Singapore
Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumers' connectivity experiences. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding what happens when people use their mobile and broadband connections in their daily life.
Singapore
Opensignal is the independent global standard for analyzing consumers' connectivity experiences. Our industry reports are the definitive guide to understanding what happens when people use their mobile and broadband connections in their daily life.
Key Findings
StarHub comes top again across all five overall experience categories
StarHub wins all five awards for the overall experience of our users for the second report in a row. This means that StarHub users have the best experience when streaming mobile video, playing multiplayer games and using over-the-top voice apps over cellular connections — when measured across all generations of mobile network technology. StarHub users also observed the fastest overall download and upload speeds in Singapore.
Singtel users have the best 5G Games Experience in Singapore
Singtel is the first operator to win the 5G Games Experience award in Singapore. It wins with a score of 94.2 points on a 100-point scale, giving it a lead of one point over second-placed StarHub and 2.9 points over M1. However, M1, Singtel and StarHub all place in the Excellent (85 or above) category.
The best mobile video streaming experience is with StarHub
Our StarHub users have the best experience when streaming mobile video over 5G connections in Singapore — StarHub comes top for 5G Video Experience with a score of 78.6 points on a 100-point scale, beating closest rival Singtel by 0.4 points. StarHub is also the sole winner of the Video Experience award — which measures users’ average overall experience across all mobile network generations.
M1 and StarHub come top for 5G Download Speed and 5G Availability
Our M1 and StarHub users have the fastest average 5G download speeds in Singapore (382.5-388.4Mbps). The two operators share both the 5G Download Speed and 5G Availability awards with statistically tied scores. 5G Availability represents the proportion of time that 5G users have an active 5G connection.
Singaporean users see impressive uplift in download speeds with 5G
Our M1 users’ average 5G download speeds — 388.4Mbps — are a remarkable 7.5 times faster than their overall download speeds of 51.9Mbps (measured across every mobile network generation). Meanwhile, Singtel and StarHub users see uplifts of 4.9 times and 3.8 times, respectively — StarHub’s relatively small uplift is driven by its impressive overall download speeds — which average 101.1Mbps. Singaporean users also see a significant uplift in their average upload speeds, with increases of 2.3 times for those on Singtel and 1.6 times for M1 and StarHub users.
Mobile Experience Awards
Market Overview
This is the first time Opensignal has directly compared the 5G experience across M1, Singtel and StarHub in a Singapore mobile network experience report. We will include the 5G experience of our SIMBA users in future reports once 5G adoption among our user base becomes more widespread. In this report, we have analyzed the mobile network experience of Singapore’s four national operators — M1, Singtel, StarHub and SIMBA — in the 90-day period starting on February 1, 2023 and ending on May 1, 2023, to see how they measure up.
StarHub continues to impress, this time winning eight out of a possible 14 awards outright. The operator retains its wins for all five overall experience awards and both consistent quality awards (Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality). In addition, StarHub wins 5G Video Experience outright and is a joint winner in four categories (5G Voice App Experience, 5G Download Speed, Availability and 5G Availability).
Singtel is the only other operator to win any awards outright in this report, scooping up wins for 5G Games Experience and 5G Upload Speed, it also is part of the three-way statistical ties for first place for 5G Voice App Experience and Availability. Finally, Singtel comes top in Singapore for 5G Coverage Experience in our first insight to use this new methodology. It wins with a score of 7.9 points, while StarHub and M1 are statistically tied for second place with identical scores of seven points.
M1 wins no awards outright this time around but shares the 5G Download Speed and 5G Availability awards with its 5G consortium partner, StarHub. M1 is also one of the joint winners of the 5G Voice App Experience award.
Antina, the 5G joint venture formed by M1 and StarHub — which operates the shared 5G RAN used by the two operators — signed a 10-year deal with Nokia in February 2023, under the terms of which Nokia will deploy a 5G standalone access (SA) network for indoor and outdoor coverage, and expand the current network using Antina’s 3.5GHz spectrum.
Overall Experience
National Analysis
StarHub is the outright winner of the Video Experience award for the second report in a row. It wins this time with a score of 73.7 points on a 100-point scale, giving it a lead of 3.7 points over second-placed Singtel. M1 follows in third place with 68.3 points, while SIMBA brings up the rear with 63.6 points. SIMBA places in the Good (58-68) category, while the other three operators earn Very Good (68-78) ratings.
This means that our StarHub, Singtel and M1 users are, on average, able to stream video at 1080p or better with satisfactory loading times and little stalling.
Video Experience scores account for adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR), a technology that allows Opensignal to accurately represent users’ real video experience including video streams up to 4K quality.
Definitions
Opensignal’s Video Experience quantifies the quality of video streamed to mobile devices by measuring real-world video streams over an operator's networks. The metric is based on an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach, built upon detailed studies which have derived a relationship between technical parameters, including picture quality, video loading time and stall rate, with the perceived video experience as reported by real people. To calculate video experience, we are directly measuring video streams from end-user devices and using this ITU approach to quantify the overall video experience for each operator on a scale from 0 to 100. The videos tested include a mixture of resolutions — including Full HD (FHD) and 4K / Ultra HD (UHD) — and are streamed directly from the world’s largest video content providers.
In addition to Video Experience, we report on the following metrics related to video experience:
- 5G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
- Video Experience – 5G Users: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G video experience along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
- 3G Video Experience: The average Video Experience of Opensignal users on an operator’s 3G network.
National Analysis
StarHub is once again the sole winner of the Games Experience award, and this is the fourth report in a row in which it has won the award outright. It comes top this time around with a score of 84.8 points on a 100-point scale. This means that it has narrowly missed out on placing in the Excellent (85 or above) category and instead places in the Good (75-85) category alongside second-placed Singtel and third-placed M1, which score 80.8 points and 78.4 points, respectively. SIMBA comes last with 64 points, which places it in the Poor (40-65) category.
A Good rating indicates that most users deem their experience acceptable. The gameplay experience is generally controllable and the users receive immediate feedback between their actions and the outcomes in the game. Most users do not experience a delay between their actions and the game.
Definitions
Opensignal’s Games Experience measures how mobile users experience real-time multiplayer mobile gaming on an operator’s network. Measured on a scale of 0-100, it analyzes how our users’ multiplayer mobile gaming experience is affected by mobile network conditions including latency, packet loss and jitter.
Games Experience quantifies the experience when playing real-time multiplayer mobile games on mobile devices connected to servers located around the world. The approach is built on several years of research quantifying the relationship between technical network parameters and the gaming experience as reported by real mobile users. These parameters include latency (round trip time), jitter (variability of latency) and packet loss (the proportion of data packets that never reach their destination). Additionally, it considers multiple genres of multiplayer mobile games to measure the average sensitivity to network conditions. The games tested include some of the most popular real-time multiplayer mobile games (such as Fortnite, Pro Evolution Soccer and Arena of Valor) played around the world.
Calculating Games Experience starts with measuring the end-to-end experience from users’ devices to internet end-points that host real games. The score is then measured on a scale from 0 to 100.
In addition to Games Experience, we report on the following metrics related to games experience:
- 5G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
- Games Experience – 5G Users: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G games experience along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
- 3G Games Experience: The average Games Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO) network.
National Analysis
StarHub comes top for Voice App Experience for the second report in a row, this time winning with a score of 82.2 points and beating second-placed Singtel by 0.6 points. M1 and SIMBA are in third and fourth place with 80.9 and 79.6 points, respectively. StarHub, Singtel and M1 all place in the Good (80-87) category, while SIMBA receives an Acceptable (74-80) rating.
Definitions
Opensignal's Voice App Experience measures the quality of experience for over-the-top (OTT) voice services — mobile voice apps such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger — using a model derived from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach for quantifying overall voice call quality and a series of calibrated technical parameters. This model characterizes the exact relationship between the technical measurements and perceived call quality. Voice App Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.
In addition to Voice App Experience, we report on the following metrics related to voice app experience:
- 5G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users when they were connected to an operator’s 5G network.
- Voice App Experience – 5G Users: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator's networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G voice app experience along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 4G network.
- 3G Voice App Experience: The average Voice App Experience of Opensignal users on an operator's 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO) network.
National Analysis
StarHub manages a remarkable feat in being the first Singaporean operator to breach the 100Mbps mark for the average overall download speeds seen by our users, given its score of 101.1Mbps. This is the sixth time in a row that StarHub has won the Download Speed Experience award outright. It wins with an impressive lead of 27.7Mbps over second-placed Singtel’s 73.4Mbps. M1 is in third place with 51.9Mbps, while SIMBA trails behind with 20.7Mbps.
Our StarHub users have seen the largest increase in their overall download speeds since the last report — a rise of 20.1Mbps (24.8%), followed by those on M1 — 8.8Mbps (20.5%). Our Singtel and SIMBA users’ scores have risen by 4Mbps (5.8%) and 2Mbps (10.7%), respectively.
Definitions
Measured in Mbps, Download Speed Experience represents the typical everyday speeds a user experiences across an operator’s mobile data networks.
In addition to Download Speed Experience, we report on the following metrics related to download speeds:
- 5G Download Speed: The average download speed observed by Opensignal users with active 5G connections.
- Download Speed Experience – 5G Users: The average download speeds experienced by Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator’s networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G download speeds along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Download Speed: The average downlink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 4G.
- 3G Download Speed: The average downlink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO).
National Analysis
Our StarHub users again observe the fastest average overall upload speeds in Singapore — therefore StarHub continues to be the outright winner of the Upload Speed Experience award. It wins this time with a score of 15.3Mbps, giving it a lead of around 0.7Mbps over Singtel and M1’s statistically tied scores of 14.7-15.3Mbps. SIMBA is in last place with 4.6Mbps.
All four operators’ scores have significantly improved since the last report, rising by 0.7-1.3Mbps (3.8-17.9%). Our Singtel users saw the largest improvement in their average overall upload speeds in absolute terms — a rise of 1.3Mbps (9.6%), while those on SIMBA saw the largest percentage improvement — 17.9% (0.7Mbps).
Definitions
Upload Speed Experience measures the average upload speeds for each operator observed by our users across their mobile data networks. Typically upload speeds are slower than download speeds, as current mobile broadband technologies focus resources on providing the best possible download speed for users consuming content on their devices. As mobile internet trends move away from downloading content to creating content and supporting real-time communications services, upload speeds are becoming more vital and new technologies are emerging that boost upstream capacity.
In addition to Upload Speed Experience, we report on five supporting metrics related to upload speeds:
- 5G Upload Speed: The average upload speed observed by Opensignal users with active 5G connections.
- Upload Speed Experience – 5G Users: The average upload speeds experienced by Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription across an operator’s networks. It factors in 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G upload speeds along with the availability of each technology.
- 4G Upload Speed: The average uplink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 4G.
- 3G Upload Speed: The average uplink speed observed by Opensignal users when they were connected to 3G (e.g. UMTS/HSPA or CDMA 1X EV-DO).
5G Experience
National Analysis
StarHub is the first operator in Singapore to win the 5G Video Experience award — it does so with a score of 78.6 points on a 100-point scale. However, second-placed Singtel is only 0.4 points behind with a score of 78.2 points. M1 is third with 77.2 points.
Our StarHub and Singtel users have an Excellent (78 or above) experience when streaming mobile video over 5G connections. This means that they are, on average, able to stream video at 1080p or better with fast loading times and no stalling. Our M1 users’ experience places in the Very Good (68-78) category, which means they are, on average, able to stream video at 1080p or better with satisfactory loading times and little stalling.
5G Video Experience scores account for adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR), a technology that allows Opensignal to accurately represent users’ real video experience including video streams up to 4K quality.
Definitions
5G Video Experience quantifies the quality of mobile video experienced by Opensignal users on real-world video streams when they were connected to 5G. The metric is based on an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach, built upon detailed studies which have derived a relationship between technical parameters, including picture quality, video loading time and stall rate, with the perceived video experience as reported by real people. To calculate 5G Video Experience, we are directly measuring video streams from end-user devices and using this ITU approach to quantify the video experience observed by our users on each operator’s 5G network on a scale from 0 to 100. The videos tested include a mixture of resolutions — including Full HD (FHD) and 4K / Ultra HD (UHD) — and are streamed directly from the world’s largest video content providers.
National Analysis
Singtel wins the first 5G Games Experience award to be included in a Singapore mobile network experience report. It wins with an impressively high score of 94.2 points on a 100-point scale, giving it a slender one-point lead over StarHub’s 93.2 points. M1 is in last place with 91.4 points.
All three operators place in the Excellent (85 or above) category for our users’ experience when playing multiplayer mobile games over 5G cellular connections. This indicates that the vast majority of users deem their network experience acceptable. Nearly all users feel like they have control over the game and they receive immediate feedback on their actions. There is not a noticeable delay in almost all cases.
Definitions
5G Games Experience measures how mobile users experience real-time multiplayer mobile gaming on an operator's 5G network. It analyzes how our users’ multiplayer mobile gaming experience was affected by mobile network conditions including latency, packet loss and jitter. 5G Games Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.
5G Games Experience quantifies the experience when playing real-time multiplayer mobile games on mobile devices connected to servers located around the world. The approach is built on several years of research quantifying the relationship between technical network parameters and the gaming experience as reported by real mobile users. These parameters include latency (round trip time), jitter (variability of latency) and packet loss (the proportion of data packets that never reach their destination). Additionally, it considers multiple genres of multiplayer mobile games to measure the average sensitivity to network conditions. The games tested include some of the most popular real-time multiplayer mobile games (such as Fortnite, Pro Evolution Soccer and Arena of Valor) played around the world. Calculating 5G Games Experience starts with measuring the end-to-end experience from users’ devices to internet end-points that host real games.
National Analysis
M1, Singtel and StarHub share the 5G Voice App Experience award with statistically tied scores of 84.4-84.7 points on a 100-point scale.
This means that our users on all three operators have a Good (80-87) experience when using over-the-top voice apps such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger over 5G connections.
Definitions
5G Voice App Experience quantifies the experience of Opensignal users when using over-the-top voice apps — such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger — on an operator’s 5G network. It uses a model derived from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach for quantifying overall voice call quality and a series of calibrated technical parameters. This model characterizes the exact relationship between the technical measurements and perceived call quality. 5G Voice App Experience for each operator is calculated on a scale from 0 to 100.
National Analysis
M1 and StarHub jointly win the 5G Download Speed award with statistically tied scores of 382.5-388.4Mbps. These scores are the average download speeds our users see when they have an active 5G connection. It is not surprising that there is no statistical difference between M1 and StarHub for this metric, as they share the 5G radio network access run by their joint venture, Antina. Singtel comes last with a still respectable score of 359.1Mbps, 26.3Mbps behind the front-runners.
Definitions
5G Download Speed shows the average download speed experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 5G network. 5G Download Speed for each operator is calculated in Mbps (Megabits per second).
National Analysis
Singtel is the first operator in Singapore to win the 5G Upload Speed award. It does so outright with a score of 32.8Mbps, which gives it an impressive lead of around 8.4Mbps over M1’s and StarHub’s statistically tied scores of 24-24.8Mbps.
Definitions
5G Upload Speed measures the average upload speeds experienced by Opensignal users across an operator’s 5G network. 5G Upload Speed for each operator is calculated in Mbps (Megabits per second).
Coverage
M1
SIMBA
Singtel
StarHub
National Analysis
Three operators share the winners’ podium for Availability — SIMBA, Singtel and StarHub with statistically tied scores of 99.3-99.4%. M1 is fractionally behind, given its score of 99.2% and only misses out on sharing the award, because its upper confidence interval does not overlap with Singtel’s lower confidence interval.
Definitions
Our availability metrics are not a measure of a network’s geographical extent. They won’t tell you whether you are likely to get a signal if you plan to visit a remote rural or nearly uninhabited region. Instead, they measure what proportion of time people have a network connection, in the places they most commonly frequent — something often missed by traditional coverage metrics. Looking at when users have a connection rather than where, provides us with a more precise reflection of the true user experience.
We also keep track of the instances that leave mobile users most frustrated: when there is no signal to connect to at all. The most common dead zones users struggle with occur indoors. As most of our availability data is collected indoors (as that’s where users spend most of their time), we’re particularly astute at detecting areas of zero signal.
Our availability metrics take a user-centric, time-based approach that complements the user-centric and geographical-based methodology used by our reach metrics.
Availability shows the proportion of time all Opensignal users on an operator’s network had either a 3G, 4G or 5G connection.
Map Definition
The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.
National Analysis
M1 and StarHub share the 5G Availability award — which recognizes operators for the proportion of time that our 5G users have an active 5G connection — with scores of 29.4-32.2%. Singtel scores 29.1% and is not part of the statistical tie as its upper confidence interval does not overlap with StarHub’s lower confidence interval.
Definitions
Our availability metrics are not a measure of a network’s geographical extent. They won’t tell you whether you are likely to get a signal if you plan to visit a remote rural or nearly uninhabited region. Instead, they measure what proportion of time people have a network connection, in the places they most commonly frequent — something often missed by traditional coverage metrics. Looking at when users have a connection rather than where, provides us with a more precise reflection of the true user experience.
We also keep track of the instances that leave mobile users most frustrated: when there is no signal to connect to at all. The most common dead zones users struggle with occur indoors. As most of our availability data is collected indoors (as that’s where users spend most of their time), we’re particularly astute at detecting areas of zero signal.
Our availability metrics take a user-centric, time-based approach that complements the user-centric and geographical-based methodology used by our reach metrics.
5G Availability shows the proportion of time Opensignal users with a 5G device and a 5G subscription had an active 5G connection.
Map Definition
The coverage maps show the locations where we received measurements from users connecting with 3G or better mobile service. Each map provides an indication of the areas in which it is possible to obtain mobile service from that mobile operator.
Consistency
National Analysis
StarHub retains the Excellent Consistent Quality award, winning it outright with a score of 86.3%, giving it a lead of 3.9 percentage points over second-placed Singtel’s 82.4%. M1 is in third place with 77.7%, while SIMBA is in last place with 71.8%.
Definitions
Consistent Quality measures how often users’ experience on a network was sufficient to support common applications’ requirements. It measures download speed, upload speed, latency, jitter, packet loss, time to first byte and the percentage of tests attempted which did not succeed due to a connectivity issue on either the download or server response component.
Full details on how the Consistent Quality metrics — Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality — are calculated can be found here.
Excellent Consistent Quality is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds to watch HD video, complete group video conference calls and play games.
National Analysis
For the second report in a row, StarHub is the outright winner of the Core Consistent Quality award. It wins this time around with a score of 94.1%, putting it 3.8 percentage points ahead of second-placed Singtel. M1 is in third place with 89.6% while SIMBA brings up the rear with 88.7%.
Definitions
Consistent Quality measures how often users’ experience on a network was sufficient to support common applications’ requirements. It measures download speed, upload speed, latency, jitter, packet loss, time to first byte and the percentage of tests attempted which did not succeed due to a connectivity issue on either the download or server response component.
Full details on how the Consistent Quality metrics — Excellent Consistent Quality and Core Consistent Quality — are calculated can be found here.
Core Consistent Quality is the percentage of users’ tests that met the minimum recommended performance thresholds for lower performance applications including SD video, voice calls and web browsing.
Related Analysis
Our Methodology
Collecting billions of individual measurements daily from over 100 million devices globally, Opensignal independently analyzes mobile and broadband user experience on every major network operator around the globe.
About Opensignal
Opensignal is the leading global provider of independent insights into consumers' connectivity experiences and choice of carrier. Our proprietary insights into mobile and broadband networks give operators the solutions they need to profitably compete and win, from executive level scorecards and public validation to pin-point level engineering analytics and consumer decision dynamics.
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Confidence Intervals
For every metric we calculate statistical confidence intervals indicated on our graphs. When confidence intervals overlap, our measured results are too close to declare a winner. In those cases, we show a statistical draw. For this reason, some metrics have multiple operator winners.
In our bar graphs we represent confidence intervals as boundaries on either sides of graph bars.
In our supporting-metric charts we show confidence intervals as +/- numerical values.
Why confidence intervals are vital in analyzing mobile network experience