Singapore Government Online Homepage
A Guide to Residential Broadband in Singapore

(Next Update: August 2010)

Choosing The Right Broadband Plan

A basic 512kbps line works fine for regular e-mail and Web browsing but tech-savvy households with multiple members engaging in huge file downloads, online games, video streaming and more will need a lot more bandwidth. With over a dozen broadband Internet plans offering a wide spectrum of prices and speeds, consumers may find it a challenge to choose the right plan.

To help consumers make an informed choice, IDA monitors and publishes the performance of broadband plans here. There are three main indicators to look for - price, throughput and latency.

It is important to understand that the advertised speed only show the speed of your "last mile" connection. If the networks are roads and the data your car, then your advertised speed only show your speed from the side road at your home to the main road. This may be fast but if the rest of your journey is congested, your overall traveling time is still slowed down. A better measurement of how well your line performs is therefore to look at its throughput, which resembles the car's speed for the entire journey. A higher throughput is better.

Latency is important for online games, Net telephony and other applications which will suffer quality degradation if the data packets take too long to return. The smaller the latency, the better is your experience.

Notes:

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Pricing of Residential Broadband Service Plans in Singapore
Snapshot on 30 June 2010

Total Monthly Cost
Advertised Speed Broadband
Service Provider
Residential Broadband
Service Plan*
Monthly Subscription**
(with GST)
3,000 Kbps StarHub MaxOnline SurfLite (3Mbps) SGD$26.48
5,000 kbps M1 5Mbps Unlimited Plan SGD$25.20
6,000 kbps SingNet 6Mbps Unlimited Plan SGD$34.45
StarHub MaxOnline Value (6Mbps) SGD$39.11
8,000 kbps M1 8Mbps Unlimited Plan SGD$36.40
10,000 kbps SingNet 10Mbps Unlimited Plan SGD$39.45
15,000 kbps M1 15Mbps Unlimited Plan SGD$42.90
SingNet 15Mbps Unlimited Plan SGD$43.45
16,000 kbps StarHub MaxOnline Express (16Mbps) SGD$50.93
30,000 kbps M1 30 Mbps Unlimted Plan SGD$53.90
StarHub MaxOnline Premium (30Mbps) SGD$69.12
100,000 kbps M1 100 Mbps Unlimted Plan SGD$64.90
StarHub MaxOnline Ultimate (100Mbps) SGD$86.88

Notes:

* Only residential broadband service plans with unlimited usage have been listed. The service providers may also offer other residential broadband service plans, which may be even lower-priced, with limited usage regarding the amount of data (volume-based) or number of hours (time-based).

** Prices listed are the lowest available monthly subscription fees as indicated on the respective service providers' websites. These are correct as at the snapshot date indicated above. The service plans may be bundled with other benefits, such as waiver of installation fees and/or promotional items like wireless routers or modems, for a contractual subscription period. These additional benefits increase the overall worth of the broadband subscription to consumers.The monthly subscription fees should thus not be taken to represent the entire value of the broadband service plans. For more information, please check the respective service provider's website.

Monthly Cost per 100 kbps
SingNet Broadband Services Plans
StarHub Broadband Services Plans
M1 Broadband Services Plans

Notes:

Price figures are derived from the monthly subscription fees and advertised speeds indicated on the respective broadband service provider's websites. These figures are computed by dividing the monthly subscription fees by the advertised speeds and normalised to 100 kbps.

Measured Performance of Residential Broadband Service Plans in Singapore

Throughput for Internet Connectivity
Maximum Available Download Throughput for Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Max Throughput
Local (SG) Maximum Available Download Throughput - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
Local(SG) Maximum Available Download Throughput - StarHub View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
Local(SG) Maximum Available Download Throughput - M1 View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Maximum Available Download Throughput for Internet Connectivity to US
Max Throughput
International(US) Maximum Available Download Throughput - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
International(US) Maximum Available Download Throughput - StarHub
View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
International(US) Maximum Available Download Throughput - M1
View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Download Throughput for Single TCP Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Single TCP Throughput
Local (SG) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan

6Mbps
Unlimited Plan

3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
Local(SG) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - StarHub View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
Local(US) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - M1 View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Download Throughput for Single TCP Internet Connectivity to US
Single TCP Throughput
International(US) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
International(US) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - StarHub View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
International(US) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - M1 View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Maximum Available Download Throughput for Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Max Throughput
Local (SG) Maximum Available Download Throughput - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
Local(SG) Maximum Available Download Throughput - StarHub View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
Local(SG) Maximum Available Download Throughput - M1 View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Download Throughput for Single TCP Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Single TCP Throughput
Local (SG) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mkbps
Unlimited Plan
 
Local(SG) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - StarHub View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
Local(US) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - M1 View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Maximum Available Download Throughput for Internet Connectivity to US
Max Throughput
International(US) Maximum Available Download Throughput - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
International(US) Maximum Available Download Throughput - StarHub View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
International(US) Maximum Available Download Throughput - M1 View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Download Throughput for Single TCP Internet Connectivity to US
Single TCP Throughput
International(US) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
International(US) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - StarHub View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
International(US) Download Throughput for Single TCP Session - M1 View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Throughput for Internet Connectivity
Maximum Available Upload Throughput for Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Max Throughput
Local (SG) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - SingNet
View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
Local(SG) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - StarHub
View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
Local(SG) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - M1
View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Maximum Available Upload Throughput for Internet Connectivity to US
Max Throughput
International(US) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
International(US) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - StarHub
View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
International(US) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - M1
View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Upload Throughput for Single TCP Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Single TCP Throughput
Local (SG) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
Local(SG) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - StarHub
View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
Local(US) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - M1
View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Upload Throughput for Single TCP Internet Connectivity to US
Single TCP Throughput
International(US) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
International(US) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - StarHub
View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
International(US) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - M1
View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Maximum Available Upload Throughput for Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Max Throughput
Local (SG) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
Local(SG) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - StarHub
View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
Local(SG) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - M1
View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Upload Throughput for Single TCP Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Single TCP Throughput
Local (SG) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
Local(SG) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - StarHub
View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
Local(US) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - M1
View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Maximum Available Upload Throughput for Internet Connectivity to US
Max Throughput
International(US) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
International(US) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - StarHub
View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
International(US) Maximum Available Upload Throughput - M1
View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Upload Throughput for Single TCP Internet Connectivity to US
Single TCP Throughput
International(US) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - SingNet View Hourly performance data:
  10Mbps
Unlimited Plan
8Mbps
Unlimited Plan
6Mbps
Unlimited Plan
3Mbps
Unlimited Plan
 
International(US) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - StarHub
View Hourly performance data:
  MaxOnline Premium
(30Mbps)
MaxOnline Express
(16Mbps)
MaxOnline SurfLite
(2Mbps)
 
International(US) Upload Throughput for Single TCP Session - M1
View Hourly performance data:
  M1
(15Mbps)
M1
(10Mbps)
 

Notes:

1. Plans that have higher throughput are better.

Latency for Internet Connectivity
Latency for Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Latency for Internet Connectivity within Singapore

Notes:

Plans that have lower latency are better.

Latency for Internet Connectivity out of Singapore (to US)
Latency for Internet Connectivity out of Singapore (to US)

Notes:

Plans that have lower latency are better.

Latency for Internet Connectivity within Singapore
Latency for Internet Connectivity within Singapore

Notes:

Plans that have lower latency are better.

Latency for Internet Connectivity out of Singapore (to US)
Latency for Internet Connectivity out of Singapore (to US)

Notes:

Plans that have lower latency are better.

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