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Best value SIM-only plan in Singapore now, worth leaving the big telcos?

My contract with a major telco is ending. The MVNO SIM-only plans look so cheap with tons of data. Is the network quality actually fine or will I regret leaving the big three? Real user experiences?
Anonymous asker ·Asked on 20 days ago ·163 views ·3 answers

3 contributors answered

Best Answer
Confinement Nanny Auntie Poh Beginner First-hand experience Confinement nanny 18 years, helped many new mums with breastfeeding, baby sleep and confinement food.
Switched to an MVNO SIM-only plan two years ago, never looked back, but let me give the honest nuance. The MVNOs (the budget brands) actually piggyback on the big three's networks, so in most of Singapore your coverage and speed are essentially the same as the parent telco, because it IS the same towers. For normal use, scrolling, streaming, maps, video calls around the island, I genuinely cannot tell the difference and I pay a fraction of my old bill with way more data. The catch: during congestion at big events (NDP, countdown, packed stadium), MVNO traffic can be deprioritised behind the parent telco's own customers, so speeds may dip when it is super crowded. Also customer service is app-based and bare-bones, no fancy retail store hand-holding, fine if you are comfortable self-service. And you usually bring your own phone, no bundled handset subsidy. My advice: if you don't need a subsidised phone and you are okay with app-based support, an MVNO SIM-only plan is a no-brainer for most people, huge savings. Just pick one riding on a network with good coverage where you live and work. You can always port back, number portability is easy here.
SME Boss Kelvin Beginner First-hand experience Run my own aircon servicing company 10 years, ask me about ACRA registration, GST and hiring headache.
Check which parent network the MVNO uses and whether that network is strong where you live and commute. Coverage in a basement office or certain lift lobbies can differ. I asked colleagues on different networks before switching. Also watch for promo prices that jump after the first year, read the fine print on when the introductory rate ends.
Anonymous contributor Beginner First-hand experience
They run on the same networks lah, so coverage is basically identical for daily use. I saved more than half my monthly bill switching to a SIM-only plan and got double the data. Only downside is no physical store and possible slowdown in super crowded events. For 95 percent of life it is totally fine. Number porting took one day.

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