Please read Post #2, #3 and #4 for more details.
1. Recommendation for ISP Plans to Go
Updates for Year 2024/2025. The following are just my personal opinion. YMMV.
1) For existing users of any ISPs: no switching of ISP unless if you got issues or you got good offers from the other ISPs.
This is especially true for M1 500Mbps and Starhub 500Mbps plan users since you still pay S$30.45 per month out of contract.
Same for Singtel users -- if you are fine with your Singtel Fibre internet plan using ONR, no need to change, even though I do not recommend new users to go with Singtel because of the use of ONR and relatively higher cost compared to other ISPs.
However, as per the updates from Singtel thread on
12-Dec-2024, Singtel does not allow recontract of ONT based plan (legacy 1Gbps plan) any more -- it is better for Singtel ONT users who want to keep using ONT with their own router to consider switching to other ISPs using ONT.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/singtel-1-gbps-fibre.5930834/page-253
WC 2.5Gbps plan is also a good one for existing WC users even though it may not be of very good values for new users due to NLT charges and installation charges.
2) Recommendation for new sign-up: M1 and Starhub are the top two choices.
Last update on 28-Dec-2024 (removed Singtel/SIMBA/WC from the list).
a)
M1 is a safer bet for most new sign-ups. It is safer than Starhub and Singtel since it does not use ONR at all.
Take note M1 new 3Gbps/6Gbps/10Gbps plan may not be fully available across the island.
https://shop.m1.com.sg/fbb/coverage-check?coStatusCheck=true
M1 6Gbps with two Asus ZenWiFi BT10 is a superb deal at S$59.90 per month. You may offload one unit to sweeten the deal. You may even be able to offload both units to have lower subsciption cost compared to SIMBA/WC 10Gbps plan.
M1 10Gbps with two Asus ZenWiFi BT10 is also a very good deal at S$63.90 per month. You may offload one unit to sweeten the deal.
M1 1Gbps plan/2.5Gbps/3Gbps plan are okay plan to go with as well but not as good as the values of M1 6Gbps plan.
b)
SH 5Gbps plan is worth considering, especially the S$29.55 offer for 5Gbps plan (ONR or ONT options).
Average users: it is okay to go for the cheap ONR option if you do not mind the limitation of Nokia all-in-one ONR. It comes with Nokia Beacon 2 to form a mesh with Nokia XS-2426X-A ONR.
In that case, Starhub S$29.55 per month ONR offer is a superb deal.
You can also go with the ONT option if you want to use your own router and do not like to use ONR. It is also a very good deal for new users.
SH 10Gbps plan is the way to go if you need EPL or other contents bundling. Recommendation is to go with the ONT option plus TP-Link EB810v, unless you do not mind the limitations of the Nokia all-in-one ONR.
c)
VQ 10Gbps plan is well worth considering, especially for Power Users. It is using CGNAT, so you may need to pay for Static IPv4 add-on at S$4.03 per month, if you hit into the limitation of CGNAT.
d)
MR 3Gbps plan is worth considering as well. It is using CGNAT, so you may need to pay for Static IPv4 add-on at S$51 one time charge, if you hit into the limit of CGNAT. Nothing wrong to go with
MR 10Gbps plan either.
MR 3Gbps/10Gbps Gamer Plan may be a good one if you need low latency to China.
The above is just my own recommendations. You can always go with the plan you like. You know your specific use cases the best. For examples, there may be good reasons for some new users to go with Singtel, SIMBA or Whizcomms.
4) For Dual ISP users:
ST+WC is not recommended because WC uses ST infrastructure. SH+MR may not be recommended since they seem to be merging the backend, starting from the 10Gbps plans.
5) DO NOT USE the FREE BUNDLED ROUTER as the base for choosing ISPs. In general, it is better to buy your own router as the free router is not really good. Or in some case, buy the higher end router from the ISP if it is a good deal.
II. Details of ISP Fibre Internet offerings
Last update on 28-Dec-2024 (removed legacy plans).
1. SingTel : (2Gbps/2.5Gbps, 3Gbps/5Gbps/10Gbps plan)
Public IP: yes, no static add-on
Updated on
12-Dec-2024, Singtel does not allow recontract of ONT based plan (legacy 1Gbps plan) any more -- it is better for Singtel ONT users who want to keep using ONT with their own router to consider switching to other ISPs using ONT.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/singtel-1-gbps-fibre.5930834/page-253
ONR users: 6rd IPv6, but you need to request from Singtel and it may not be easy, on-going native IPv6 deployment.
Native IPv6 (/56) is being deployed since Nov 2023 and not yet finished as of Nov 2024. But it is still difficult to get native IPv6 for ONR users.
Singtel 2Gbps plan: aggregated 2Gbps, must use Singtel GPON ONR
Singtel 2.5Gbps plan: aggregated 2.5Gbps, must use Singtel GPON ONR [seems to be only offered to selected recontract users]
Singtel 3Gbps/5Gbps/10Gbps plan: use XGS-PON ONR, 1 x 10G LAN port and 4 x 1G LAN ports.
Take note these plans are using XGS-PON ONR.
You may or may not be able to bridge the GPON or XGS-PON ONR by yourself and bridging is not supported by Singtel, YMMV.
Strong point: very stable, may have some advantages in terms of routing to China.
Update on 17-Nov-2024 --> Singtel has come out with 3Gbps plan, offer price is at S$29.90 per month for new users and targeted users.
2. Starhub (2Gbps plan, UltraSpeed 3Gbps/5Gbps/10Gbps, legacy 500Mbps/1Gbps plan for existing users)
Public IP, ONT, no vlan needed. With native dual stack IPv6 (/64 only)
Starhub 2Gbps plan: ONT port 1 and ONT port 3 used to deliver 2x1Gbps connection, ONT port 2 for legacy Starhub Fibre TV.
Starhub UltraSpeed 3Gbps/5Gbps/10Gbps plan:
Lower cost options use Nokia all-in-one XGS-PON ONR (WiFI 6 AX6000). Users of 5Gbps plan with Nokia ONR can request to change to XGS-PON ONT and use their own router. There is an option to go with HB710 as well.
Higher cost options use XGS-PON ONT and TP-Link EB810v router.
As of now, Starhub 3Gbps plan is only offered to recontract customers. The offer is also not as good as the special 5Gbps offer at S$29.55 per month.
3. M1 (1Gbps plan, 2.5Gbps plan, 3Gbps, 6Gbps and 10Gbps plan, legacy 500Mbps/2Gbps for existing users)
Public IP, ONT, no vlan needed. Native dual stack IPv6 (/64 only).
M1 2Gbps plan: ONT port 1 and ONT port 2 used to deliver 2x1Gbps connection.
Update on 8-Aug-2024: M1 replace M1 2Gbps plan with the true 2.5Gbps plan.
https://www.m1.com.sg/home-broadband/plans/2-5gbps
Update on 6-Sept-2024: M1 no longer offers 500Mbps plan to new users.
No more static IPv4 add-on as per reports.
4. MyRepublic (3Gbps plan, HyperSpeed 10Gbps).
Using ONT
Carrier Grade NAT, no public IP by default. You can pay one time charge of S$51 for the Static IP.
No IPv6.
MR is perceived to have good speed and lower latency for some gamers but there are feedbacks of routing performance degradation after the takeover by Starhub.
MR HyperSpeed 10Gbps plan is using XGS-PON ONT.
5.Viewquest (10Gbps XGS-PON based plan with bridged ONR or XGS-PON ONU stick).
Using CGNAT by default. You need to pay for static IP add-on to get public IPv4 address (monthly charges apply).
No working IPv6.
Recontract users may have options to upgrade to 3Gbps/5Gbps/10Gbps plan at reduced pricing.
For new users, VQ may also have special offer for 3Gbps plan as well occasionally.
6. Whizcomms (aggregated 2.5Gbps plan, 10Gbps plan), using Singtel Network
Public IP, no IPv6.
Update: no ONR bridging request since 20-Dec-2023. Users have to take risks to do it by themselves.
7. SIMBA (10Gbps plan)
https://simba.sg/broadband
10Gbps plan
Using XGS-PON ONT with single 10G port, CGNAT (no public IPv4 address), with IPv6, no digital voice.
Legacy 2.5Gbps plan (using GPON) users are slowly being upgraded to 10Gbps plan.
