Singapore boasts 2nd best Web speeds: report

The ranking in the latest report of Ookla, a United States-based Web measurement company, is far better than that given by Akamai Technologies, a U.S.-based Internet specialist.

Akamai's “State of the Internet” report for the third quarter of last year put Singapore in fourth position in the Asia-Pacific region, behind South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. Globally, Singapore ranked 32nd.

Dr Yaacob said many factors affect the broadband speeds that consumers experience.

The different rankings in the reports could also be due to different methodologies used to measure broadband speeds, and to make international comparisons.

Dr Yaacob was replying to Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC), who had asked about Akamai's ranking.

But according to Ookla, Singapore's surfing speeds have soared in the last three years.

Its average Internet download speeds have risen five times to reach 39.1 Mbps last month, overtaking its traditional Asian rivals Japan and South Korea in the past few months.

Dr Yaacob also said that one reason for the sharp rise in speeds is the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network, introduced in Singapore in September 2010.

He said the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) has taken steps to improve international download speeds by encouraging the mirroring of international content in Singapore.

“Long-term regulatory measures have also been taken to facilitate the landing of submarine cable systems in Singapore,” he added.

Ang also asked if anything was being done to ensure telcos deliver on promised speeds.

Dr. Yaacob said the IDA commissions a local company to measure the performance of fixed broadband lines. The firm installs more than 500 test probes in the households of volunteers across the island to do the survey.

Although standards for fixed-line broadband exist, the IDA is reviewing them to ensure they remain relevant for consumers, he added.

The IDA is also looking at establishing service standards for mobile broadband services to improve mobile surfing speeds.

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