Singapore workers value access to the internet more than ever before, as hybrid working continues to be the norm in 2022, according to Cisco’s latest Broadband Index.
The index is based on a survey of 59,796 workers across 30 markets — the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, China, the United States, Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and The Netherlands. Censuswide completed the survey in December 2021.
Singapore has the second fastest broadband speed in the world as of January 2022. Despite this, 81% of Singapore workers say everyone should be able to securely connect to fast and reliable internet when in public places or while on the move regardless of location.
Four out of five respondents (83%) say the reliability and quality of broadband connections is important to them.
Nine out of 10 Singapore workers actively use their broadband at home for four hours or more each day. Meanwhile, three or more people use the internet at the same time in 71% of Singapore households.
Many teleworkers need more than a basic level of connectivity to support their livelihoods. To address the demands on their broadband connection, more than one-third (37%) of Singapore workers surveyed are planning to upgrade their internet service in the next 12 months.
“With hybrid working continuing to be the mainstay for Singapore’s workforce, access to high-performance, secure and reliable internet is critical for employees to work effectively and productively when they are away from the office,” said Andy Lee, Cisco managing director for Singapore and Brunei.
With two-thirds (66%) of Singapore’s workforce now relying on their home internet to work from home or run their own business, access to secure, reliable internet is more important than ever to ensure the smooth running of operations.
This is especially critical for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), that do not have the same resources and IT infrastructure of larger enterprises.
Also, workers are becoming increasingly aware that safety and security, as well as speed and reliability, will be vital to the success of hybrid working.
Over half (58%) of Singapore workers who work remotely full time or in a hybrid work arrangement would pay more for a safe broadband connection, revealing that security is top of mind for many respondents.
