Globetrotting StarHub customers will no longer have to worry about logging onto the wrong mobile network to surf the web while overseas, incurring huge bills.

The telco on Wednesday launched Singapore's first data roaming plan that allows its mobile post-paid subcribers to get online using any 3G mobile network in some 20 countries - including Japan, Qatar, UK and the US. This means users will not have to manually connect to a specific mobile network that the telco has established a partnership with. The new service, called RoamEasy, costs $10 for 50MB a day from now till October and can be activated for free via SMS. After the promotion period, it will cost $18 for 50MB a day.

Currently, the telco's cheapest 3G data roaming plan comes at $15 a day for unlimted data, but is only available in 12 Asian countries and only through selected telco networks - in Taiwan for example, it is Far East Tone. If the phone is left on autoroaming and jumps to another network, the user may incur charges as high as $20 for every megabyte used.

The rates for RoamEasy is based on a 24-hour block of access, starting from midnight, Singapore time. The telco said it plans to extend the service progressively to the over 230 countries in its roaming footprint.