In an increasingly digitally integrated era, internet speed and stability reflect the level of a country’s digital infrastructure readiness. In February 2026, Ookla released its Speedtest Global Index, capturing internet network performance across various regions of the world, including Southeast Asia.
The data was compiled from billions of daily speed test samples and includes indicators such as download speed, upload speed, and latency.
In general, internet speed is divided into two categories: mobile internet, which operates on 4G/5G cellular networks and offers flexible usage; and fixed broadband, a wired or fiber-optic service that is typically more stable and consistent.
Mobile Internet: Indonesia Falls Behind
| ASEAN Rank | Country | Download Speed (Mbps) |
| 1 | Brunei Darussalam | 247.01 |
| 2 | Singapore | 200.37 |
| 3 | Vietnam | 188.15 |
| 4 | Cambodia | 158.69 |
| 5 | Malaysia | 149.36 |
| 6 | Thailand | 136.15 |
| 7 | Indonesia | 59.18 |
| 8 | Philippines | 56.31 |
| 9 | Laos | 45.35 |
In the mobile internet category, Brunei Darussalam leads the ASEAN region with a median download speed of 247.01 Mbps, placing it eighth globally. Singapore follows in second place with 200.37 Mbps, followed by Vietnam (188.15 Mbps), Cambodia (158.69 Mbps), Malaysia (149.36 Mbps), and Thailand (136.15 Mbps).
Indonesia ranks seventh with 59.18 Mbps, far below the global average of 107.26 Mbps. Only the Philippines (56.31 Mbps) and Laos (45.35 Mbps) rank below Indonesia.
For comparison, the global лидer is the United Arab Emirates with 681.18 Mbps, followed by Qatar (583.12 Mbps) and Kuwait (380.15 Mbps).
Fixed Broadband: Indonesia at the Bottom of ASEAN
| ASEAN Rank | Country | Download Speed (Mbps) |
| 1 | Singapore | 420.92 |
| 2 | Vietnam | 288.76 |
| 3 | Thailand | 273.78 |
| 4 | Malaysia | 166.23 |
| 5 | Philippines | 106.5 |
| 6 | Brunei Darussalam | 86.46 |
| 7 | Laos | 54.78 |
| 8 | Cambodia | 51.86 |
| 9 | Indonesia | 45.4 |
Unlike mobile internet, fixed broadband (cable/fiber-optic) services generally provide more stable connections for home or office use. However, the situation is more concerning when looking at fixed broadband data.
Indonesia ranks last in ASEAN with a median download speed of only 45.4 Mbps. Singapore again leads at the top with 420.92 Mbps, followed by Vietnam (288.76 Mbps) and Thailand (273.78 Mbps).
Next are Malaysia (166.23 Mbps), the Philippines (106.5 Mbps), Brunei (86.46 Mbps), Laos (54.78 Mbps), and Cambodia (51.86 Mbps).
The Paradox: Slowest Yet Most Expensive
| ASEAN Rank (by Price) | Country | Tariff (US$ per Mbps) |
| 1 | Indonesia | 0.41 |
| 2 | Philippines | 0.14 |
| 3 | Malaysia | 0.09 |
| 4 | Vietnam | 0.04 |
| 5 | Singapore | 0.03 |
| 6 | Thailand | 0.02 |
The biggest irony lies in pricing. According to data from We Are Social and Meltwater as of February 2025, Indonesia has the most expensive internet tariffs in Southeast Asia at US$0.41 per Mbps per month, also ranking as the 12th most expensive globally.
Meanwhile, countries with significantly higher speeds offer far more affordable pricing. The Philippines costs only US$0.14 per Mbps, Malaysia US$0.09, Vietnam US$0.04, Singapore US$0.03, and Thailand US$0.02.
These figures highlight that Indonesia faces a dual challenge: lagging digital infrastructure and access costs that are disproportionate to the quality of service received by the public.
