Circles.Life Eyes Telecom Sale Amid Global Digital Network Shift
Circles Global, the Singapore-based technology company behind Circles.Life, plans to sell its consumer telecom brand. The company has already appointed financial advisers and begun engaging with investors. Overall, it expects Circles.Life to fetch several hundred million US dollars.
Sources close to the matter confirmed the talks but requested anonymity. Circles Global, however, declined to issue a comment.
This decision follows a series of internal and market shifts. While Circles.Life built a strong brand presence in Singapore and overseas, its parent company wants to double down on its software business. Circles Global will retain its SaaS platform, which enables telecom operators to launch and manage digital MVNOs. This platform remains its core revenue driver.
Circles.Life launched in 2016, two years after Circles Global’s founding. It entered the market as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), running on M1’s infrastructure. From the start, it positioned itself as a tech-driven, customer-first alternative to traditional telcos. At the same time, it offered fully digital onboarding, flexible plans, and competitive pricing.
Over the years, Circles.Life expanded into Taiwan, Australia, Indonesia, and Japan. It gained market share by appealing to digital-native customers. However, as the brand scaled, challenges surfaced.
Circles.Life met some controversy
In mid-2023, co-founder Abhishek Gupta stepped down from his executive role. He moved into a non-executive position. His exit followed internal changes and a series of workplace culture allegations. Moreover, local media reports claimed a toxic environment and management breakdown. However, Circles.Life publicly denied these accusations. It insisted no layoffs or internal crisis had occurred.
Despite public reassurances, insiders suggested mounting pressure behind the scenes. Circles.Life’s expansion demanded more capital. At the same time, competitors increased their digital presence. Singapore’s market now includes strong players like Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba Telecom. These incumbents have launched digital offerings to counter MVNOs like Circles.Life.
Circles Global likely sees the sale as a strategic pivot. By offloading Circles.Life, it can focus on its SaaS platform. This business line provides higher margins and better scalability. It also aligns with global telecom trends, where operators seek digital tools more than customer-facing brands.
The MVNO model remains attractive. These providers lease access from network owners and generate steady cash flow. They appeal to larger telcos that want growth without building new infrastructure. A buyer of Circles.Life could acquire an established customer base and instantly expand reach.
In summary, Circles Global aims to exit the front lines of consumer telecom. It will now focus on powering the back end of digital network operations. That shift marks a new chapter — one that bets on software over subscribers.
