Singapore Government
Statistics on Telecom Services for 2009 (Jan - Jun)
CATEGORY JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
Fixed Lines 1
[Figures updated on a quarterly basis]
Total Fixed Line Subscriptions - - 1,876,000 - - 1,884,200
Total Residential Line Subscriptions - - 1,107,000 - - 1,116,600
Total Corporate Line Subscriptions - - 768,900 - - 767,600
Fixed Line Population Penetration Rate ^ - - 38.8% - - 37.8%
Fixed Line Household Penetration Rate - - 95.8% - - 96.0%
Mobile Market
Total Mobile Subscriptions(2G+3G) 2 6,354,600 6,375,500 6,414,800 6,448,000 6,475,500 6,513,500
Total Post-paid Subscriptions (2G) 752,300 723,900 693,500 670,600 631,100 601,200
Total Pre-paid Subscriptions (2G) 3,083,900 3,098,100 3,118,400 3,142,100 3,157,200 3,173, 000
Total 3G Subscriptions 3 2,518,400 2,553,600 2,602,900 2,635,300 2,687,100 2,739,300
Total SMS Messages (2G+3G) 4
[Figures updated on a quarterly basis] 		- - 1,795.8m - - 1,881.1m
Total Ported Subscriptions 5 6,800 6,500 8,400 7,500 6,100 7,300
Mobile Population Penetration Rate ^ 131.3% 131.7% 132.6% 133.2% 133.8% 130.6%
Dial-Up Internet Subscriptions
Total Internet Dial-up 6 101,900 100,300 98,300 95,900 93,800 92,100
Internet Dial-up Population Penetration Rate ^ 2.1% 2.1% 2.0% 2.0% 1.9% 1.8%
Broadband Internet Subscriptions
Total Broadband 7 4,806,000 4,883,700 4,957,900 5,002,700 5,066,100 5,126,400
Total Residential Broadband 1,179,800 1,202,700 1,265,200 1,297,900 1,331,200 1,369,900
Total Corporate Broadband 109,400 111,600 118,200 120,600 123,600 124,600
Total xDSL 8 502,500 503,500 507,000 508,000 508,400 510,000
Total Cable Modem 9 485,500 493,900 512,200 522,300 532,100 536,100
Total Wireless Broadband 10 3,813,300 3,881,700 3,934,100 3,967,800 4,021,100 4,075,800
Total Subscribers using other Broadband Internet Access Platforms 4,600 4,600 4,600 4,500 4,500 4,400
Household Broadband Penetration Rate 11 102.1% 104.1% 109.5%

112.3%

115.2% 117.7%
International Telephone Services
Total number of outgoing retail international telephone call minutes 527.21m 513.78m 544.90m 512.49m 505.34m 547.94m
Total number of outgoing retail international telephone call minutes including transit 12 763.66m 732.01m 812.80m 778.59m 796.18m 808.89m

These telecom statistics are subject to revision from time to time to ensure accuracy.

^ Population Penetration rate figures from Jun 2009 onwards have been re-computed based on the estimated mid-year population figures for 2009 released by the Department of Statistics in Sep 2009. Population Penetration Rate = [Total number of subscriptions/Total Population].

With effect from Jan 2001, we have begun to use total population instead of total residential population as the population base for the calculation of penetration rates for telecom services (unless otherwise stated). Total residential population was previously used because historically, the take-up of telecom services by foreign workers was typically low. With the government's recent efforts in promoting foreign talent, the profile of the foreign worker has changed. Specifically, there has been a marked increase in the subscription to telecom services by "non-residential" foreigners. It is therefore timely to adopt the total population figure as the population base in calculating penetration rates to give a more accurate picture of the adoption of telecom services.

"Household Penetration Rate" is computed by dividing the total residential subscriptions by "Total Households". "Total Households" refers to the total number of residential dwelling units in Singapore. "Household Penetration" rates for Jun 2007-May 2008 and from Jun 2008 onwards have been re-computed based on the estimated mid-year dwelling units figures obtained from the Department of Statistics in Oct 2008 for 2007 and 2008 respectively.

All figures for subscriptions are rounded to the nearest hundred.
All figures for penetration rates are rounded to the nearest decimal point.

Please note that the fall in "Internet Dial-up Subscriptions" from May 2001 onwards is a result of a database correction of an Internet Service Provider, to remove from its system discontinued dial-up Internet accounts for the period of Dec 1999 - Aug 2000 that were not previously deleted.

With effect from Aug 2008, figures for the following services are no longer published:
- Total Paging Subscriptions (26,100)
- Paging Penetration (0.5%)
- Total Residential Internet Dial-up (76,700)
- Total Corporate Internet Dial-up (38,600)
- Total Leased Line Broadband (3,800)
(Note: The figures within the brackets above refer to the subscriptions to these services for Jul 2008)

1 "Fixed Lines" includes Direct Exchange Lines (DEL) and IP Telephony subscriptions using Level '6' numbers. With effect from Aug 2008, figures for "Fixed Lines" will be updated on a quarterly basis every Mar, Jun, Sep and Dec.

2 "Total Mobile Subscriptions" includes both pre-paid (2G) and post-paid (2G) as well 3G subscriptions. Statistics for 3G subscriptions are collected from May 2005 onwards.

3 With effect from Nov 2007, "Total 3G Subscriptions" includes pre-paid and post-paid 3G subscriptions.

4 With effect from Aug 2008, figures for "SMS Messages" will be updated on a quarterly basis every Mar, Jun, Sep and Dec.

5 "Total Ported Subscriptions" refers to the number of subscribers who have retained their mobile numbers when they switched to a new mobile operator. Statistics for "Ported Subscriptions" are collected from Jul 2008 onwards.

6 The "Internet Dial-up Penetration Rate" includes: (i) subscriptions to paid Internet access service for all IASPs, including ISDN dial-up subscriptions; and (ii) subscriptions to free Internet access.  Following full telecom market liberalisation, the number of IASPs has increased considerably. Starting from Jan 2001, the published figures on the Internet dial-up market include contributions from such new IASPs. With the cessation of free dial-up Internet access offered by service providers by 31 Mar 2008, the number of dial-up Internet subscriptions only covers paid Internet access subscriptions.

7 With effect from Apr 2007, "Total Broadband Subscriptions" (i.e. for connection speeds equal to, or greater than, 256 kbit/s, in one or both directions) includes retail xDSL, cable modems, leased line Internet, 3G, 3.5G/HSDPA, WiMAX or its equivalent and Wi-Fi hotspots access (including Wireless@SG subscriptions).

8 "Total xDSL" includes residential and corporate xDSL subscriptions.

9 "Total Cable Modem" includes residential and corporate Cable Modem subscriptions.

10 "Total Wireless Broadband Subscriptions" is a new indicator included from Apr 2007 and includes all retail broadband Internet access subscriptions (i.e. for connection speeds equal to, or greater than, 256 kbit/s, in one or both directions) provided via wireless platforms such as 3G, 3.5G/HSDPA, WiMAX or its equivalent and Wi-Fi hotspots (including Wireless@SG subscriptions).

11 From Apr 2007, the "Household Broadband Penetration Rate" includes wireless access plans (provided via 3.5G/HSDPA and WiMAX or its equivalent). It excludes subscriptions to 3G and Wi-Fi hotspots. This figure is computed using the total number of residential broadband subscriptions on a per household basis. Please note that this is not reflective of the proportion of households with broadband in Singapore. For a more reflective number, please refer to IDA's Household Survey findings at /Publications/20070822125451.aspx .

12 Following full liberalisation of the telecoms market, Singapore's international telephone services market has grown considerably both in the diversity of such services available as well as in the number of operators offering these services. As Singapore continues to develop as a hub for international voice traffic, including transit and regional traffic in our published statistics will provide a more holistic picture of the vibrancy and growth of the entire international telephone services market in Singapore. Thus, this figure includes total retail outgoing international call minutes as well as transit minutes. For comparison purposes, figures from previous years will also be adjusted accordingly. This change has been applied retroactively from Jan 2001. Further, starting from Jan 2001, traffic from other service providers such as ISR operators has also been included. Since Jul 2004, IDA has also expanded on the reporting of international telephone services to include all Service-Based Operators (SBO), resulting in a marked increase in the minutes reported from Jun 2004. Part of the increase is also due to monthly traffic fluctuations.