Singapore’s mobile provider market is highly competitive, with numerous players of varying sizes vying for market share. These include traditional telecoms as well as much smaller mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). This healthy market is the result of both public policy to encourage competition as well as market forces that have created a large number of profitable niches for smaller operators.
Each of these players tends to target different niches, offering plans that are specifically tailored to their needs. Whether you’re a business owner, salaryman, student, tourist, or someone living on a fixed income, getting the cheapest mobile plan Singapore has to offer is a matter of understanding your needs and finding the telecom company that is most attuned to them.
However, even with the abundance of offers, finding an affordable mobile phone plan can still be a daunting task. In this article, we’ll give you ideas on how to find mobile phone plans in Singapore that closely match your needs.
1) Decide What Kind of Plan You Need
Mobile phone plans in Singapore include various postpaid and prepaid offers. Most postpaid plans require customers to sign a contract with the service provider for a fixed period, ranging anywhere from 6 to 24 months. Generally speaking, these plans typically offer a large or unlimited data allowance, free calls, and unlimited SMS messaging. Additionally, most of these plans include a bundled mobile phone, often at a lower price compared to retail. However, ditching your plan before the given period usually requires a relatively expensive termination fee.
Prepaid plans, on the other hand, allow customers to pay only for what they use. They may come with shorter-term contracts than postpaid or even no contracts at all. However, compared to postpaid, these tend to come with fewer perks and may not include the latest smartphone models.
An increasingly popular third option is going with a “SIM-only” plan.. SIM-only plans only provide the customer with a SIM card, a phone number, as well as different amounts of data, calls, and text messages. The provided SIM card can be freely used with any mobile device, making them popular with value-oriented individuals, students, tourists, techies, as well as people who want a second phone.
2) Identify Your Needs and Communication Style
Before deciding on a mobile plan, identify your usage patterns and typical communication style. Do you need to be outside often? Do you work from home? Do you need unlimited text messaging? How often do you make voice calls? Do you run a business? Knowing the answers to these will help you avoid overpaying for unused features and make it simpler to find a plan that fits your lifestyle.
3) Use a Local Metasearch Engine
Once you’ve figured out what kind of plan you want, it’s time to shop around for the ones that offer you the best value. But with so many niche mobile phone plans and subscriptions in the Singaporean market, it can be challenging to find the most affordable one for your specific use case.
The simplest way to compare all these different plans is by using a metasearch engine. A metasearch engine is a special tool that compiles results from multiple search engines, giving users a more complete view of their options. Specialised metasearch websites let users compare different mobile plans based on price, data allowance, talk time, and other features. If you’ve already figured out your specific needs and communication style, these sites should be able to give you a mobile plan that offers you the most value for your money.
4) Consider Smaller Telcos
In addition to Singtel, StarHub, M1, and SIMBA, there are other lesser-known mobile providers including Circles.Life, GOMO, and Zero Mobile, just to name a few. Within certain niches, these providers can offer more affordable plans as well as more innovative features not offered by the big telcos. It’s also worth noting that these smaller providers also tend to be more flexible, which can be a big plus if you can’t commit to any one provider just yet.
5) Look Out for Promotions
Singapore’s many telcos are constantly offering promotions and discounts to attract new customers. However, a lot of the time, you need to be aware of these promos to benefit from them. Try to keep an eye out for such promotions, particularly for the types of mobile plans that you’re interested in.
6) Check Out Bundled Services
The larger mobile service providers usually offer bundled plans that include phone plans, home broadband, and cable TV. Generally speaking, these aren’t great for all users, particularly people who live alone and households with very limited data requirements. However, you shouldn’t always count them out, especially if you have a larger household that needs all those other services. By considering these bundles carefully, you can ensure that you and your family aren’t missing out on a good deal.
Finding an affordable mobile phone plan in Singapore isn’t always easy, but it’s doable if you take the time to follow the tips we recommended. Singapore is already quite expensive as it is, and choosing the right plan makes the cost of living a connected life much easier to bear.
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