HDB BTO income ceiling for couples, age floor for singles being reviewed; Telco price war unlikely after Keppel sells M1 to Simba, say analysts: Singapore live news

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2 days ago

The Government is reviewing the income ceiling for couples, and the minimum age requirement of 35 for singles, applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, but any changes will depend on the upcoming supply and demand of public housing, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat.
"I want to assure Singaporeans that we are reviewing both income criteria and also the age requirement for singles, and at an appropriate time, we do intend to make some moves," he said. "But I want to make sure that when we make those moves, we will not end up with a situation where there is insufficient supply."
Simba Telecom's acquisition of M1 is unlikely to result in a price war, say analysts. Carmen Lee, head of OCBC Investment Research, told The Straits Times (ST) that current mobile plans are already priced competitively.
"In a typical merger, the initial period will entail a relook into understanding the combined entity and the potential synergies. We believe pricing strategy will not be an immediate consideration," said Lee.
Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
Telco price war unlikely after Keppel sells M1 to Simba, say analysts
Simba Telecom's acquisition of M1 is unlikely to result in a price war, say analysts. Carmen Lee, head of OCBC Investment Research, told The Straits Times (ST) that current mobile plans are already priced competitively.
For instance, Simba's SuperRoam10 plan offers 400GB of data for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong at $10 per month. Meanwhile, M1's Maxx plan comes with 290GB of data for use in Singapore and Malaysia for $7.90 a month.
"In a typical merger, the initial period will entail a relook into understanding the combined entity and the potential synergies. We believe pricing strategy will not be an immediate consideration," said Lee.
Rival telcos are also unlikely to undercut their prices to attract M1 customers, despite the ease with which consumers can switch providers. Instead, they may use alternative strategies such as bundling mobile and broadband services at promotional rates or leveraging loyalty programmes to win over subscribers, Professor Lawrence Loh from NUS Business School told ST.
For more on the effects on the industry from Simba's M1 acquisition, read here.
HDB BTO income ceiling for couples, age floor for singles being reviewed
The Government is reviewing the income ceiling for couples, and the minimum age requirement of 35 for singles, applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, but any changes will depend on the upcoming supply and demand of public housing, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat.
Speaking to local media on August 5, Chee outlined some of his ministry's key priorities, emphasising the need to maintain a strong supply of flats before adjusting existing eligibility criteria.
"I want to assure Singaporeans that we are reviewing both income criteria and also the age requirement for singles, and at an appropriate time, we do intend to make some moves," he said. "But I want to make sure that when we make those moves, we will not end up with a situation where there is insufficient supply."
To that end, 55,000 BTO flats will be launched between 2025 and 2027, which is 10 per cent more than the previously committed 50,000 flats.
From 2021 to 2024, 82,710 flats were launched, averaging over 20,600 units annually. In 2025, approximately 19,600 are slated to be launched, with 10,579 flats already launched so far.
The current eligibility conditions exclude couples who earn above $14,000 per month and singles under the age of 35 from applying for BTO flats. Chee said any decisions on adjustments are closely tied to the Government's ability to ensure sufficient flat supply in the coming years.
Noting that "demand will go up" once the eligibility criteria has been changed, Chee said, "I think it is important for us to create the right conditions to be able to make these policy moves at an appropriate time."
For more on Chee Hong Tat's remarks, read here.
Telco price war unlikely after Keppel sells M1 to Simba, say analysts
Simba Telecom's acquisition of M1 is unlikely to result in a price war, say analysts. Carmen Lee, head of OCBC Investment Research, told The Straits Times (ST) that current mobile plans are already priced competitively.
For instance, Simba's SuperRoam10 plan offers 400GB of data for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong at $10 per month. Meanwhile, M1's Maxx plan comes with 290GB of data for use in Singapore and Malaysia for $7.90 a month.
"In a typical merger, the initial period will entail a relook into understanding the combined entity and the potential synergies. We believe pricing strategy will not be an immediate consideration," said Lee.
Rival telcos are also unlikely to undercut their prices to attract M1 customers, despite the ease with which consumers can switch providers. Instead, they may use alternative strategies such as bundling mobile and broadband services at promotional rates or leveraging loyalty programmes to win over subscribers, Professor Lawrence Loh from NUS Business School told ST.
For more on the effects on the industry from Simba's M1 acquisition, read here.
Simba Telecom's acquisition of M1 is unlikely to result in a price war, say analysts. Carmen Lee, head of OCBC Investment Research, told The Straits Times (ST) that current mobile plans are already priced competitively.
For instance, Simba's SuperRoam10 plan offers 400GB of data for Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong at $10 per month. Meanwhile, M1's Maxx plan comes with 290GB of data for use in Singapore and Malaysia for $7.90 a month.
"In a typical merger, the initial period will entail a relook into understanding the combined entity and the potential synergies. We believe pricing strategy will not be an immediate consideration," said Lee.
Rival telcos are also unlikely to undercut their prices to attract M1 customers, despite the ease with which consumers can switch providers. Instead, they may use alternative strategies such as bundling mobile and broadband services at promotional rates or leveraging loyalty programmes to win over subscribers, Professor Lawrence Loh from NUS Business School told ST.
For more on the effects on the industry from Simba's M1 acquisition, read here.
HDB BTO income ceiling for couples, age floor for singles being reviewed
The Government is reviewing the income ceiling for couples, and the minimum age requirement of 35 for singles, applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, but any changes will depend on the upcoming supply and demand of public housing, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat.
Speaking to local media on August 5, Chee outlined some of his ministry's key priorities, emphasising the need to maintain a strong supply of flats before adjusting existing eligibility criteria.
"I want to assure Singaporeans that we are reviewing both income criteria and also the age requirement for singles, and at an appropriate time, we do intend to make some moves," he said. "But I want to make sure that when we make those moves, we will not end up with a situation where there is insufficient supply."
To that end, 55,000 BTO flats will be launched between 2025 and 2027, which is 10 per cent more than the previously committed 50,000 flats.
From 2021 to 2024, 82,710 flats were launched, averaging over 20,600 units annually. In 2025, approximately 19,600 are slated to be launched, with 10,579 flats already launched so far.
The current eligibility conditions exclude couples who earn above $14,000 per month and singles under the age of 35 from applying for BTO flats. Chee said any decisions on adjustments are closely tied to the Government's ability to ensure sufficient flat supply in the coming years.
Noting that "demand will go up" once the eligibility criteria has been changed, Chee said, "I think it is important for us to create the right conditions to be able to make these policy moves at an appropriate time."
For more on Chee Hong Tat's remarks, read here.
The Government is reviewing the income ceiling for couples, and the minimum age requirement of 35 for singles, applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, but any changes will depend on the upcoming supply and demand of public housing, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat.
Speaking to local media on August 5, Chee outlined some of his ministry's key priorities, emphasising the need to maintain a strong supply of flats before adjusting existing eligibility criteria.
"I want to assure Singaporeans that we are reviewing both income criteria and also the age requirement for singles, and at an appropriate time, we do intend to make some moves," he said. "But I want to make sure that when we make those moves, we will not end up with a situation where there is insufficient supply."
To that end, 55,000 BTO flats will be launched between 2025 and 2027, which is 10 per cent more than the previously committed 50,000 flats.
From 2021 to 2024, 82,710 flats were launched, averaging over 20,600 units annually. In 2025, approximately 19,600 are slated to be launched, with 10,579 flats already launched so far.
The current eligibility conditions exclude couples who earn above $14,000 per month and singles under the age of 35 from applying for BTO flats. Chee said any decisions on adjustments are closely tied to the Government's ability to ensure sufficient flat supply in the coming years.
Noting that "demand will go up" once the eligibility criteria has been changed, Chee said, "I think it is important for us to create the right conditions to be able to make these policy moves at an appropriate time."
For more on Chee Hong Tat's remarks, read here.