SIMBA Telecom discussion thread

[kbwang]

Ur hiding your id? China canot enable hide id wan, will be auto block

What you meant by hide ID ? Private number ?

 

[natas]

Your comparison and review are not simple leh. You put 2 pictures side by side implying a speed difference of 23 times and then end with "Guess u didn't lose out much".

Again, to those with simba n do not get to connect to Simba 5G, dun worry too much, u have nothing much to lose looking at the speed.

 

[sky1978]

Loading of web pages is not the best barometer. It's very myopic lens and a very selfish measure that is unrealistic. I think using streaming at high res while giving sufficient background bandwidth for apps (including voice and video messages) is a better indicator. Hence, 50Mbps should be the current usable threshold as a minimum bandwidth for most, not 30. To break that down, 25Mbps for video streaming alone, with some more bandwidth for background usage including media messaging, updates, etc - the phone is a multitasker and you cannot assume that current app is the only one consuming data.

Also, your use case isn't typical for many others. For me, I also work on the go and I access and send many documents even on my mobile while collaborating on video calls. My collaborators will definitely feel the speed difference as we exchange and work on documents. Exchanging PDFs that are 30-50MB each time is not uncommon.

For the same $10/mo, why should I have to put up with poor bandwidth and poor coverage? If SIMBA were still the cheapest operator that was significantly cheaper than others in the market, we can accept the compromises. However, today's reality is not the same 2y ago. The attractiveness is not the same. It has been some time since the $10/100GB plans have come into the market by other virtual and subsidiary operators who have better bandwidth and stronger coverage, and it's a very different market right now.

Well, I am not sure if exchanging 30-50MB files relying on mobile data is that common, I thought you should be at some place using WIFI instead. The current stats still show them having subscriber growth. I do hope that if the growth stalls or is reversed, they probably need to come up with more data, with rollover and faster speed. The infrastructure is already a fixed cost, so even if they double the data or allow rollover, it won't cost them anything.

 

[keenklee]

Can also do a test on whether the eyes distinguish between a WhatsApp message coming in at 30.22Mbps speed vs another one coming in at 692.25Mbps speed? Then how about loading of website? Can our eyes see any substantial differences? The average size of a webpage is 2.2MB in 2022, 30.22Mbps is around 3.8MB per second which is double that of the average webpage size.
https://www.seoptimer.com/blog/webpage-size/#:~:text=Fast forward to September 2022,and 1,818 KB for images.

So, what do normal users lose out on when they aren't competing on speed tests since they cannot see the difference between receiving a chat message or loading a webpage? On the other hand, someone is selling you a speed which you theoretically cannot utilise under 90% or 99% of the time, are you sure you not losing out when you get that kind of speed but cannot optimally use it, other than perhaps for speed tests?

if there is a need to use 700Mbps at a sustained rate, that will be 90MB per second and 5.4GB per minute. the 100GB data will be used up in 20 minutes. So in other words, it is also a speed you cannot economically use at a sustained rate.

IMHO.
Want to see the difference is can one.
cna.asia loading took about twice as long on my Simba 5G vs my Zym 5G.
Same for yahoo.com.

 

[naruto13]

5g is not an end product which is still evolving
There are worse 5g player which is probably most ppl have live with it being without, if not the report is far worse than those in this discussion?

 

[keenklee]

5g is not an end product which is still evolving
There are worse 5g player which is probably most ppl have live with it being without, if not the report is far worse than those in this discussion?

IMHO.
5G is what the providers want it to be.

 

[naruto13]

IMHO.
5G is what the providers want it to be.

it’s like building a house progressive?
It’s not even final yet

if u do a compare against some who is not completed versus another who is completed at that spot, obviously the result would be difernce

 

[firesong]

it’s like building a house progressive?
It’s not even final yet

if u do a compare against some who is not completed versus another who is completed at that spot, obviously the result would be difernce

No one really cares that you are slow to build your house if there are 3-4 other telcos (MVNOs) offering the same data entitlements at the same $10 price point.

Unfortunately, with the telecoms industry, customers only care about what can be offered here and now. SIMBA was good last year or two years ago before ZYM, Vivifi, China Mobile, Heya, and even RedOne jumped onto the $10/100GB + regional roaming bandwagon. Now Simba is just one offering among the others.

And because we actually do live in Singapore, the bandwidth and coverage while we're home matters.

 

[naruto13]

No one really cares that you are slow to build your house if there are 3-4 other telcos (MVNOs) offering the same data entitlements at the same $10 price point.

Unfortunately, with the telecoms industry, customers only care about what can be offered here and now. SIMBA was good last year or two years ago before ZYM, Vivifi, China Mobile, Heya, and even RedOne jumped onto the $10/100GB + regional roaming bandwagon. Now Simba is just one offering among the others.

And because we actually do live in Singapore, the bandwidth and coverage while we're home matters.

$10 price point is on 4g

his topic was 5g

 

[WuRenJi]

Omg.... My home used to be 4g not 4g+ and 1 to 3 bar. Now 4 to 5 bar with 5g.

Guess my feedback went thru and they improved it in about 2 months.

Thank you, Simba.

So people. Don't give up. Feedback and they will improve for you


The last reply from Simba was 6th Sep. But before that I already feedback one around Aug. Below is their reply.


Upon checking there is an OD site planned which will improve the connection. However, there is no time frame when it will be completed.

 

[sky1978]

No one really cares that you are slow to build your house if there are 3-4 other telcos (MVNOs) offering the same data entitlements at the same $10 price point.

Unfortunately, with the telecoms industry, customers only care about what can be offered here and now. SIMBA was good last year or two years ago before ZYM, Vivifi, China Mobile, Heya, and even RedOne jumped onto the $10/100GB + regional roaming bandwagon. Now Simba is just one offering among the others.

And because we actually do live in Singapore, the bandwidth and coverage while we're home matters.

It is the limitation of the n1 5G allocated to them and has nothing to do with whether they build it fast or slow. The rest has the 5G n78 bands which is 10 times faster. No matter what Simba does, the physical speed limit for n1 + NSA n40 will never exceed 250Mbps. As long as the 5G base stations and repeaters are there, it go directly into the fibre optic system managed by Netlink, there won't be speed limitations there, the limitations lie in the airwave bandwidth. The only way they can get more bandwidth for 5G is to wait for 3G to be retired next year and see if those bands can be taken back and auctioned as 5G. The rest jump on the 10/100 bandwagon because they don't have a choice, the Telcos behind them are seeing Simba closing on the 1m mark in terms of subscribers, they need to either follow or get another name to follow with such a package, Anyway, the 3 old Telcos haven't been competing much over the past 20 to 30 years until Simba comes in, which is probably why a 4th license was issued. I think many still remember the times when the only packages were a 2-year contract with a monthly price depending on the phone model you picked, they didn't even bother to offer any sim-only plan back then.

 

[sky1978]

$10 price point is on 4g

his topic was 5g

He was trying to say M1 5G speed is 700, Simba 5G is 30, so Simba 5G speed is already very low and there is nothing to lose if comparing Simba 5G to Simba 4G speed, but the image use is a bit misleading, cos it should have included a Simba 4G speed also. From my experience, Simba 5G speed usually doubled that of 4G. For my side, it is 25Mbps for 4G and 50Mbps for 5G. I noticed that if I am in an area with low-rise flats, the speed can go up to 40 or 50Mbps just on 4G alone. So I somehow suspect their base station got some sort of allocation mechanism that limit users' max download speed depending on the number of connection to the base station hanging outdoors.

 

[WuRenJi]

It is the limitation of the n1 5G allocated to them and has nothing to do with whether they build it fast or slow. The rest has the 5G n78 bands which is 10 times faster. No matter what Simba does, the physical speed limit for n1 + NSA n40 will never exceed 250Mbps. As long as the 5G base stations and repeaters are there, it go directly into the fibre optic system managed by Netlink, there won't be speed limitations there, the limitations lie in the airwave bandwidth. The only way they can get more bandwidth for 5G is to wait for 3G to be retired next year and see if those bands can be taken back and auctioned as 5G. The rest jump on the 10/100 bandwagon because they don't have a choice, the Telcos behind them are seeing Simba closing on the 1m mark in terms of subscribers, they need to either follow or get another name to follow with such a package, Anyway, the 3 old Telcos haven't been competing much over the past 20 to 30 years until Simba comes in, which is probably why a 4th license was issued. I think many still remember the times when the only packages were a 2-year contract with a monthly price depending on the phone model you picked, they didn't even bother to offer any sim-only plan back then.

Yes I will support Simba for being the underdog. Hope more come in and beef them up to fight against the giants.

We know how disgusting is all these government backed company like NTUC, Singtel, grab, mediacorp..... They will eat you up and monopolise the market.

Thank you Simba for breaking the market norm. See now we have so many $10 plan. But I will still stick with Simba. So far its coverage are ok for me. Slow but stable.

Can't wait for next year where they will bid for more 5g frequencies and bandwidth.

 

[firesong]

He was trying to say M1 5G speed is 700, Simba 5G is 30, so Simba 5G speed is already very low and there is nothing to lose if comparing Simba 5G to Simba 4G speed, but the image use is a bit misleading, cos it should have included a Simba 4G speed also. From my experience, Simba 5G speed usually doubled that of 4G. For my side, it is 25Mbps for 4G and 50Mbps for 5G. I noticed that if I am in an area with low-rise flats, the speed can go up to 40 or 50Mbps just on 4G alone. So I somehow suspect their base station got some sort of allocation mechanism that limit users' max download speed depending on the number of connection to the base station hanging outdoors.

I'm not comparing against 5G speeds here, so you have imposed your own expectations. And I'll definitely not use M1 speeds since I haven't used them for years because of their low reliability.

Even using 4G speeds, Singtel/SH speeds are comfortably over 100Mbps at many places, while as you rightly point out SIMBA keeps to low 25Mbps for many locations, where anything above 35 is the exception rather than norm. Giving free 5G has not improved it beyond the 4G speeds of other telcos, occasionally matching at best.

As for bandwidth allocation, they are also subject to IMDA opening up bands. I suspect M1/SH (Antina) may demand for more bandwidth here because they clearly are running into limitations themselves. Ironically, because of this tie-up, M1's coverage has improved and StarHub's seems to have worsened.

SIMBA gambled on NSA deployment during their initial phase, and also gambled on using Huawei - both these gambles failed because IMDA imposed SA requirements on telcos, and restricted the deployment of Huawei infrastructure due to national security concerns - following the investigations in Europe/Australia too.

 

[Ctrl_Alt_Del]

He was trying to say M1 5G speed is 700, Simba 5G is 30, so Simba 5G speed is already very low and there is nothing to lose if comparing Simba 5G to Simba 4G speed, but the image use is a bit misleading, cos it should have included a Simba 4G speed also. From my experience, Simba 5G speed usually doubled that of 4G. For my side, it is 25Mbps for 4G and 50Mbps for 5G. I noticed that if I am in an area with low-rise flats, the speed can go up to 40 or 50Mbps just on 4G alone. So I somehow suspect their base station got some sort of allocation mechanism that limit users' max download speed depending on the number of connection to the base station hanging outdoors.

I had up to 90+ mbps beside main road with 4g+ during afternoon. Indoor at malls 4g+ up to about 100mbps during lunch hours. Inside ns line mrt tunnel morning rush hours can get 20 to 40 mbps.

Then the 5g at my area is erratic. My house can get 5g, but walked around void deck cannot get 5g.

Maybe my phone is old, the 5g nsa speedtest no difference from 4g, even inside malls with 5g signal.

 

[infinity2030]

No one really cares that you are slow to build your house if there are 3-4 other telcos (MVNOs) offering the same data entitlements at the same $10 price point.

Unfortunately, with the telecoms industry, customers only care about what can be offered here and now. SIMBA was good last year or two years ago before ZYM, Vivifi, China Mobile, Heya, and even RedOne jumped onto the $10/100GB + regional roaming bandwagon. Now Simba is just one offering among the others.

And because we actually do live in Singapore, the bandwidth and coverage while we're home matters.

The thing is, Simba as it is, they're not MVNO to start with, they're the 4th licensed mobile operator locally that are just in their very early years where they are just evolving and improving daily.

Those MVNOs that piggy back on already established infrastructure of the traffic light really cannot compare.

Simba's potential is there, but time will be needed.

 

[SongManKranji]

The thing is, Simba as it is, they're not MVNO to start with, they're the 4th licensed mobile operator locally that are just in their very early years where they are just evolving and improving daily.
Those MVNOs that piggy back on already established infrastructure of the traffic light really cannot compare.
Simba's potential is there, but time will be needed.

I waiting for them to roll more of their fibre plan




Life is v short. Ai song song kao tuas & Changi.

 

[sky1978]

I'm not comparing against 5G speeds here, so you have imposed your own expectations. And I'll definitely not use M1 speeds since I haven't used them for years because of their low reliability.

Even using 4G speeds, Singtel/SH speeds are comfortably over 100Mbps at many places, while as you rightly point out SIMBA keeps to low 25Mbps for many locations, where anything above 35 is the exception rather than norm. Giving free 5G has not improved it beyond the 4G speeds of other telcos, occasionally matching at best.

As for bandwidth allocation, they are also subject to IMDA opening up bands. I suspect M1/SH (Antina) may demand for more bandwidth here because they clearly are running into limitations themselves. Ironically, because of this tie-up, M1's coverage has improved and StarHub's seems to have worsened.

SIMBA gambled on NSA deployment during their initial phase, and also gambled on using Huawei - both these gambles failed because IMDA imposed SA requirements on telcos, and restricted the deployment of Huawei infrastructure due to national security concerns - following the investigations in Europe/Australia too.

Technology-wise, I think they have the latest one for 4G since they are the last on the block to be building a 4G network. 4G base station towers consume a lot of electricity, it might be they simply power down and cut the capacity while leaving the signal strength at max. Otherwise, it is hard to explain why their 4G outdoor speed is so low while using the latest equipment. It is a cheapo no-frills plan, to begin with, so as long as the majority of the users see the 4G+ or 5G logo and there is no significant slowing of load speed, there is no need for them to max out the download speed.

Is there an announcement saying IMDA restrict the deployment of Huawei infrastructure? Find it hard to believe govt has the guts to do that. I searched the internet, but I did not find anything explicit.

IMDA imposed the SA requirement at the time of bidding, they did not backtrack by saying Telco can either SA or NSA, so Simba should know the time for NSA has limitations and the current IMDA target is 2025. Even the first two 5G licenses granted to the 3 Telcos are specifically for the SA network only. NSA requires special approval from IMDA. The revised regulation came out in Sep 2021, 2 months before Simba/TPG was awarded the limited n1 spectrum for 5G, so they can't be gambling on something which is already known in advance.

https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imd...n--21-ghz-policy-and-regulatory-framework.pdf

 

[sky1978]

The thing is, Simba as it is, they're not MVNO to start with, they're the 4th licensed mobile operator locally that are just in their very early years where they are just evolving and improving daily.

Those MVNOs that piggy back on already established infrastructure of the traffic light really cannot compare.

Simba's potential is there, but time will be needed.

They have more potential if some rich MVNO buy them over and inject more capital for equipment deployment. Got one MVNO that has a market cap greater than the combined value of the 3 local Telco.

 

[kelvinti]

Yes! One doesn't need super high speed likes over 100mbps for most mobile apps usages but one can surely feel and see the huge differences in speed in term of apps opening, apps loading and page loading, including WhatsApp text/audio/video sending and loading as well as apps updates and file downloading, comparing it between other telcos' max transfer speed of 30-40mbps and SIMBA's max transfer speed of just 6-7mbps for that specific scenario!

Tell me about it whom has been jumping ship multiple times between SIMBA and other telcos for the past one year or so! Don't argue with me! (Likes my boss who always tell me so...)