Last Updated on 2021-03-24 , 4:10 pm
Did you know there was a ranking of mobile network speeds around the world?
No, I didn’t either.
Apparently, there is such a thing, according to TODAYonline—and the names familiar to us, Singtel, M1, and Starhub, have all slipped in the latest rankings.
The survey, with the fancy name of Global Mobile Network Experience Awards, is conducted by telecommunications analytics firm OpenSignal.
It collects daily statistics from up to a million mobile devices worldwide, taking into account data such as network speed and the amount of time 4G is available.
The results see StarHub dropping from seventh to eighth place for download speeds compared to 2020. However, its speeds have actually increased from 53.4 megabytes per second (Mbps) to 56.5Mbps.
Meanwhile, Singtel dropped from seventh to eighth place. Its download sped also fell from 50.8Mbps to 48.8Mbps.
M1 fared worse, staying out of the top 30 without having its ranking publicised. It ranked 33 in last year’s report however, with a download speed of 33.7Mbps.
A big ouch to anyone kiasu working there.
The new rankings are mainly because other countries are moving faster to adopt 5G technologies for their telecom networks, such as in South Korea, where SK Telecom’s 5G operations have enabled it to take the top spot.
So it’s not really because Singaporean firms have dropped in standards—but rather the competitors are doing better.
What’s the Fuss About 5G?
To understand why telcos elsewhere are so eager to offer 5G, let’s first look at what 5G does.
The obvious benefit is that 5G is significantly faster than 4G.
In an Australian test last year, an experimental 5G setup was able to achieve speeds up to 5Gbps for a single user—that essentially means downloading an entire HD movie in a single second.
While commercial equipment may not be as fast, StarHub still promises that you can download the same film in three minutes, rather than in 15 as you would on 4G.
Your data plan shivers in fear.
In addition, a 5G network will offer a much wider bandwidth than its 4G equivalent, which means a lot more devices can use the same network at once.
Up to 100 times more, in fact, according to Qualcomm. This not only allows uninterrupted connections in crowded spaces, but also lets a whole new range of smart devices connect to the internet at the same time.
Think your lamp, your toothbrush, your door… Anything, really, if you are drunk enough to imagine it.
Then Why is Singapore Not Using it?
The short answer is that we don’t need it for now.
Singapore already has a strong 4G and fibre network that provides a fast connection to almost everywhere on the island.
When was the last time your phone went without a signal anyway?
Especially since the existing network withstood the test of the Circuit Breaker, where half of Singapore was on Zoom or Skype at any given time, there is no rush in upgrading it further.
What’s more, is that there aren’t actually that many devices that can access 5G right now.
So even if Singapore races to roll out a 5G network, it won’t make a difference unless we all throw out our good old phones and buy one of the few 5G-enabled new ones on the market.
I still really want to try 5G… Can I?
Of course: no rush doesn’t mean never. Singtel and a joint venture between StarHub and M1 are both developing their own full-scale 5G networks, expected to be rolled out nationwide by 2025.
If that sounds like too long a wait for you, the good news is that you can sign up for a 5G plan right now and try it out at selected locations around Singapore.
The StarHub venture had already covered 70% of Singapore by the end of January, while Singtel offers the service to a long list of locations that covers most major residential and business areas.
Just watch out for how much data you have left.
Featured Image: GaudiLab / Shutterstock.com
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