Singtel Optus stake sale and regulatory scrutiny

Singtel confirms stake sale talks for Optus as Australian regulator launches court action

Singtel announced it was open to bringing in an Australian minority partner for Optus.

Singtel has owned Optus, Australia's second-largest telecommunications provider, since 2001. During the financial year ending March 2026, Optus generated approximately A$8.35 billion in operating revenue for Singtel, accounting for roughly half of the group's total revenue.

In May, it was reported that Singtel expressed openness to bringing in an Australian minority partner for Optus. While the company confirmed being in discussions with multiple parties regarding a potential stake sale, they noted there was no certainty that these talks would result in a deal.

Optus experienced a major outage affecting emergency call services.

Optus, Australia's second-largest telecommunications provider, has faced heightened scrutiny after two outages in 2025 involving the country's emergency call service. According to reports, the outages affected thousands of users and were linked to four deaths. One outage occurred in mid-September 2025.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) launched Federal Court proceedings against Optus over the outages. The ACMA alleged Optus breached two legal obligations 1,005 times during the September 2025 outage by failing to provide access to the emergency call service and ensure emergency calls were carried to the relevant termination point. Singtel and Optus did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Optus experienced two outages involving Australia's emergency call service.

Optus, the Australian subsidiary of Singapore's Singtel, experienced two outages involving the country's emergency call service. The outages affected thousands of users and were linked to four deaths, according to news reports.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) launched Federal Court proceedings against Optus, alleging the company breached legal obligations 1,005 times during a mid-September 2025 outage by failing to provide access to the emergency call service and ensure calls were carried to the relevant termination point.

The outages have heightened scrutiny of Optus, which has been owned by Singtel since 2001. The regulatory action comes as Singtel explores a potential stake sale in the Australian operator.

Reuters reported Singtel was in advanced talks to sell a significant stake in Optus to Brookfield Asset Management.

According to Reuters in March 2024, Singtel was in advanced talks to sell a significant stake in Optus to Brookfield Asset Management [9]. Singtel had earlier said in May that it was open to bringing in an Australian minority partner for Optus [8]. Singtel confirmed it was in discussions with multiple parties over a potential stake sale but said there was no certainty the talks would result in a deal [1][2]. Singtel did not disclose which parties it was speaking with [14].

Optus, Australia's second-largest telecommunications provider, has been owned by Singtel since 2001 and accounts for about half of the Singtel group's total revenue [3][4][6]. The company has faced heightened scrutiny since two outages last year involving Australia's emergency call service [11]. The Australian Communications and Media Authority later launched Federal Court proceedings against Optus over the outages, alleging it breached legal obligations [12][13].

Singtel acquired Optus.

Singtel, Singapore's largest telecom group, acquired Optus in 2001. The Australian provider has been wholly owned by Singtel since then, according to a report.

Optus is Australia's second-largest telecommunications provider and accounted for around half of Singtel's total revenue in recent years, with an operating revenue of about A$8.35 billion in the financial year ending March 2026.