Broadband grows, no
impact from Odex case
Straits Times, The
(Singapore)
Money
November 8, 2007
Author: Chua Hian Hou
SINGTEL'S Internet service arm, SingNet, picked up 17,000 new
broadband customers in the quarter ended Sept 30, which has helped
it maintain the No. 1 spot in Singapore's competitive broadband
market.
SingTel chief executive for Singapore Allen Lew said the new
subscribers were people who had moved here from overseas as well as
residents who had not had broadband before.
Also, the company has seen success in converting existing dial-up
customers to broadband, and persuading customers of rival service
providers to switch to SingNet.
Singapore's broadband penetration rate stands at about 70 per cent,
so Mr Lew sees room for SingNet's broadband business to grow. It is
now working at convincing its 30,000 dial-up clients to take up
broadband.
The company, added Mr Lew, has not suffered any negative fallout
and sees 'no indication of any negative impact in the future' from
a recent controversy tied to anime distributor Odex's anti-piracy
efforts.
Internet users had attacked SingNet for not shielding customers
accused of downloading pirated material online; Odex had obtained a
court order requiring the company to release client information.
Many claimed they would switch from SingNet - cancelling their
contracts if need be - to a service provider that would shield them
from litigious rights owners.
Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited
