Technology is playing an increasingly prominent role in our lives. Just look around you, and I am sure you will find evidence of this in the gadgets, smartphones, tablets, and computers that so many people are carrying around at any one time. Buying the Best Internet Service-
With technology becoming more advanced by the day, we inevitably become even more reliant on it to communicate with each other, consume our content and generally enhance our lives. One area that has been revolutionized by technology is the telecommunications industry. This is particularly true of Singapore, where available Internet speeds have gone from one of the slowest in Southeast Asia to one of the fastest.
One aspect of this industry has been less impacted by technology, however. This is the selling of Internet and telecommunications service plans to consumers by the various providers. These providers continue to use some of the following practices that make it more difficult for consumers to make an informed decision about their purchases for buying the Best Internet Service:
- Disparities between marketing materials and actual Internet speeds during peak hours
Many providers will claim a certain minimum speed for your broadband plan. However, there is often a significant drop in the actual rate during peak hours (7 pm to 12mn). This discrepancy between what you expect and what you get is essential for consumers to bear in mind. Here’s a look at Singtel’s current promotional materials:
“What you will get” – 30Mbps minimum speed
“Get up to 30Mbps, depending on the site and your location. This is our commitment to you.”
Here’s what consumers can expect during peak hours: 1.8 Mbps average download speeds after 7 pm (as per M1 data)
Based on this information, we can see that you will not be able to get the base speed of 30Mbps at most times. This is important because many consumers may believe and expect to get a consistent minimum rate of 30Mpbs online.
The above chart shows an actual case where internet speeds measured by M1 were consistently lower than the advertised speed.
Therefore, it is essential to note that the speed that one can experience may not be as consistent as what you expect and hope for.
- Confusion over the different Internet plans and associated charges.
For example, some companies offer “unlimited” data for a fixed monthly fee but have terms and conditions that state speed will be throttled if you exceed a certain threshold. In other cases, some companies may advertise as having unlimited data, but when you sign up, you learn that certain types of data (such as content download) will be charged over and above your monthly fee.
For some people who rely on such services for mobile phone promotion, it is crucial to be keen when subscribing to these data options for your convenience in running the business.
- Differentiations in price plans despite little difference in service quality or value to the consumer.
This is especially true for fixed broadband service where providers rely on network effects to drive demand through and do not differentiate their services in quality or value to the consumer.
4.Lack of transparency:
The current framework for reporting and monitoring broadband service providers’ performance lacks transparency and does not allow for easy comparisons of the different types of services provided by ISPs.
5.. Market power of telcos:
With high fixed costs, the market power of the large telcos is a concern. However, with limited alternatives and new entrants trying to break into this space, these ISPs will likely be forced to compete on service quality and value for money.
- Tie-in of telecoms and broadband:- Buying the Best Internet Service
Consumers would prefer simply one bill for all their communication needs. However, the reality is that even with one operator offering several services, prices are still likely to be higher than if they were purchasing each service separately.
Industry experts believe this is due to Telcos trying to recoup their initial investments in network infrastructure. It is unlikely we will see ISPs making a clean break from their existing operators, and the only way to do so would be if there were strict competition rules.
Conclusion:
While we expect prices to come down across all service categories, it is unlikely that the total cost of communication services will see significant declines. So consumers should continue shopping around and assessing their needs before deciding on which operator to purchase from.
