Singtel offers new unlimited mobile data plans, 2 weeks after M1 and StarHub launched theirs

Singtel said that its Singtel Combo 3, 6 and 12 mobile plans will be upgraded with unlimited talktime and SMS. PHOTO: REUTERS

SINGAPORE - Singtel is the latest telco to offer mobile plans with unlimited data. This comes two weeks after M1 and StarHub both launched unlimited data plans to cater to data-heavy users.

In a statement on Friday (Sept 15), Singtel said that its Singtel Combo 3, 6 and 12 mobile plans will be upgraded with unlimited talktime and SMS, with prices starting from $68.90 a month.

Those who sign up for these plans can also enjoy unlimited local data to surf on their mobile devices by paying an extra $39.90 a month under the telco's Data X Infinity scheme.

At launch, those who subscribe to Combo 6 and 12 plans - at $95.90 and $239.90 a month respectively - get a free data roaming plan each month.

Those who also subscribe to the Data X Infinity scheme will be able to share their data with up to three family members through a supplementary plan that costs $10.70 per month for each line.

While Singtel already offers unlimited mobile data on Sundays since late 2015 for customers under its Singtel Circle benefits programme - which require users to be subscribed to its mobile plans as well as fibre broadband and pay TV services - the telco's latest mobile plans announced on Friday are not packaged with non-mobile services.

Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, chief executive of consumer business at Singtel, said: "We recognise that customers want flexibility and control over their mobile plans... We are pleased to offer our customers a truly unlimited mobile experience."

He added that Singtel has upgraded its nationwide network to 500Mbps, allowing customers with newer phones to "enjoy the full potential of their devices at blazing speeds".

Two weeks ago, M1 and StarHub also announced new plans to cater to data-heavy users.

Customers could sign up for M1's mySIM3 98 plan which comes with unlimited mobile data for $98 a month. Users have to sign a 12-month contract. The plan is known as "line only" - it does not come with a subsidised phone.

Before the announcement of the unlimited plan, M1's most generous data offering came with 25GB of data for $125 a month, with a 12-month contract.

M1's line-only plans will also be cut to four packages - mySIM3 20, mySIM3 40, mySIM3 40 and mySIM3 98 - from six previously. The most basic mySIM3 20 plan costs $20 for 5GB of mobile data when users sign a 12-month contract.

StarHub, meanwhile, also said that it was offering new plans, providing customers unlimited mobile data usage on Saturday and Sunday.

StarHub's line-only plans start from $24 a month for 3GB of mobile data to $119 a month for 15GB of mobile data. But data use during the weekends is unlimited. Customers need not sign a contract for StarHub's line-only plans.

These moves by the three telcos reverses a general trend of lowering data caps that started when 4G services were launched in 2012. Up till then, most telco plans came with 12GB of data instead of the 2GB to 5GB that is the norm today.

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