Every year, the National Day Parade (NDP) and rehearsals draws massive crowds to Marina Bay, filling the skyline with excitement and patriotic vibes. But if you were there around 7pm during the recent rehearsals and couldn’t load your messages, stream a clip, or even refresh your feed—you’re not the only one. I faced the same thing. And so did plenty of others around me. Yes I was there and basically my internet is like 1 Mbps or lower (uplink isn’t any good at all too).
Heard some tourists say, “Why is the internet so slow here?” Not ideal when we’re showing off the city.
🔍 What’s Causing the Network Struggles?
Here’s a simple breakdown:
Too many users online at once: Thousands of people, all using their phones—posting videos, streaming, messaging.
Evening peak usage: 7pm is a busy time, even without a major event. NDP rehearsals just overload the system.
Signal shrinkage: When too many people connect to a tower, the signal gets weaker for everyone.
Limited capacity: Some parts of Marina Bay may still rely on 4G more than 5G, or have patchy 5G coverage.
💡 What Could Improve Things?
Singapore’s telcos usually run things well, but major events like NDP need a bit of extra boost. Here’s what could help:
Temporary mobile towers (COWs): Roll in “Cells on Wheels” to support high-traffic areas.
Stronger 5G signal: Upgrade Marina Bay’s infrastructure with more powerful base stations.
Smart network settings: Optimise data prioritisation for popular activities like video uploads and social sharing.
Work with event planners: Predict crowd hotspots and pre-deploy additional coverage.
And here’s an idea worth serious consideration:
👉 Allocate temporary spectrum blocks to telcos during special events like NDP. This means letting operators use unused bandwidth for just a few days to give 5G a big boost where it’s needed most. It can help reduce congestion and make the experience smoother for everyone—from locals proudly celebrating to tourists capturing memories.
