Singapore is a small country in Southeast Asia that represents both a commercial hub and a famous tourist spot. It is one of the wealthiest nations not only in Asia but in the entire world. Because of its tiny size and larger population, the cost of living is skyrocketing daily. Fortunately, buying and recharging a local SIM card isn’t as expensive and doesn’t contribute to the problem. The country has 4 leading operators and several MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators). We will demonstrate the four major mobile operators that provide SIM cards in Singapore.
1. Singtel
Singtel is the largest telecom network in Singapore, with a market share of about 50%. The company also operates in some different countries with various percentages of stakes in the local companies. For instance, Australia’s Optus (100% stakes), Indonesia’s Telkomsel (35% stakes), the Philippines’ Globe Telecom (47% stakes), and India’s Bharti Airtel (40% stakes). In Singapore, Singtel runs on 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G NR frequencies. It has excellent coverage all around the country, especially its 4G/LTE reception. A Singtel SIM card is called hi!Card and it is available for 8 SGD (Singaporean Dollars), 15 SGD, and 38 SGD.
Singtel also offers tourist SIM cards for short-term visitors. These cards offer 100 GB of data, calling minutes, and SMS for just 9 SGD which is lucrative compared to the high cost of living here. The hi!Card is available everywhere in the country, from the official Singtel stores to convenience and grocery stores. Its top-up vouchers are also available in the same stores. After every top-up, the SIM card’s validity gets extended to 180 days automatically. For recharging and checking your Singtel prepaid, you can use the hi!App available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
2. M1 Singapore
M1 Singapore is generally referred to as M1 and is the second-biggest wireless carrier in Singapore. In the past, it was popular with the name MobileOne. The company operates on 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G NR frequencies. It stopped its 2G operations in 2017 and its 5G NR services are not yet available to its prepaid users. Its 5G NR network is shared with StarHub. M1 provides excellent coverage to its consumers across Singapore. Its SIM card is known as M Card, and it is available in four price options: 8 SGD, 12 SGD, 25 SGD, and 60 SGD. The SIM card and its top-up vouchers are available at all M1 stores, convenience stores like 7-Eleven, and so on.
M1 also offers prepaid tourist SIM cards for short-term visitors in the country. The tourist SIM is sold at Changi Airport, 7-Eleven stores, M1 stores, and Cheers. It is available in three price variants: 12 SGD, 30 SGD, and 50 SGD. In all the three types of tourist SIM cards, you get 100 GB of data, different local & international minutes, different local & international SMS, and distinct validities. The company also offers several regular plans for its prepaid users for data, social media, calls, and SMS. You can recharge and check your balance on the M1 Prepaid app, available for Android and Apple users alike.
3. StarHub
StarHub is the third-largest carrier in the country. It closed down its 2G operations in 2017, and now it operates on 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G NR frequencies. However, 5G NR services are not available to its prepaid customers at the time of writing. The company’s coverage can be rated as excellent throughout the country. A StarHub SIM card is available in three cost variants: 8 SGD, 15 SGD, and 50 SGD. It also sells a tourist SIM card called StarHub Traveler SIM card. These tourist SIM cards come in two price variants, i.e., 12 SGD, and 32 SGD.
You will get 100 GB of local data in both the SIM cards plus calling minutes and SMS with different expiry dates. Its regular prepaid SIM cards offer different plans and bundles. The price of top-up vouchers varies between 10 SGD to 80 SGD. There are two Voice+Data top-ups priced at 17 and 25 SGD. To recharge, check balance and manage your account in StarHub, the company has its official mobile app named StarHub Prepaid App.
The app can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. It is also possible to extend your SIM card’s validity and its credit’s validity in StarHub without even recharging with a top-up. There is a feature in it called Validity Extension you can employ to do this. Dial *123*200# and select one of the options i.e., 0.60 SGD for 30 days, 0.99 SGD for 60 days, and 1.40 SGD for 90 days.
4. TPG Mobile Singapore
TPG Mobile is the smallest provider of SIM cards in Singapore. It is the newest player in the Singaporean telecom market. Though it was issued a license in 2016, it started its operations in 2020. TPG also operates in Australia and New Zealand as an ISP (Internet Service Provider). It is also important to note that TPG Mobile is interested mainly in SIM-only consumers. The company operates only on 4G/LTE frequencies. It is soon going to launch 5G NR services too, but that will not be available to the prepaid customers in the beginning.
It provides excellent network coverage throughout the country as its 4G/LTE can be found everywhere. TPG Mobile SIM cards are sold for 10 SGD in the official outlets. The SIM card offers 50 GB of local data, 1 GB of roaming data, 300 local calling minutes, and 30 local SMSes, all with the validity of 30 days. Unlike other carriers, its SIM cards are not available at Changi Airport. It also doesn’t sell top-up vouchers online. You can only recharge it online via the TPG SG app and through the official website and third-party websites. The app also helps the users to check their TPG Mobile balance and manage their accounts.