Data
For this Mobile Review, we have conducted a data-centric drivetest, taking into account the typical usage patterns of mobile subscribers as well as the importance of mobile data availability and performance for future applications such as IoT or automotive connectivity.
In order to assess the performance and reliability of data connections in the Singapore networks, two drivetest cars drove a total of 2,100 kilometres, covering 99.5 per cent of Singapore‘s population.
Each of P3‘s drivetest cars was equipped with arrays of Galaxy S8 Smartphones capable of supporting 300 Mbit/s download and 50 Mbit/s upload speeds. All data measurements were done in 4G preferred mode. Each car carried one smartphone per operator.
P3‘s drivetesting considers fast throughputs as well as the networks‘ availability and stability. Web page and file downloads or file uploads reward fast speeds, while recording success ratios and assessing YouTube playouts concentrate on reliability aspects. As YouTube streams videos at adaptive bitrates, the average value of the received video resolution is another important performance indicator.
Overall high data performance
The drivetests show the high performance level of all three mobile operators in Singapore. Determining their overall scores for the data drive- tests, all competitors are close
together: Singtel achieves 94.2 per cent of the total possible points, StarHub follows with 94.0 per cent and M1 with 93.2 per cent. Although we see some differences in their detailed performances, this is a very good result for all three of them.
“IN A CLOSE RACE, EACH OPERATOR SHOWS SPECIFIC STRENGTHS in THE DATA CATEGORY”
“SINGTEL IS CLOSELY AHEAD OF A VERY STRONG COMPETITION”
M1 AHEAD IN WEB BROWSING
When it comes to accessing live web pages from the widely acknowledged Alexa ranking and the static Kepler test page, M1 is closely ahead of the other two operators. M1‘s success rates are slightly higher and the download times slightly shorter. This results in a fulfillment rate of 96 per cent in this category. However, Singtel with 94 per cent and StarHub with 93 per cent follow at close distance.
SINGTEL PROVIDES THE FASTEST DOWNLOADS, ALL THREE ALMOST ON PAR REGARDING UPLOADS
In the download tests, Singtel is one step ahead due to faster average data rates and a higher top speed (P90). StarHub ranks second and M1 third in the download evaluation. Examining their upload performance, all three operators are almost on par with a slight advantage for M1 due to slightly higher average upload data rates.
STARHUB SCORES BEST IN THE YOUTUBE MEASUREMENTS
In our tests of YouTube playbacks, StarHub showed a slight advantage over its competitors. This operator achieves a 100 per cent playout without interruptions (Singtel: 99.8 per cent, M1: 99.7 per cent). Also, the overall success ratio is slightly higher
in the StarHub network. Still, the mobile reception of YouTube videos provides a very good user experience in all three Singapore mobile networks.
“DATA RESULTS AT AT GLANCE
Although all three Singapore operators deliver a high level of data performance and rank closely together, in the overall assessment, Singtel shows a slight advantage over its competitors.
In the detailed analysis, each operator shows specific strenghts: M1 is ahead in the web browsing tests and is closely ahead of the competition when it comes to file uploads. Singtel provides the fastest file downloads, and StarHub scores best in the YouTube measurements.”