Basics[]
Singapore currently has 4 mobile operators from 2019:
Singtel is the market leader, Starhub is in second position, M1 is in third and SIMBA is in fourth. Coverage and speed is excellent in the city on the three major networks. No 2G is available (see below), 3G on 900 and 2100 MHz, and 4G/LTE has started on all three providers on 1800 MHz (band 3) and 2600 MHz (band 7). 900 MHz (band 8) and 2500 MHz (band 41) were later added, and from 2019 spectrum on 700 MHz (band 28) is added for 4G/LTE.
5G trials were started by Starhub in August 2020 on 2100 MHz (n1) and by Singtel in September 2020 on both 2100 MHz (n1) and 3500 MHz (n78), and quietly commenced commercial operations on the three major operators in early-2021 when 3500 MHz (n78) was also added for 5G for Starhub and M1 (who currently operate a shared 5G network as joint-venture licensees). However as at January 2023, Singtel is the only telco in Singapore to offer 5G on prepaid through its 5G $40 Ultimate Prepaid package (for existing SIM cards), as well as its $30- and $50-hi!Tourist SIM cards.
The coverage and speeds in this city state are superb by all three providers. 4G/LTE covers all of the city outdoors and the MRT (= metro, subway). Note that for Singapore you'll need to bring a 3G/4G device as 2G is switched off (see below).
In 2016-2020 new MVNOs and sub-brands have started: MyRepublic, Zero Mobile (closed 2020), Zero1, Gomo, Giga and circles.life resell the major networks. Most of them remain inaccessible to non-residents as they require a local National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) number, which is only issued to Singaporean residents. Circles.Life, Zero1 and Zero Mobile are also online-only resellers that are similarly inaccessible to non-residents hence they are also not mentioned any further in this WIKI. The same is so far true to the new 4th physical network by SIMBA that was launched in 2019/20 (check lower part of the article for details). A market disruption and falling prices are expected because of the new entrants. We only have added giga! on the Starhub network so far. It's still postpaid and online only, but remains the only new entrant that allows foreigners with passport only.
2G, 3G and MMS switch off[]
2G/GSM networks of all three providers were shut down on 01/APR/2017. There is no 2G coverage anymore. So bring a 3G or 4G/LTE capable device. The sale of 2G-only mobile devices has been banned from January 2017 or retailers could be given a penalty. Licensed dealers will still be allowed to continue selling such devices, but only for export or overseas use. Likewise, MMS services on all providers were shut down in mid-November 2021 due to the popularity of IM services such as WhatsApp, FB Messenger and WeChat in the country.
MVNOs[]
In 2016, the first MVNO started in the country with Circles.Life on the M1 network. In 2018, new MVNOs were starting up with Zero Mobile and Zero1 (both on Singtel network) and MyRepublic (on StarHub network). They all started a price war in the city state, but are only selling rolling contracts so far and are not accessible to foreign visitors and to foreign residents only under certain conditions mentioned at the end of this article.
Regulations[]
In Singapore you have to show a photo ID to purchase a SIM card for registration - for visitors, that means your original passport (a photocopy is not acceptable). The seller will not issue a SIM card without this. Each subscriber is permitted to have a maximum of three active SIM cards registered to his or her name at any given time. This can be done at Telco stores (either owned by the Telco directly or a dealer authorised to sell SIM cards on the Telco's behalf), most currency exchange stalls at Changi airport, and the 7-Eleven or Cheers branches where you purchased the SIM card. If you purchase an eSIM with Singtel, you can self-register but only upon arrival in Singapore.
Be aware that you will be charged for incoming calls too in Singapore, like in the US, if they aren't included in your plan. Mobile hotspot sharing is generally available on prepaid plans across the three legacy networks (but not necessarily on SIMBA, resellers and MVNOs) whether you use your phone's own personal hot spot feature or you use a pocket wifi device.
Availability[]
The lowest priced starter packs of the three providers for S$5 or S$8 are very hard to find. You won't certainly get them at the airport where only their S$30+ packages are offered, and they are rarely sold downtown. The best place to find a S$5-S$8 starter is in Little India district in the small shops along Serangoon Rd. and around Mustafa Centre, where they are always 'on promotion' and heavily marketed, or in Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, where you'll have to specifically ask for them. As many travellers stay only for a very limited time in town, these might be the better choice for them. You can also pre-order through the internet and pick up the ordered prepaid SIM card at the airport as soon as you arrive. S$12 from Starhub is the cheapest but will not be sold if you do not preorder on the internet.
Price comparison with the rest of the world[]
UK internet comparison site cable.co.uk has ranked Singapore as 59th out of 237 countries/territories terms of mobile data affordability with data costing on average S$0.85 (approximately US$0.73) per GB or US$0.65 cheaper than the global median (August 2023). Data in Singapore is thus cheaper than Hong Kong, Brunei, Germany, New Zealand, the US, and Switzerland; relatively on par with the UK and the Philippines; but more expensive than in neighbours Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia (source).
Roaming options[]
Going to another country in SE Asia, note that all operators may offer some roaming data in many SE Asian countries (usually Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia) and even Australia with the starter packs. This might be a reasonable option, if you will travel to different countries and don't want to buy a local SIM in each of them, stay with them for a short time relative to Singapore, or in the case of Indonesia, avoid the onerous IMEI registration requirements which may cost more than with roaming.
The operators heavily advertise data roaming on Singapore Airlines and some other airlines in-flight mobile networks. Unfortunately, such offers are available only to their postpaid customers and hence not accessible to non-Singapore residents (and therefore not mentioned any further).
Singtel Mobile[]
Singtel Mobile by the Singtel Group is the biggest provider in town and has a market share of about 45%. The Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. is one of the largest mobile network operators in Southeast Asia.
It has a coverage of 99% for 3G and 4G/LTE: Singtel 3G 4G coverage map. 2G/GSM has been shut down in April 2017. 4G/LTE is on 900, 1800 and 2600 MHz (bands 3, 7 and 8), 5G is on 2100 MHz (n1) and 3500 MHz (n78) in both NSA and SA (the latter marketed at 95% outdoor coverage by Singtel). It was also the first carrier in the world to fully roll-out VoLTE on postpaid in 2013-14 and also the first to achieve nationwide outdoor 5G SA coverage in July 2022. But, take care that VoLTE (branded as Clearvoice) and WiFi calling are still not open on Singtel prepaid plans even in 2022, unlike Starhub, M1 and SIMBA.
Availability[]
Their prepaid product is called "hi!card" and sold in very different start-up packs which feature 4G/LTE data, some of them feature 5G. They are available at retailers like Singtel stores (locator), 7-Eleven, Sheng Siong Supermarkets, Cheers, SingPost and other authorised dealers, except those SIM cards mentioned below, that are only sold at Changi Airport.
- S$ 8: with S$ 10 credit valid for 90 days and 1.5 GB for 30 days - see remarks in the Basics section
- S$ 15: with S$ 15 credit valid for 120 days; free 100 GB; a choice of $3 for IDD credit, $5 bonus talktime, 2,500 local minutes, or 5G speed boost; up to an extra 35GB of 5G data if a $15 or $35 Ultimate plan is taken out (for up to three months).
- S$ 20 data card: with 5 GB of data valid for 7 days, in mini, micro and nano size, no voice or text included
- S$ 38: with S$ 38 credit valid for 180 days and 3 GB valid for 30 days capable to roam in Malaysia Maxis network, in mini, micro and nano size, available at Changi Airport and retailers
- S$ 50: with S$ 50 credit valid for 180 days and 5 GB data valid for 7 days, in mini, micro or nano size, available exclusively at Changi Airport.
You may notice that you can't get the best deals at the airport (their outlet is at RHB Bank Currency Exchange counters), better go to a Singtel shop in town Singtel Store Locator or a postal office, or for the best promotions around at Little India. The SIM card is valid for 4 months after activation without top-up.
Tourist SIM cards[]
Singtel released a tourist SIM called hi!Tourist SIM. It comes in several denominations:
| SIM Card | PRICE (in S$) | Duration | 5G? | Inclusive Data (in GB) | Apps with free data | Calls
(in minutes) |
Local SMS | Other inclusions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand roaming | Local | IDD | |||||||
| $12 hi! Tourist SIM | 12.00 | 14 days | ❌ | 100 | 3 | Facebook, Line, WeChat, WhatsApp | 500 | 30 | 100 | |
| $18 hi!Tourist 2-in-1 EZ-Link SIM (not available as an eSIM) | 18.00 | 28 days | ❌ | 100 | n/a | Facebook, Line, WeChat, WhatsApp | 500 | 30 | n/a | EZLink card with $3 credit for busses and MRT |
| $30 hi!Tourist SIM | 30.00 | 28 days | ✅ | 100 | 5 | Facebook, Line, WeChat, WhatsApp | 3,000 | 90 | 5,000 | |
| $50 hi!Tourist SIM | 50.00 | 28 days | ✅ | 120 | 10 | Facebook, Line, WeChat, WhatsApp | 3,000 | 90 | 5,000 | |
Note, that international SMS are not included. They are available at Singtel Shops, exclusive retailers, at all terminals of Changi Airport, at selected 7-Eleven and Cheers and ferry terminals and causeway points. These cards may be extended by accessing Singtel site at $3 per extra day, adding 5 min international calls, 500 MB of data, 100 local SMS, 100 min local calls each day.
Most of these prepaid SIMs are also available in eSIM format and you can purchase them prior to your trip. However, you can only initiate the eSIM registration procedure upon arrival in Singapore.
Top-ups[]
Top-ups can be made with hi!top-up cards sold all over town in the stores mentioned above and at 7-Eleven, Cheers, Sheng Siong Supermarkets, Shop N Save, Caltex service stations, SPC, AXS Stations, DBS, POSB and OCBC ATMs (with local cards only), iNETS Kiosks, Kopitiam food courts. SAM, SingPost among others. You can check your balance by dialing *139#. These top-up cards are available:
- S$ 10, value S$ 11.50 valid for 90 days, free incoming calls for 10 days
- S$ 20, value S$ 23 valid for 180 days, free incoming calls for 20 days
- S$ 50, value S$ 57.50 valid for 120 days, free incoming calls for 20 days, available only at Changi Airport and SingTel shops
- S$ 15 bonus card, value S$ 30 for calls and texts only, no data, valid for 30 days
- S$ 22 datatalk card: value S$ 12 international calls, 250 MB data, 120 local minutes voice, free incoming calls and 500 local SMS valid for 30 days
- S$ 28 superhot card: value S$ 28 for internat. calls and texts and S$ 100 for local calls and texts, valid for 50 days
Alternatively, Singtel offers top-up through any of their pay phones with minimum top-up at S$2. Prepare exact amount of coins. Top-up instructions are stated on top of their pay phones.
Enter *100*1# to check your card balance and expiry.
Default data rate[]
Their standard data rate outside of packages is 5.4c per 10 KB if you've started with a S$ 8 hi! card and 2.7c per 10 KB if you've started with a more expensive hi!card. It is recommended to buy data packages.
Data feature packs[]
Singtel features normal data plans and app-specific plans at max. 4G/LTE speeds. Selected plans are available for 5G speeds. To activate data plans dial *100#, call *363 for free, or use the hi!App (recommended as this has the most offers). Laptop users may send an SMS with '1' to 727050. The plans don't renew themselves automatically and you have to resubscribe manually except if purchased via the hi!App. If you don't (re)subscribe to a plan or used all your included data you pay the default rate (see above).
| PLAN NAME | PRICE (in S$) | Duration | 5G? | Inclusive Data (in GB) | Apps with free data | Calls | Local SMS | Rollover data? | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | Malaysia | Local | IDD | |||||||
| 4-Week 1 GB | 10.00 | 4 weeks | ❌ | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ✔ |
| 4-Week 2.5 GB Data | 13.00 | 4 weeks | ❌ | 2.5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ✔ | |
| $15 Ultimate Monthly Plan | 15.00 | 1 month | ❌ | 20 | 1 | n/a | 500 | 300 | 100 | ✔ |
| 5G $19.90 YAY! Monthly Plan | 19.90 | 1 month | ✅ | 50 | n/a | n/a | 2,500 | 1,000 | 300 | ✔ |
| 4-Week 3GB | 20.00 | 4 weeks | ❌ | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ✔ |
| 4-Week 60 GB | 25.00 | 4 weeks | ❌ | 60 | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ✔ |
| 4-Week 80 GB | 30.00 | 4 weeks | ❌ | 80 | 40 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | ✔ |
| 5G $35 Ultimate Monthly Plan | 35.00 | 1 month | ✅ | unlimited
(fair—use: 300 GB of 5G data) |
20 | n/a | 1,000 | 1,000 | 500 | ✔ |
| 5G $40 Ultimate Monthly Plan | 40.00 | 1 month | ✅ | unlimited
(fair—use: 600 GB of 5G data) |
40 | n/a | unlimited | 2,000 | unlimited | ✔ |
The following social data plans allow you to use data through specific apps or websites. All plans end at midnight of the running day. Don't forget to resubscribe.
| App | Validity | Restrictions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 7 days | 30 days | ||
| S$ 0.50 | S$ 3 | S$ 6 | no voice or video calls, max. 1 GB/day | |
| Line | S$ 1 | S$ 6 | S$ 12 | including voice and video calls, max.1GB/day |
| S$ 0.50 | S$ 3 | S$ 6 | no voice or video calls, max. 1 GB /day | |
| S$ 1 | S$ 4 | S$ 8 | no voice or video calls, max. 1 GB /day | |
Roaming offers[]
For roaming in other Asian countries/regions, they offer these Ready Roam packages, booked through their app:
- S$ 5: 1 GB for 30 days in Malaysia (Maxis)
- S$ 12: 1 GB for 30 days in Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines and Thailand.
- S$ 20: 1 GB for 30 days in Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
5G $40 Ultimate Plan[]
In August 2022, Singtel launched the country's first 5G-supported prepaid package costing S$40 that features 150 GB 5G data valid in both Singapore and Malaysia (FUP: 40 GB and capped at 4G/LTE only in the latter country) with free data rollover into the next billing period, as well as "unlimited" usage of WhatsApp, Line, WeChat and Facebook (FUP: 1 GB/day) and several Asian video streaming platforms. This package also includes 5000 outgoing local minutes, unlimited incoming local calls, 500 local SMSes and 2000 IDD minutes.
More info[]
- APN: hicard
- Website: https://www.singtel.com/personal/products-services/mobile/prepaid-plans
- Download the FREE Singtel hi!App app to manage your hi!card!
StarHub[]
old logo
StarHub by local StarHub Ltd. is the 2nd provider in Singapore giving good speeds and coverage in 3G and 4G/LTE reaching a nationwide coverage. StarHub is the local partner of Vodafone and, like M1 and SIMBA, opens VoLTE (branded as HD Voice+) and WiFi calling on all prepaid packages. 2G/GSM has been shut down in April 2017. 4G/LTE is on 1800, 2100, 2500 and 2600 MHz, bands 1, 3, 7 and 41. However 5G is not available on prepaid plans.
Availability[]
Their normal prepaid product is called "Happy Prepaid SIM" and sold in these different start-up packs in mini or micro sizes:
| DENOMINATION (in S$) | MAIN BALANCE
CREDIT (in S$) |
VALIDITY OF
MAIN BALANCE CREDIT (in days) |
INITIALLY INCLUDED DATA (in GB) | INITIALLY INCLUDED CALLS (in minutes) | INITIALLY INCLUDED Local SMS | VALIDITY OF INITIALLY INCLUDED DATA, CALLS, SMS(in days) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | Roaming | Local | IDD | |||||
| 8 | 10 | 90 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 100 | 30 |
| 15 | 15 | 180 | 120*
8** |
n/a | 5,000* | $100 worth* | 200* | *28 (for 120 GB of data and the calls, SMS)
**180 (for 8 GB of data) |
| 50 | 50 | 180 | 120 | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 30 |
Note that if you purchase a SIM from the UOB Foreign Exchange counter at Changi Airport, credit and debit cards are not accepted; you will need cash. You can however preorder via StarHub's or Klook's website via credit/debit card and pick it up at a designated area later. Their SIM card is valid for 4 months after activation without having made a top-up. You may need to place a first call to activate data on the voice & data plans.
Top-ups[]
Their top-up cards are sold all over town in convenience stores mentioned above and direct top-ups at OCBC and POSB ATMs (local cards only) amongst others. Top-ups are also possible through the Singtel website or hi! prepaid app. To check balance and to see your phone number dial *113#.
| Price (in S$) | Value of main
balance (in S$)* |
Validity of mainbalance (in days) | Other inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 11 | 120 | free incoming local calls for 10 days |
| 26 | 26 | 180 | free incoming local calls for 20 days |
| 51 | 51 | 180 | free incoming local calls for 20 days |
*The value of the main balance can be used for calls, SMS, or data use at the default rate or applied towards purchasing a package later.
Data feature packs[]
Default data is 4c per 10 KB. However, these data bundles are offered, along with additional minutes and SMS:
| Price (in S$) | Validity | Data | Local minutes | Local SMS | Other inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 days | 1 GB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 6 | 4 weeks | 600 MB | n/a | n/a | Subscription to Amazon Prime |
| 8 | 1 week | 1 GB | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 10 | 4 weeks | 10 GB | 500 | 50 | n/a |
| 25 | 4 weeks | 80 GB for all days + 40 GB for four Sundays in plan's duration | 5,000 | 200 | $100 IDD credit |
To subscribe or check balance type *123# and follow instructions. You can also use the StarHub Prepaid App. Unlike social media plans, general data plans do not auto renew. Validity of the data plan can be extended by subscribing another data plan before expiry.
Happy Roam: Roaming offer []
Starhub offers roaming data in 17 countries for discounted rates and bundles called Happy Roam both on voice & data as well as data-only SIM card. You need to have bought a valid domestic (Singaporean) data plan before (see above). Android users may need to change their APN to 'shppd', iOS users need to download here a roaming profile and install it. You may need to activate roaming by *123*333# before.
Check data balance by *123#. If you are using more, you will pay the domestic default rate. Happy Roam normally connects to overseas network with max 3G speed. These countries/regions and networks are covered:
| Destination | Network | Destination | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Telstra | Vodafone | China | China Mobile |
| Canada | Rogers Communications | India | Bharti Airtel | IDEA | Vodafone |
| Hong Kong | Three (3) | Indonesia | XL Axiata | Three (3) | Indosat |
| Japan | NTT DoCoMo | KDDI | Macau | CTM Macau |
| Myanmar | MPT | Telenor | Malaysia | all operators |
| New Zealand | 2degrees | Spark | Vodafone | Philippines | Smart |
| South Korea | SK Telecom | Olleh KT | Taiwan | Far EasTone (FET) | Chunghwa Telec. |
| Thailand | TrueMove | DTAC | UK | Three (3) |
| USA | AT&T | T-Mobile |
Data-only SIM: Prepaid Internet SIM[]
Furthermore, they sell a data-only SIM called Prepaid Internet SIM in all sizes for data and text only, no voice. Start-up price is S$ 18 with 2 GB data valid for 5 days or S$ 32 with 2 GB for 15 days. Speed is throttled to 7.2 Mbps. These top-ups are available either online or by top-up card:
- S$ 6: 2 GB for 1 day
- S$ 16: 6 GB for 3 days, max. 2 GB per day
- S$ 25: 14 GB for 7 days, max. 2 GB per day
- S$ 28: 2 GB for 30 days
- S$ 32: 3.5 GB for 60 days
Subscription is on your online Internet SIM account. No international roaming on this SIM.
Tourist SIM card[]
They sell a Travel Prepaid SIM card aimed at tourists in two denominations:
| DENOMINATION | DURATION | DATA (in GB) | CALLS (in minutes) | Local SMS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | Roaming | Local | IDD | |||
| $12 | 30 days | 100 | 1 | 1,000 | 30 | 100 |
| $32 | 30 days | 100 | 3 | 3,000 | 90 | 5,000 |
Regular top-ups can be added for more volume and Happy Roam packages can be added as well for foreign users.
Tourist eSIM offer[]
Starhub has made available an eSIM offer for tourists as well, with the catch that it has a fixed validity period of 14 days from activation. Unlike the other prepaid offers, the plan is to be downloaded and managed via the Starhub App. It is via that app the tourist eSIM plan can be bought, the identity verification will be done, and the plan can be managed. When trying to use the prepaid app, the number will not be recognised.
The plan costs S$12 and provides 100 GB local data, 3 GB in Asia Pacific and provides 500 mins local calls and 100 texts as well as 30 min of international calls. The plan can be expected with another 14 days.
Validity extension[]
StarHub prepaid customers can only purchase validity extension on their main wallet, by dialling *123*200# and following the on-screen instructions to choose the desired number of days of extension. Multiple validity extension packs can be purchased, as long as the main wallet validity does not exceed the maximum period of 180 days.
| Number of days | Cost |
|---|---|
| 30 days | S$ 0.60 |
| 60 days | S$ 0.99 |
| 90 days | S$ 1.40 |
More info[]
- APN: shppd
- Website: http://www.starhub.com/personal/mobile/prepaid-plans.html
- Manage your plan including topping-up with your credit card with the Happy Prepaid App
M1 (formerly MobileOne)[]
new logo
old logo
M1 (previously known as MobileOne) is the 3rd largest national provider in Singapore. Coverage on 3G and 4G is on par with the other two providers. All 2G/GSM has been shut down in April 2017.
M1 has launched its 4G/LTE service for prepaid in 2013 activated on every SIM card automatically or by #100*3*3#. 4G/LTE is on 1800 and 2600 MHz, bands 3 and 7. Like Starhub and SIMBA, VoLTE (branded as 4G Voice) and WiFi Calling is open to all M1 prepaid packages.
Availability[]
Their prepaid product is called "M Card" and sold in different start-up packs in mini, micro and sometimes nano size:
- for S$ 5 with S$ 5 credit and 500 MB of data valid for 20 days - see remarks in the Basics section.
- for S$ 15 with S$ 15 credit and 2 GB of data valid for 120 days
The S$ 15 is sold at M1 shops (M1 shop locator), their exclusive distributors, authorised money changers and retailers, 7-Eleven, Cheers, Fairprice Xpress, SingPost among others. The S$ 5 SIM card can be found at small one-man mobile booths in places like Chinatown and Little India. Their SIM cards have the longest validity of all Singaporean providers. It will be valid for 180 days from the day of activation without topping up. To extend validity, they offer add-ons for 60 days at S$ 0.99, for 90 days at S$ 1.40 and for 180 days at S$ 2.40 by *100*6*2#.
Tourist SIM Card[]
Their prepaid tourist card is sold in four (4) different variants:
| NAME OF SIM | AVAILABLE
AS eSIM? |
Price(in S$) | Validity | DATA (in GB) | CALLS (in minutes) | Local SMS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | Roaming* | Local | IDD | |||||
| $12 Tourist SIM | ✅ | 12 | 15 days | 100 | n/a | 500 | 20 | 100 |
| $14 SIM | ❌ | 14 | 120 days(+) | 100 | 1,000 | 20 | 500 | |
| $30 Tourist SIM | ❌ | 30 | 30 days | 150 | 3 | 3,000 | 50 | 1,000 |
| $60 SIM | ❌ | 60 | 12 weeks(++) | 252** | 5,000 | n/a | 400 | |
*Roaming data can be used in Malaysia (Celcom), Indonesia (Indosat / XL Axiata), Hong Kong (SmarTone), Macau (SmarTone), Taiwan (Chungwa Telecom); (+) inclusive data, calls, and SMS are usable for the first 30 days; (++) amounts shown for inclusive calls and SMS are for every 4 weeks; **3 GB is given each day during for the SIM's validity period.
It's available in mini, micro and nano size at any M1 shop (see shop locator above) or in all three arrival halls at Changi Airport. In 2019 M1 has launched the M1 Prepaid Tourist eSIM ($12 Tourist SIM only) card for tourists visiting Singapore. Customers who activate the M1 Prepaid Tourist eSIM card will on compatible iPhones will be able to use both their overseas SIM and M1 prepaid eSIM on one device without the need to change physical nano-SIM cards.
For data to work, you need to place a first call for activation after putting in the new SIM or go to *100*3# and activate.
Top-ups[]
Their top-up cards are sold all over town in convenience stores mentioned above and electronic top-ups at AXS stations and SingPost with a bonus amongst others:
- S$ 5 valid for 60 days
- S$ 18 with S$ 21 value, free incoming calls within 20 days, valid for 180 days
- S$ 19 with 1 GB data, S$ 5 for IDD calls, 500 mins, 500 SMS, free incoming, valid for 30 days
- S$ 30 with 3 GB data, S$ 10 for IDD calls, 1000 mins, 1000 SMS, free incoming, valid for 30 days
Check balance with #100*2*1#.
Data feature packs[]
Standard rate outside package is 0.7c per KB. Their data packs are called 4G data plans:
| Data | Duration(in days) | Price(in S$) | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 MB | 3 | 2 | |
| 1 GB | 5 | ||
| 10 MB | 7 | 1 | |
| 1 GB | 7 | ||
| 11 GB | 10 | + | |
| 300 MB | 30 | 5 | |
| 1 GB | 10 | ||
| 6 GB | 14 | + | |
| 20 GB | 21 | + | |
| 150 GB | 28 | + | |
| 200 GB | 33 | + |
(+) = these plans include free incoming calls for the duration of the package
To activate type *100*3*1# or do it through the M1 Prepaid App or M1 Prepaid Portal. Packages don't auto-renew. Multiple subscriptions are allowed and the remaining data will be rolled over as long as another subscription is made before the current plan expires. Maximum data balance for prepaid plans is up to 4 GB at any given time. Any data usage in excess of the bundled data will be charged at the default rate.
Roaming offer for SE Asia[]
Like Starhub, M1 offers cheap data roaming at domestic rates without surcharges, but in fewer countries/regions so far:
- in Hong Kong, Macau (both SmarTone), Indonesia (XL Axiata), Malaysia (Celcom), Taiwan (Chungwha):
- 1 GB for 3 days: S$ 5
- 1 GB for 7 days: S$ 7
- 1 GB for 30 days: S$ 10
- additionally in Australia (Telstra), Bangladesh (Robi), Cambodia (Smart), Sri Landa (Dialog), Thailand (dtac), UK (Vodafone), US (AT&T): 2 GB + 10 mins for 10 days: S$ 15
All purchases are deducted from your M Card balance. To activate package dial *100*3*1#, to activate a net lock to the discounted networks dial *100*8*1#
Validity extension[]
Validity extension of the prepaid main balance, can be purchased via the M1 Prepaid App, M1 Prepaid Portal or by dialing #100*6*2#.
M1 is the only telecoms network provider within Singapore, which permits the purchase of validity extension directly though the network provider's mobile app (iOS or Android) without the need to top the main balance up.
| No. of Days | Fee (deducted from Main Balance) |
|---|---|
| 60 | S$ 0.99 |
| 90 | S$ 1.40 |
| 180 | S$ 2.40 |
More Info[]
- APN: sunsurf
- Website: https://www.m1.com.sg/personal/mobile/prepaidmobile/mcard
- Download the app to manage your M Card! https://www.m1.com.sg/personal/mobile/prepaidmobile/prepaid-account
SIMBA (formerly TPG Telecom, 4G-only)[]
old logo
In 2016 the bidding auction for a 4th operator was started. The winner was TPG Telecom from Australia, founded by Malaysian billionaire David Teoh. It was allocated spectrum in the unusual 900 MHz and 2300 MHz bands (8 and 40) to provide only 4G/LTE services starting in 2020.
As per the terms of the licence award, TPG Telecom will be required to utilise the allocated frequencies to provide nationwide street level coverage for 4G within 18 months from the start of the new spectrum rights, with road tunnels and in-building service coverage within 30 months, and coverage for MRT underground stations and lines within 54 months from the start of the new spectrum rights. In April 2022, TPG Telecom rebranded its Singaporean operations to SIMBA, however references to the old TPG Telecom brand can still be commonly seen on phone shops and top-up locations around the country.
Trial period[]
In 2019 TPG Telecom started their trial phase offering free mobile service for a year for the first 200,000 people who register their interest on their website.This is just days before the deadline from the regulator of having to reach 95% outdoor mobile service coverage by the year end.
In October 2019 TPG has gathered 300,000 users for its trials. OpenSignal found that TPG’s average network download speed was 26.1 Mbps, significantly slower than Singtel (42.5 Mbps), StarHub (39.5 Mbps) and M1 (36.1 Mbps), and TPG users spent 4.5% of the time without a signal – considerably worse than the range of 1.0%-1.6% for the established trio.
In 2020 their first payable SIM-only plan was introduced. This plan is not accessible for most visitors, but only to Singapore citizens, permanent residents, employment and long term pass holders aged 16 years old and above. That's why it's not featured here.
Prepaid Plan[]
Luckily, they've also released a similar Prepaid Plan which is a price breaker in the country:
- 100 GB (formerly 50 GB) domestic data, 1 GB for roaming in India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan, 300 mins local calls (through VoLTE) and 30 local SMS for S$ 10 per 30 days
When data is depleted, you can renew your plan ahead of the month.
Note that outgoing international calls and SMS are not supported, you need to have a device capable of LTE bands 8 and 40 that is VoLTE-enabled to receive data and make calls.
Foreign visitors can buy the Prepaid Plan by showing a passport that is at least valid for another six months at the point of purchase. It's so far only available at one location in Orchard: 181 Orchard Road, #04-28 Orchard Central, Singapore 238896, daily from 11.00 am to 8.00 pm. Queue cuts off at 7.00 pm.
More Info[]
- APN: TPG
- Website: https://www.simba.sg/home
giga![]
giga! is one of the two flanker brands or subsidiaries of the incumbent providers in SIngapore which started in 2018/9. It's the only one so far that is generally accessible with a foreign passport and a credit card and no further attachments to Singapore (unlike the other flanker brand called GOMO, operated by Singtel [also present in Australia, Philippines and Thailand, but is otherwise completely unrelated to GoMo Ireland and Switzerland operated by Xavier Niel's Iliad group in France], that requires local NRIC, hence cannot be mentioned in this wiki). It operates on the network of Starhub in 3G and 4G/LTE.
As an exception to our rules this provider is listed as it reflects the growing and very competitive SIM-only market in the city state. Be aware that giga! is postpaid billed to your credit card and needs to be cancelled after leaving. Because it's online-only, it might not be so convenient for travellers, but remains an option for longer stays. Of the many new operators, this is still the most accessible for foreigners. However it has two disadvantages or downsides. First, it does not work on 5G. And second, you need to make prior arrangements with your accommodation or someone you know who is in Singapore to receive the card on your behalf if you want to start using the SIM card as soon as you arrive as Giga! SIM cards are only delivered to Singaporean addresses.
Availability[]
To order their SIM card you need to first download their app available without restrictions in the Google Play and Apple App stores. Then you need to launch the app and create an account. There you can order you SIM card delivered to any Singaporean address in one working day for a S$ 2 delivery fee. Upon delivery, the recipient simply needs to show a screenshot of the authorization confirmation email from giga, your original ID used to purchase this SIM and the recipient's original ID
Giga! is available for sign up by anyone above 18 years old, locals and foreigners alike. All you need is a valid NRIC, Passport or Employment Pass, and a Mastercard/Visa debit or credit card. It is still postpaid and your credit card will be charged unless you cancel the contract which can be done on a daily basis online on your account.
Plans[]
Giga! only offers one monthly plan of 25 GB, 1000 domestic SMS and 1000 domestic minutes for S$ 25. Unused data can be rolled over for a max. of two months. Additionally, giga has several add-on packs to further customise your mobile plan.
- Data pack: + S$ 2 monthly for 1 GB local data
- WhatsApp pack: + S$ 1 monthly for 1 GB WhatsApp data
- Insta ‘n’ FB pack: + S$ 1 monthly for 1GB Instagram & Facebook data
Roaming[]
Giga’s roaming pass is S$ 5 for 1 GB valid for 5 days and can be used in 14 countries (Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam).
More Info[]
- APN: giga
- Website: https://giga.com.sg