Singtel reports second day of mobile network disruptions following major outage
Singtel customers faced a second consecutive day of connectivity issues on 17 March 2026, following an eight-hour disruption that impacted thousands of users. The telco attributed the latest incident to a separate technical matter as investigations by the telecommunications regulator continue.
- Singtel confirmed a new wave of connectivity issues on 17 March, stating they are unrelated to the major disruption experienced the previous day.
- User reports on monitoring platforms peaked on Tuesday morning with customers reporting total loss of signal, particularly affecting 5G and eSIM services.
- The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has launched an investigation into the outages, noting it takes a serious view of service disruptions.
SINGAPORE: Singtel has acknowledged that a number of its customers experienced mobile connectivity issues on the morning of 17 March 2026. This follows a significant service disruption the previous day that lasted over eight hours and affected thousands of users across Singapore.
In a public statement issued at 11.30am, Singtel confirmed it was aware that a small number of customers were facing issues.
The telco clarified that the current service disruption is unrelated to the events of 16 March.
Engineers are reportedly working urgently to resolve the matter. Singtel issued an apology for the inconvenience caused to its subscribers.
Despite the official stance regarding the scale, data from independent tracking sites suggests a significant spike in user complaints.
According to Downdetector, a platform that monitors service outages, reports of problems began at 6.50am with 31 recorded incidents.
This figure rose sharply to 213 reports by 7.18am and reached a peak of 396 reports at 9.03am.
By 11.20am, the number of reports remained elevated at 309. Users described widespread and ongoing network failures including a complete lack of signal and intermittent connectivity.
Many reported an inability to make voice calls, send SMS messages, or access cellular data.
The disruption appears to have particularly affected users on 5G networks and those utilizing eSIM technology.
Many customers noted that standard troubleshooting steps, such as restarting devices or switching network bands, failed to restore service.
Public frustration has grown due to slow resolution times and long waits for customer service assistance.
Some users have challenged the description of the event as affecting only a small number of people.
The current issues follow a major outage yesterday which began at approximately 10.30am.
That disruption affected standard Singtel subscribers as well as users of GOMO, the telco's SIM-only brand.
The previous outage significantly impacted gig economy workers. Ride-hailing drivers and food delivery couriers reported an inability to accept jobs or navigate to destinations, resulting in a loss of income during the eight-hour period.
Singtel announced that 4G and 5G services were restored by 7.10pm on 16 March 2026. However, a subsequent update at 8.55pm admitted that some customers remained offline. Users were advised to toggle airplane mode or restart devices multiple times.
While the specific cause of the initial disruption has not been disclosed, Singtel stated there is no evidence to suggest a cyberattack was responsible. The telco currently holds a market share of approximately 4.5 million subscribers.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) confirmed on 16 March that it has commenced an investigation into the technical failure. The regulator stated it takes a serious view of any service disruptions that affect public communication infrastructure.
Singtel has directed customers requiring immediate assistance to contact its support line. The telco has not yet provided a definitive timeline for when full stability will be restored to the mobile network following the consecutive days of instability.
