 年期间，在约 133 个地点间歇性地部署了动态频谱共享技术。

这使得该电信公司能够将 2100 兆赫兹 (MHz) 频段用于 4G 和 5G 服务，尽管它仅被授权将该频段用于 5G。

动态频谱共享技术允许不同代际的移动网络（例如 4G 和 5G）共享同一频段。

新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局 (IMDA) 还指控 Simba 公司在 2023 年至 2026 年期间，在约 92 个地点间歇性地使用 2340MHz 至 2360MHz 频段的频谱，尽管该公司并未获得授权。

监管机构声称，这两起未经授权使用频谱的事件都是故意的，并得到了 Simba 高层管理人员的批准。

此外，新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局（IMDA）指控Simba公司在未获得授权的情况下，于2023年在两处地点部署了5G室内无线接入网设备。该公司直到当年11月14日才获得批准。

监管机构还指控辛巴公司没有完全遵守出示文件的命令，并且其未遵守命令是故意的。

新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局 (IMDA) 还对 Simba 的治理和合规文化存在缺陷表示担忧，并认为应该通过额外的监管义务来解决这些问题。

可能面临的罚款和吊销驾照

新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局 (IMDA) 可对 Simba 处以最高可达相关业务部门年营业额 10% 或 100 万新元（以较高者为准）的罚款。

其他可能的措施包括暂停或取消 Simba 的频谱使用权或电信许可证，缩短其许可证期限，或施加额外的监管义务以解决治理缺陷。

Simba 必须在 11 月 16 日前对责令说明理由通知书作出回应。

Tuas指出，IMDA尚未就是否应对Simba采取监管行动或采取何种形式的行动得出任何结论。

“辛巴公司打算对责令说明理由通知书作出回应，”该公司表示。

“由于监管机构仍在审查此事，尚未作出任何调查结果或确认任何结论，大士集团不打算就本公告中提出的事项提供进一步评论。”

调查导致M1交易失败

新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局 (IMDA) 于 5 月首次披露了对 Simba 的调查，称已发现该电信公司可能存在未经授权使用频谱的情况。

监管机构暂停了对 Simba 拟以 14.3 亿新元收购 M1 的审查，称其调查结果可能对其评估该交易具有重要意义。

这项拟议的收购原本会将新加坡四家移动网络运营商中的两家合并，但由于完成期限已过，最终被终止。

周一提交的文件列出了更具体的指控，其中包括某些未经授权使用频谱的情况是故意的，并得到了高层管理人员的批准。

射频频谱是指用于传输无线通信（包括移动电话通话和数据）的电磁波。

新加坡资讯通信媒体发展局 (IMDA) 负责监管频谱的分配和指派给电信运营商，这些运营商被授权使用特定的频段开展业务。

这些规则旨在防止无线服务之间的干扰，并确保运营商按照其分配的权利和许可条件使用频谱。

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