Clarification by Minister for Digital Development and Information
Ministry of Digital Development and InformationSpeakers
Summary
This clarification concerns factual corrections made by Minister Josephine Teo regarding international telco compensation practices following the March 2026 Singtel mobile network disruptions. Minister Josephine Teo acknowledged that jurisdictions like the United Kingdom and Germany require compensation, though primarily for limited services such as broadband or landlines. She clarified that the scope of these international regulations is restricted and would not have applied to the specific mobile network incidents that occurred in Singapore. Minister Josephine Teo corrected the record to reflect that while some global arrangements exist, the Singtel disruption would not have qualified for compensation under those specific frameworks. These factual updates ensure the parliamentary record accurately details the comparison between Singapore’s regulatory environment and that of foreign jurisdictions regarding telecommunications service standards.
Transcript
The following statements were made by the Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo) in reply to Question Nos 71 to 74 during Question Time at the Sitting of 7 April 2026:
(a) The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): Around the world, if we look at various jurisdictions, we do not know of anyone that require telcos to make compensation for service disruptions. [Please refer to "Causes and Follow-up Actions for March 2026 Disruptions on Singtel’s Mobile Network", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
(b) The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): He may be referring to individual consumers and when he talks about some European jurisdictions, we are only aware of the United Kingdom and Germany having in place arrangements that he may be referring to. In these two countries, the regulators require compensation, but the scope is quite limited, such as for loss of service for broadband or landline only, which the incidents that took place in March for Singtel would also not have qualified. [ Please refer to "Causes and Follow-up Actions for March 2026 Disruptions on Singtel’s Mobile Network", Official Report, 7 April 2026, Vol 96, Issue 27, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
Written statement by Mrs Josephine Teo circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5):
I wish to make the following factual corrections to my statements made during Question Time at the Sitting on 7 April 2026. My statements should read as follows:
(a) The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): Around the world, if we look at various jurisdictions, we know of a few that require telcos to make compensation for service disruptions.
(b) The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo): He may be referring to individual consumers and when he talks about some European jurisdictions, we are aware of some countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany having in place arrangements that he may be referring to. In these two countries, the regulators require compensation, but the scope is quite limited. In the United Kingdom, it is for loss of service for broadband or landline only, which the incidents that took place in March for Singtel would also not have qualified