MDDI consults on draft Info-Communications Media Development Authority (Amendment) Bill on changes to the media competition framework

28 January 2026

On 24 December 2025, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (“MDDI”) launched a consultation seeking comments on a draft Info-Communications Media Development Authority (Amendment) Bill. The consultation closed on 21 January 2026. 

Background 

The Info-communications Media Development Authority Act 2016 (“Act”) was enacted in 2016 to establish the Info-communications Media Development Authority (“IMDA”) through the merger of the then Info-communications Development Authority and Media Development Authority, to be the single regulator and developer for the converging telecommunication and media sectors. 

In May 2022, following a review of the competition regulation in the telecommunication and media sectors, IMDA issued a converged Code of Practice for Competition in the Provision of Telecommunication and Media Services 2022 (“TMCC”). The TMCC aims to promote effective and sustainable competition, as well as safeguard consumer interests, in the converging telecommunication sector, and the broadcasting and newspaper sectors (collectively, “media sector”). It replaced two separate codes of practice, namely, the Code of Practice for Competition in the Provision of Telecommunication Services 2012 and the Code of Practice for Market Conduct in the Provision of Media Services. 

The TMCC achieved harmonisation to the extent consistent with existing legislation. To further harmonise and refine the treatment of market competition issues across the telecommunication and media sectors, MDDI and IMDA have proposed legislative amendments to the Act to implement (i) changes to the media competition framework on which industry was previously consulted; and (ii) further refinements for better clarity of the provisions. 

Prior to issuing the TMCC, IMDA conducted two public consultations in 2019 and 2021 on the proposed policy positions for the TMCC. These policy positions were to align competition regulation of the media sector with the telecommunication sector. On 18 April 2022, IMDA issued a closing note to set out its decisions on feedback received from the consultations (“TMCC Closing Note”). 

MDDI and IMDA explain that the proposed amendments to the Act are in accordance with IMDA’s decisions in the TMCC Closing Note and take reference from relevant provisions under the Telecommunications Act 1999 (“TA”), where appropriate, to ensure alignment between the regulatory regimes for telecommunication and media sectors, with adjustments to account for the unique characteristics of the media sector. 

Proposed amendments 

The proposed amendments are set out in the table below.

No.

IMDA’s Decision

Current Provision in the Act or TMCC

1.

All transactions that result in any person acquiring ownership interests amounting to 30% or more of voting shares/power in a regulated person (“RP”) to require IMDA’s prior approval.

Only transactions by RPs or ancillary media service providers that result in acquisitions totalling 30% or more of voting shares/power in an RP are subject to IMDA’s prior approval.

2.

Consistent with the current approach for the telecommunication sector, for transactions that do not result in changes to the voting power held by shareholders of an RP (i.e. pro forma transactions), the requirement to obtain IMDA’s prior approval will be removed and replaced with a requirement to inform IMDA of pro forma transactions.

Transactions which meet specific thresholds in change of voting power will require IMDA’s prior written approval, regardless of whether or not they are pro forma.

3.

Anti-competitive agreements shall be void to the extent that it is anti-competitive.

The entire agreement will be void if it is deemed to be anti-competitive.

4.

The power to order structural separation to RPs shall vest with the Minister.

The power to order structural separation to RPs is vested with IMDA.

5.

Any person aggrieved by IMDA’s final decisions and directions may request IMDA to reconsider the matter, or appeal directly to the Minister.

Any person aggrieved by IMDA’s final decisions and directions may appeal only to the Minister, and is unable to request for IMDA’s reconsideration.

(Source: MDDI webpage)


MDDI and IMDA proposed five other amendments to the Act to further refine the media competition framework. 

  • IMDA to have powers to issue directions if, among other things, there is a contravention of the amended consolidation provisions. The directions may be issued to an RP or the person who acquires the specified level of control of equity interest or voting power in the RP. 
  • IMDA to have powers to issue directions to RPs and owners or controllers of essential resources for the purposes of maintaining fair and efficient market conduct and effective competition in the media industry in Singapore or to safeguard the interests of consumers by promoting fair, transparent, and reliable provision of media services. This will enable IMDA to act swiftly to prevent anti-competitive behaviour and protect consumer interests. 
  • The designation of an RP who is in a dominant position in a market (or any part of it) connected to the provision of media services in Singapore, and of a person who is an owner or controller of essential resources, to be by way of notice given by IMDA to the affected person in any manner that secures adequate notification of the designation. This includes service of such notice on the affected person in accordance with the provisions in the Act on service of documents. This is in place of the current mode of notification which is by way of publication in the Gazette. This mode of notification is similar to persons designated as Dominant Licensees and owners or controllers of Critical Support Infrastructure in the telecommunication sector. 
  • IMDA to have powers to obtain information to (i) ascertain a person’s equity interest or voting power in a regulated person; and (ii) carry out IMDA’s functions and duties in relation to the designation of a media resource as an essential resource. For example, IMDA may invoke these powers where the transaction concerns a complex shareholding structure or voting power arrangement. 
  • Apart from issuing codes of practice, standards of performance and advisory guidelines, IMDA may also approve any document not prepared by IMDA as a code of practice or standard of performance, if the document is considered as suitable. 

MDDI and IMDA also proposed consequential amendments to the TA to ensure consistency in the competition frameworks of both telecommunication and media sectors. 

Reference materials 

The following materials are available on the MDDI website www.mddi.gov.sg and REACH website www.reach.gov.sg: