Demystifying Internet in Singapore – 5 Myths Every Business Should Know

Understanding Singapore’s Internet Landscape
Singapore stands out as one of the world’s most connected nations, consistently topping global rankings for internet speed and digital infrastructure. The country’s extensive fiber-optic network, supported by multiple international submarine cables, enables both businesses and residents to access high-speed internet with impressive reliability. This strong foundation has fostered a vibrant, competitive market for internet service providers (ISPs), offering a wide range of plans and features.

However, despite this reputation for connectivity, there are important nuances and hidden challenges that can affect your actual experience—especially when selecting business internet solutions. To make truly informed decisions, it’s essential to look beyond surface-level claims and understand the realities behind Singapore’s digital infrastructure.

In this article, we’ll break down five common myths about business connectivity in Singapore and reveal the truths you need to know to choose the right provider for your needs.

Myth 1: Connectivity speeds achieved will match subscribed plans

Reality: Effective speeds are impacted by oversubscription and congestion
Carriers often advertise business-grade plans with symmetrical gigabit speeds—meaning you get equal upload and download rates—at attractive prices. However, in most cases, this bandwidth is not dedicated to your business alone. Instead, it is shared among many users on what are called oversubscribed networks, where more customers are assigned than the network can support during peak times. This sharing can lead to large fluctuations in your actual internet speed and reliability, especially when many people are online at once.

Key takeaway: Don’t assume advertised speeds will match your real-world experience—always clarify whether your plan offers dedicated or shared bandwidth, and ask for real-world performance data.

Myth 2: Any plan delivers adequately low latency

Reality: Latency depends vastly on routes and backbone design
It’s easy to assume that Singapore’s small size means all internet plans offer similarly low latency (the delay before data begins to transfer). In reality, latency can vary significantly—even within the country—ranging from as little as 1 millisecond to nearly 50 milliseconds. This difference is mainly due to how each provider’s network is designed and the specific routes your data takes. Sometimes, data packets travel out of Singapore to connect with overseas networks before returning, which increases delay. This happens especially when content is hosted with a global Tier 1 carrier while a large carrier in Singapore refuses to peer locally.

This variation in latency can cause noticeable lags, especially for applications that rely on real-time responses, such as cloud gaming or video conferencing. To ensure your needs are met, ask providers about their network’s Points of Presence (PoPs), the typical routes your traffic will take, and request latency (ping) measurements to your most important destinations. Don’t assume all services are equal—test and verify before committing.

Key takeaway: Always check the provider’s network routes and latency to your business-critical destinations before signing up.

Myth 3: There is sufficient route diversity

Reality: Heavy reliance persists on single exchange resulting in common failure points
Many assume that Singapore’s robust infrastructure guarantees multiple, independent network routes for added resilience. In practice, most service providers’ connections converge at a single major data center—often referred to as a “carrier hotel,” such as Equinix SG1—before branching out to the rest of the world. This centralization creates a single point of failure: if an issue occurs at this key node, multiple providers and customers can experience simultaneous outages.

For true redundancy and reliability, look for providers that offer genuine route diversity. This means having multiple Points of Presence (PoPs) spread across different locations in Singapore, and diverse international submarine cable paths. Such providers can better protect your business from disruptions caused by localised incidents or outages at a single exchange.

Key takeaway: Ask about your provider’s route diversity, PoP locations, and international connectivity to avoid single points of failure.

Myth 4: Last mile causes outages, not backbone networks

Reality: Tier one service providers demonstrate strong last mile impacting overall experience
It’s common for connectivity problems to be blamed on the “last mile”—the final leg of delivery from the service provider to your premises. While last mile issues can occur, Singapore’s landscape is unique. Despite having more than 80 Facility-Based Operator (FBO) license holders (as of November 2025), only a handful—typically just 2 or 3—can deliver nearly 100% fiber coverage across the island.

For us, we rely on Netlink Trust (NLT) for last mile fiber delivery. For our DIA plans, service level agreements (SLAs) can guarantee uptime as high as 99.95% or even 99.99%. This means that, in most cases, last mile reliability is not the weak link. Instead, the broader network design and provider choices play a larger role in overall service quality

Key takeaway: Don’t overlook the backbone and provider’s network design—last mile is rarely the main culprit for outages in Singapore.

Myth 5: Support necessarily resolves chronic performance issues

Reality: Symptoms require troubleshooting, but chronic problems reflect network limitations
Excellent technical support is important when issues arise, but it can only go so far. If your connection frequently struggles to keep up with your business needs, the root cause may be deeper than what support teams can fix. Persistent problems—like slow speeds or recurring outages—often signal limitations in the underlying network infrastructure, such as bandwidth bottlenecks or poor network design.

While troubleshooting can address temporary symptoms, it cannot overcome fundamental shortcomings in the network itself. If you repeatedly face the same issues, it’s a sign to evaluate your provider’s core capabilities and consider whether their infrastructure truly meets your requirements.

Key takeaway: If support can’t fix recurring issues, it’s time to assess your provider’s infrastructure and consider alternatives.

Provider Evaluation Checklist

– Is the bandwidth dedicated or shared?
– What are the typical and guaranteed speeds?
– How many Points of Presence (PoPs) does the provider have, and where are they located?
– What redundancy and route diversity measures are in place?
– What does the Service Level Agreement (SLA) guarantee in terms of uptime and response time?
– Are advanced security features included?
– Can the provider share real-world performance data or customer references?
– Who handles the last mile delivery, and what is their coverage?
– What support options are available if issues arise?

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I test my internet speed in Singapore?
Use trusted tools like Speedtest by Ookla to measure your connection’s upload and download speeds. Run tests at different times of day to assess consistency.

What should I look for in an SLA?
Key elements include guaranteed uptime (e.g., 99.99%), response and resolution times for issues, and any compensation offered for outages.

How do I know if a provider offers route diversity?
Ask for details about their network topology, Points of Presence, and whether they use multiple international submarine cables or data centers.

Making Informed Connectivity Decisions

Armed with a clearer understanding of the common myths surrounding internet connectivity in Singapore, enterprises can move beyond surface-level promises and make smarter choices. Take time to evaluate each provider’s approach to dedicated bandwidth, route diversity, backbone design, and last mile delivery. Look beyond marketing claims and ask for evidence—such as real-world performance data, redundancy measures, and service level guarantees.

Ultimately, the right partner will be transparent about their network capabilities and committed to delivering consistent, reliable performance that matches your business needs. By prioritising transparency and accountability, you can secure connectivity solutions that empower your operations today and adapt to your demands in the future.

Don’t let misconceptions hold your business back. Start a conversation with Axclusive today—ask the tough questions, request detailed network information, and insist on transparency. By making informed choices now, you’ll position your enterprise for greater resilience, performance, and growth in Singapore’s digital landscape.