Simba customers will see no immediate changes to their mobile services, plans, or wallet balances while authorities investigate the telco for alleged unauthorized spectrum use. However, if the Infocomm Media Development Authority confirms the regulatory breaches, Simba could face financial penalties, licence suspension, or licence cancellation.
Simba Telecom’s parent company, Tuas Limited, is facing heightened regulatory risk after its subsidiary Simba Telecom received a Show Cause Notice from the Infocomm Media Development Authority, ad-hoc-news.de reported. The notice outlines six allegations primarily concerning unauthorized radio spectrum use and governance issues between 2022 and 2026.
Tuas stated on Oct. 26 that the regulator has not yet reached any conclusions regarding whether enforcement action will be taken. Simba must submit its formal response to the notice by November 16, 2026, according to ad-hoc-news.de.
Simba Allegedly Used Unauthorized Frequency Bands and Equipment
The Infocomm Media Development Authority alleged that Simba intentionally deployed dynamic spectrum sharing technology at roughly 133 sites for intermittent periods between 2022 and 2023. This technology allowed the telco to use the 2100 megahertz frequency band for both 4G and 5G services, even though it was authorized only for 5G use.
The regulator also alleged that Simba used spectrum in the 2340MHz to 2360MHz band at about 92 sites between 2023 and 2026 without proper authorization. The Infocomm Media Development Authority accused Simba of deploying 5G indoor radio access network equipment at two locations prematurely and failing to fully comply with a document production order.
Unprecedented Licence Cancellation Unlikely Say Experts
Industry analysts view a complete licence cancellation as an extreme and unlikely outcome. Triangle Legal director Sean Lee stated that a licence cancellation by the regulator would be unheard of. He noted that financial penalties or modifications to licence conditions remain much more probable outcomes.
Maybank Securities head of ASEAN telecom media and technology Hussaini Saifee and senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies Asha Hemrajani both agreed on the matter regarding Simba’s licence.
Triangle Legal director Sean Lee said, “For IMDA to cancel a licence would be unheard of.”
Network Congestion Risks From Spectrum Restrictions
While a financial penalty would cause no disruption to subscribers, restricting Simba’s spectrum rights could directly affect service quality. Asha Hemrajani explained that spectrum functions similarly to highway lanes, noting that reducing available lanes increases traffic congestion. If the regulator withdraws specific frequency bands, subscribers could experience slower data speeds and poorer service quality during peak traffic periods.
Asha Hemrajani said, “Spectrum is like the number of lanes on a highway. Reduce the number of lanes, and traffic can still move, but congestion increases when there are too many vehicles.”
Common Questions About the Simba Regulatory Investigation
When must Simba respond to the regulatory notice?
Simba must submit its formal response to the Infocomm Media Development Authority by November 16, 2026.
What maximum financial penalty could Tuas face?
The potential financial penalty could reach the higher of 10% of annual turnover or 1 million Singapore dollars, according to ad-hoc-news.de.
How many sites were involved in the alleged 2100MHz band misuse?
The regulator alleged that Simba deployed dynamic spectrum sharing technology at about 133 sites for intermittent periods in 2022 and 2023.
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