Is your mobile data plan fast enough? Your phone says 5G, but your stream buffers the minute the MRT enters a tunnel. You’re at a concert with full bars, but your Instagram won’t refresh. You’ve got a top-tier phone, but it feels like it’s stuck in 2018.
These thoughts probably ran through your head:
- Why is my 5G so slow in crowded places?
- Which data roaming plans work best in JB / Malaysia?
- Why is my social media feed not refreshing / uploading at concerts?
If you’ve ever wondered why your mobile internet feels slow when you need it most, you’re not alone. 2025 is demanding more from your network than ever before. Here are 10 real moments where your mobile network may let you down and what’s really going on behind the lag.
1. Posting fan cams at BLACKPINK’s concert (29–30 Nov)
You’re in the pit, ready to post the perfect video before Jennie even hits the chorus, and nothing uploads.
Why? Concert venues are digital war zones. Tens of thousands of devices all trying to send data at once cause serious congestion. Most networks share bandwidth equally, so everyone slows down, yes, even you.
With K-pop girl groups dominating Singapore’s stages and the city swept up in the K-pop Demon Hunters craze, the fandom isn’t just live. It’s livestreamed, reposted, and uploaded in real time. Unless your network can keep up, your fan cam may never see the light of day.
2. Tapping to pay at a hawker centre, and the app hangs
You tap. Nothing. Tap again. Still nothing. The auntie behind you sighs loudly.
Why? Your payment app needs to “talk” to the internet in real time, but crowded places like hawker centres or food festivals overload the local network. No priority means a delayed handshake between your phone and the terminal.
3. Booking a ride in peak-hour rain, and losing the car to someone else
It’s pouring, demand is surging, and your booking request just disappears.
Why? Your ride-hailing app relies on quick ping-pong between your device and the server. In high-demand moments, slower networks delay that process, and someone else’s faster connection wins the car.
4. Refreshing apps for value deals in JB, but nothing updates
You’re deciding where to shop next or looking for the best value deals at a cafe / restaurant. However your app recommendations refuse to load. Why? Roaming networks often cap speeds or downgrade performance.
Some plans don’t prioritise real-time refreshes or use slower international partners, so you’re basically navigating blind. Apart from steady coverage, Singtel offers JB travel perks including complimentary round-trips bus rides, free shopping E-Vouchers, and more.
5. Trying to find the TikTok-famous muah chee stall in JB using Translate and Maps
Your location’s stuck. The menu won’t translate. You’re spinning in place like a slightly sweaty tourist.
Why? When roaming, some networks restrict how much data you can use at once or deprioritise you entirely. Add real-time apps and you’ve got a perfect storm of slowdowns.
6. Uploading a 100MB pitch deck from a café before your client call
The file says “Uploading…” but your latte’s gone cold and your stress is piping hot.
Why? Upload speeds often get less love than downloads. And public Wi-Fi isn’t the solution; it’s usually throttled, overloaded, or worse, unsecured.
7. Using a network that freezes when you’re on ChatGPT in Orchard ION
You’re drafting an email with help from your mobile ChatGPT app, but every sentence gets stuck on “thinking…”
Why? AI tools depend on cloud computing, which needs a fast, stable connection with low latency. In crowded spaces like malls, bandwidth is shared across hundreds of users, and your AI gets left behind. Thankfully, there are plans like Singtel 5G+ Priority that handles well in crowds to circumvent the issue.
8. Streaming your K-drama finale on the MRT, then hitting a tunnel
The plot twist hits. So does the tunnel. Your screen freezes. Spoilers in your group chat arrive faster than the resolution.
Why? Underground coverage varies by provider, and older networks deprioritise MRT corridors. Your phone may still say 5G, but that doesn’t mean it’s getting the good stuff.
9. Making video calls home from a beach in Desaru, and turning into digital soup
The view’s perfect. Your video call? Not so much. Your colleagues are staring at your pixelated forehead and deciphering your intermittent cries, “Can you guys hear me?”
Why? Poor roaming partnerships can downgrade your quality or fail entirely when signal demand is high. If your plan doesn’t come with strong regional coverage, your call will struggle to keep up. Whereas, SingTel works with trusted network partners across 80 destinations to ensure your calls remain a seamless experience.
10. Updating your banking app on café Wi-Fi and wondering if you’re getting hacked
You just wanted to check your balance, but now your phone feels vulnerable.
Why? Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but risky. Without mobile security built into your plan, you’re exposed to scams, malware, and dodgy networks. Some threats don’t just steal data; they silently watch you.
Okay, but what should your mobile plan actually be doing?
You shouldn’t need a tech degree or a meltdown in a hawker queue to understand what’s wrong with your network. Your 5G+ Priority plan will deliver:
- Priority access in high-traffic areas like stadiums and malls
- Fast upload and download speeds, not just good-looking bars
- Generous, reliable roaming, especially in Malaysia
- Support for real-time apps, like AI tools and streaming
- Security baked in, not bolted on later
That’s why some networks, like Singtel’s 5G+, are built differently. They use network slicing to carve out dedicated “lanes” for your data. So even when you’re in a crowd, your stream doesn’t buffer, your payment goes through, and your fan cam uploads before the lights come up.
Good news. Singtel 5G+ has just been upsized. Beyond speed, the upgrade gives you more of what you actually use:
- Up to 4X faster speeds so your videos, calls, and apps respond instantly, even in peak moments
- More monthly data to keep up with streaming, AI apps, and cloud tools (no more rationing)
- 50GB roaming in Malaysia for 5G+ Priority customers, plus enhanced roaming across 80+ destinations with trusted partners, so your data travels as smoothly as you do
- Mobile Protect (5G+ Priority exclusive), advanced scam fighting service with real-time monitoring on threats 24/7 and weekly security reports to keep you safe even while roaming overseas.
- Exclusive JB perks, including data-free rewards and merchant tie-ups; a nice bonus if you’re crossing the Causeway on the regular
Your phone’s already in the future. Is your plan still stuck in the past?
5G is more than a badge in your status bar. It’s supposed to make your everyday smoother, faster, and safer. If you’ve been struggling with lag, dropped calls, or data anxiety when you cross the Causeway, it might not be your phone. It might be your plan.
You deserve a network that’s a cut above the rest. Get on board the new standard.
Check what Singtel 5G+ offers here.
This post was written in collaboration with Singtel. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same objective lens. We are committed to providing the best information in order for you to make personal financial decisions with confidence.
About the author
Caleb Leong is passionate about travelling the world and getting involved in cross-cultural works. Freelance digital marketing and content writing is a way for him to express himself creatively while earning his keep. He unwinds by diving into a variety of music genres. Living in a digitally disrupted world, he’d like to offer a different perspective on finances to show people the possibilities of what goes beyond a typical “Singaporean life”.
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