Mobile internet and apps in Singapore - statistics & facts
Singapore is one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world, with a dynamic mobile market and a growing number of smartphone users. Singaporeans are among the most active mobile internet users in the world, with a penetration rate of over 95 percent. The majority of online mobile activities are carried out in mobile apps, with smartphones centralizing daily activities via social networking, entertainment, messaging, payments, transportation, and delivery apps.
Circles.Life, MyRepublic, and Gorilla Mobile are among the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that have joined the four licensed telecom companies Singtel, StarHub, M1, and TPG. More individuals are now looking for new SIM-only and off-contract plans from various carriers due to the emergence of more affordable plans provided by established providers and incumbent sub-brands, such as Singtel's Gomo and StarHub's Giga.
Furthermore, the e-commerce industry has benefited from Singaporeans' increased app usage in recent years, with shopping applications like Shopee, Lazada, and Amazon receiving most of the user activity. Grab and Foodpanda have gained from the significant increase in food delivery and carryout mobile app usage.
Mobile internet in Singapore
Singapore has one of the fastest mobile internet speeds in the region, thanks to its well-developed telecommunications infrastructure, and has become the first country in the world to achieve nationwide 5G coverage. The total number of 4G subscriptions in Singapore reached about 7.7 million, while 5G subscriptions reached about 1.86 million as of December 2023. Singaporeans are now accessing the internet mostly via their mobile phones, with a 62.81 percent share of web traffic.Circles.Life, MyRepublic, and Gorilla Mobile are among the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that have joined the four licensed telecom companies Singtel, StarHub, M1, and TPG. More individuals are now looking for new SIM-only and off-contract plans from various carriers due to the emergence of more affordable plans provided by established providers and incumbent sub-brands, such as Singtel's Gomo and StarHub's Giga.
Leading apps in Singapore
Android is the most popular mobile operating system in Singapore, with over 62 percent of the mobile web traffic share, followed by iOS with roughly 36 percent of the traffic. Singaporean Android users spend the most time on entertainment and video sharing apps, with about 1.07 billion hours spent in 2023. Video sharing apps remain among the most widely used in Singapore in 2023, with TikTok and YouTube surpassing Facebook and Instagram in terms of average monthly hours spent. Indeed, the Chinese video-sharing app has quickly established itself as a major player in the local social networking scene. The app has seen the highest increase in usage in the country among social apps, as well as one of the highest growths in user engagement globally.Furthermore, the e-commerce industry has benefited from Singaporeans' increased app usage in recent years, with shopping applications like Shopee, Lazada, and Amazon receiving most of the user activity. Grab and Foodpanda have gained from the significant increase in food delivery and carryout mobile app usage.
