With the Apple iPad releasing in a couple of hours in Singapore. Telcos are dishing out iPad data plans to complement the iPad WiFi + 3G model. Users save the hassle of cutting their regular SIM card into microSIM.

M1 is offering iPad data plans with speed up to 7.2Mbps. A speed I have never obtained during my 2 years of M1 7.2Mbps data plan subscription. Even with 7.2Mbps capable devices, the speed pales in comparison with my old Singtel 2Mbps Mobile on Broadband service! For my case, it seems like M1 is tagging a speed which it is not obtainable, be it in the day or at night, in the west or in the east, in the north or in the south of Singapore. Must as well M1 say Mobile Broadband speed up to 1000Mbps right?

So M1 iPad data plan? Think again. Think carefully before signing on the dotted line.

M1 mobile broadband (Sunsurf) speed is getting from bad to worst lately. Did a short study last year on M1 Mobile Broadband Speed and it was quite terrible. I am suppose to squeeze about up to 7.2Mbps for download and 2Mbps for upload but I have problem hitting 1Mbps download on most if not all occasions.

Was contemplating on whether to sign up for multi-sim services so that I could use the data package tied to my handphone plan when I am outside. At first I thought the slow speed was due to my handphone (a E51). Searched online and found out that there are M1 customers complaining about their slow speeds as well. Swapped the M1 sim card and inserted a Singtel sim card into my E51. Oh man, websites are loading, mails are coming in, contacts and calendar entries are synchronized instantly.

Considering to sign up for mobile broadband? Try other telcos unless M1 announce a major upgrade to their infrastructure.

Noticed the speed of M1′s mobile broadband/broadband on mobile is really irregular. I have had times of terrible speeds, terrible latency in the range of tens of thousands ms. On lucky days I get my fair share of the speed I am entitled to.

My equipments
As I do not have a USB dongle, my Nokia E51 doubled up as my 3.5g modem. The mobile connection is shared out to my iPod Touch (2G) through JoikuSpot.

Monitoring procedure
I use mobile on broadband frequently – reading news and mails, downloading apps on iPod Touch, surfing blogs of friends, etc. At times, the response is really sluggish on mobile broadband. So I would try to do speedtest regularly to track the performance of M1 Mobile Broadband.

The results

M1 Mobile Broadband Speed Tests (May 2009)

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