IDA rebukes SingTel over Gushcloud smear campaign

A “stern warning” has been issued.

The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) today rebuked Singapore Telcommunications (SingTel) over its involvement in a smear campaign against its competitors M1 and StarHub.

The negative marketing campaign was conducted through local marketing agency Gushcloud, which asked its affiliated bloggers and other influencers to complain about M1 and StarHub’s services.

The agency stated that it has issued a “stern warning” to Singtel over the campaign, and instructed the telco to ensure appropriate management oversight and control over its marketing and advertising campaigns to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"IDA is disappointed that such marketing tactics have been employed by Singtel. IDA has always encouraged licensees to compete by promoting the availability, price and quality of their own services, and not by disparaging those of their competitors," the regulator said in a release.

“It should not adopt publicity practices or campaigns that may potentially bring disrepute to the telecommunication industry,”IDA added.

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