Executive Summary
Singapore’s fiber broadband landscape is experiencing rapid evolution, driven by the introduction of XGS-PON technology and the rise of multi-gigabit plans. Discussions on the HardwareZone forum reveal a community actively exploring these changes, sharing experiences, and seeking the best value. Key trends include the push towards higher speeds like 5Gbps and 10Gbps, the debate between ONT and ONR configurations, and the increasing importance of user-owned routers. The community is also closely watching the pricing strategies of various ISPs, with many users opting for plans that offer better value for money, even if they don’t fully utilise the high bandwidth.
Recent developments have seen M1 and StarHub offering competitive plans, while Singtel faces criticism for its shift towards ONR and discontinuation of ONT recontracts for 1Gbps plans. Many users are finding ways to optimize their setups, often by buying their own routers and exploring mesh networking solutions. The community is also actively discussing hardware compatibility issues, particularly with XGS-PON modules and specific router models. A notable statistic is the price sensitivity of users, with many seeking the *SGD 29.55* StarHub 5Gbps offer as the most cost-effective option. The deployment of XGS-PON is ongoing, with some areas experiencing faster upgrades than others.
Key Developments
XGS-PON Rollout & Speed Upgrades
The introduction of XGS-PON technology has enabled ISPs to offer faster broadband plans, including 5Gbps, 6Gbps, and 10Gbps. While M1 announced its participation in the government’s grant program for 10Gbps rollout as early as July 2024, actual deployment has been gradual, with some users in the North East reporting M1 availability, while others still see “not ready” messages on the M1 website. This uneven deployment has led to some user frustration and confusion.
“per m1 site, my place in the far east is ready for 10Gps.” – loganrunning (27 Nov 2024)
“I received the similar message last week for my area. The maintenance was done this morning. Check the XGS” – PON plans on their website, still stating “Your location isn’t ready yet”.” – weiess (03 Dec 2024)
ISP Plan Changes and Pricing
StarHub has been particularly aggressive with its pricing, offering a 5Gbps plan at SGD 29.55 per month, a price point that has drawn significant interest from the community. This offer is available through a specific hidden link, not readily visible on their main website. Singtel is phasing out ONT recontracts for its 1Gbps plans, pushing users towards 2Gbps or higher plans that use ONR, leading to dissatisfaction among some users. M1 offers a variety of plans, including 2.5Gbps, 3Gbps, 6Gbps, and 10Gbps, but the availability of these plans varies by location, creating a two-tier system where existing users can access higher speeds, while new signups may not.
“If you want to jump ship, Starhub 5Gbps offer at SGD 29.55 per month (ONT option) may be worth considering.” – xiaofan (27 Nov 2024)
“For1Gbps and 2.5Gbps plans, you may only change to higher speed plans once you are eligible to re-contract. Sian…” – ekardo (02 Dec 2024)
ONT vs ONR Debate
A major point of discussion is the difference between ONT (Optical Network Terminal) and ONR (Optical Network Router). ONT is a simpler device, requiring users to provide their own router, while ONR includes a built-in router, often with limited functionality. Many users prefer the flexibility of ONT, allowing them to use their own high-performance routers. Singtel’s move to ONR has been a significant point of contention, with users reporting difficulties in bridging ONR devices to use their own routers effectively. Some users are concerned about the level of control the Singtel app has over their internet access.
“Just take note SingTel uses ONR so you may need to check if that fits your use case… I do not recommend SingTel for new users because of the use of ONR which may give you less flexibilities when you want to use your own router to its full capabilities.” – xiaofan (27 Nov 2024)
“Singtel will no longer handle 1Gbps ONT recontracts, you will be “pushed” to take the 2Gbps plan instead (ONR).” – namah19 (08 Dec 2024)
Community Insights
User Experiences
Users are reporting a wide range of experiences with different ISPs and plans. Some have had successful upgrades to 10Gbps plans, while others have faced challenges with network stability and speed. There are instances of users experiencing packet loss, high latency, and regular disconnects, often associated with XGS-PON modules or specific ISP issues. Users who switched from 1Gbps plans to higher-speed plans have noticed improvements in wireless speeds, even with devices that don’t fully support the new speeds. Some users are reporting actual download/upload speeds of around 8Gbps on their 10Gbps plans, which is normal due to overhead of XGS-PON technology.
“My download and upload speeds are both 8Gbps exact. Is this normal? Shouldn’t I be expecting something like 9.5Gbps down and up?” – iceoxfch (28 Nov 2024)
“Sadly i do not have any laptops or routers that support 10Gb, thus unable to check on network speeds directly from ONT.” – galliano (03 Dec 2024)
“6GBps having disruptions in the afternoon till now too in Tampines. Some more I just “recontract” sigh” – myshoes (09 Dec 2024)
Tips and Recommendations
The community provides numerous tips and recommendations for optimizing fiber broadband setups. Users recommend overlapping services for 1 month during ISP transitions to minimize downtime. For users seeking the best value, the Starhub 5Gbps plan at SGD 29.55* (ONT option) is consistently recommended. Users suggest using your own router with ONT plans to have full control over your network. Users are advised to disable features like *Adaptive QoS and Traffic Analyzer on Asus routers to avoid CPU bottlenecking. Users are also sharing tips on where to source affordable routers and mesh systems.
“My personal recommendation is to just let the 2 services overlap for 1 month. Especially if you cannot “live” without internet.” – xonix (02 Dec 2024)
“Anything related to Asus Adaptive QoS and Traffice Analyazer will be taxing the CPU and slow down the speed for typical Singapore users with >=1Gbps Fibre internet plan.” – xiaofan (02 Dec 2024)
“The cheapest price for one unit of ZenWiFi BT10 reported in this forum so far is SGD 450.” – xiaofan (06 Dec 2024)
Important Considerations
Users should be aware of the limitations of XGS-PON technology, which typically provides a maximum of around 8.2-8.3Gbps due to overhead. The community is also discussing potential issues with the Nokia XS-240X-A ONT/ONR, with some users reporting quality concerns. Singtel’s shift to ONR and the inability to recontract ONT plans for 1Gbps users has become a major pain point. It is important for users to check the compatibility of their hardware with the new XGS-PON technology, as well as the limitations of their existing routers. Users should also be mindful of contract terms, termination fees, and porting processes when switching ISPs.
“This is normal due to the overhead of XGS-PON technology. Typical best speed is about 8.2Gbps to 8.3Gbps.” – xiaofan (28 Nov 2024)
“Nokia XS-240X-A ONT seems to have quality issues, as per multiple reports in this forum.” – xiaofan (12 Dec 2024)
“The counter lady told me they are stopping ONT recontract and i will automatically be “upgraded” to ONR if i recontract.” – namah19 (08 Dec 2024)
Looking Ahead
The community expects further price drops for 10Gbps plans and related hardware, as the technology becomes more widespread. The availability of M1’s XGS-PON plans is expected to expand island-wide by mid-2025, but some users remain skeptical given the current deployment rate. Users anticipate the arrival of better and more affordable WiFi 7 routers with 10Gbps ports. The community will likely continue to monitor ISP pricing strategies and hardware compatibility issues, sharing their insights and experiences on the forum. There is an expectation that smaller ISPs like SIMBA/WhizComms will need to address customer service concerns to compete with the established players.
“They claim by mid 2025 island wide available when I walk in to check earlier this week.” – gnixer (06 Dec 2024)
“Some users opt to use 2.5G capable router to go with the Starhub 5Gbps special ONT offer at SGD 29.55 per month while waiting for better 10G capable WiFi 7 routers to drop price to a lower level.” – xiaofan (05 Dec 2024)
“Those of us who signed up already prepared that we wont get any assistance from Simba personnel lol. My Simba mobile couldnt make calls for that one hour, they responded 2 days later ask me restart my phone/airplane mode. Pretty much quite useless and slow.” – eddy0505 (11 Dec 2024)
Discussion Sources
This update is based on community discussions from the following HardwareZone Forums threads:
Last updated: 25 December 2024
