Getting a landline phone service in Singapore

There are two companies that offer landline telephone service in Singapore: Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) Limited and Starhub Limited. Singtel was the the pioneer and the sole provider of fixed phone line in Singapore until a few years ago when Starhub entered the scene using a new communication technology. The rates etc. discussed in this guide were accurate as of July 2008.

In order to apply for a fixed phone line, phone companies in Singapore require the following:

• Completed application form
• For Singapore citizens and permanent residents: Singapore identity card (IC)
• For foreigners living in Singapore: Employment Pass, Work Permit, Social Pass, or Dependent Pass and Passport
• For those holding Social Pass: Tenancy agreement or document of proof of
  property ownership in Singapore

Singtel Landline Phone Service

Majority of the residential homes in Singapore subscribe to a Singtel fixed phone line at present. The main advantage of having Singtel for your residential phone is that the service is never interrupted by power outages. You don’t need internet connection or additional communication equipment to make calls. The downside is that Singtel charges for every outgoing call you will make including local calls. It takes about 6 working days for your application for the phone line to be processed. The minimum contractual subscription period is 3 months.

Installation Charges, Fees and Rates

Upon installation and use of Singtel fixed phone line, you will be charged with the following fees and rates:

• The activation fee is S$53.50. This is a one-time charge only.
• In case additional inside wiring is required (usually not the case), it costs S$53.50 for every 50 meters.
• Singtel’s rate for outgoing local call is S$0.15/minute during peak hours and S$0.075 during off-peak hours. Peak hours are from Mondays to Fridays from 8AM to 6PM. Off peak rates also apply during weekends and public holidays.
• The annual subscription fee for the Singtel phone line is S$107 to be divided and charged every quarter.
• Over and above the installation charges, fees and rates, you will be charged with a $200 deposit if you are a foreigner who holds a Student Pass or a Work Pass.

How and Where to Apply

Just visit any of Singtel Customer Service Centers or Singpost outlets and submit the application form and required documents. Here are useful links for more help:

• Application form: http://home.singtel.com/customer_service/application_forms.asp
• Customer Service Centers: http://home.singtel.com/customer_service/cust_serv_locateus.asp
• Singpost locations: http://www.singpost.com.sg/downloads/POLists/POList_Main.pdf
• Fixed line service details: http://home.singtel.com/consumer/consumer_telephony_n_paging.asp

Starhub Landline Phone Service

Starhub offers a fixed phone line service that uses the cable connection to provide a package of services. These services include cable TV service, internet service and fixed phone service. The name of the telephone service is Digital Voice Home. The minimum contractual period is 6 months.

Starhub offers a competitive landline phone service. It does not charge for local outgoing calls. It also offers attractive international calling services for those who want to call families and friends in other countries.

The downside is that you have to buy an additional piece of equipment called voice-enabled cable modem (VeCM) to use this service. Since it is dependent on VeCM and cable TV connection, there is a remote possibility of downtime if there is a power outage or if the system is undergoing maintenance.

Installation Charges and Other Fees

When you apply for the Starhub Digital Voice telephone service, the various charges involved are as follows:

• You need to buy the cable modem from Starhub which costs around S$200.
• The one time activation fee is around S$42.
• If you require a technician to come to your house and install the modem for you, Starhub will charge you about S$53. Most of the people don't require this service as the installation is straightforward.
• Although usually not the case, if internal wiring is required, Starhub will charge you a fee of about S$64 for this service.
• The monthly subscription fee is about S$11. For foreigners, a deposit of S$200 is charged when you apply for international calling service.

How and Where to Apply

To subscribe to Starhub landline telephone service, you can visit one of their customer service centres as below:

Vivo City, 1 HarbourFront Walk #02-202,
Open daily from 11am-9:30pm

Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road #01-36
Open daily from 10:30am-9:00pm

OUB Centre, 1 Raffles Place  #B1-02
Open daily from 10:30am-07:30pm

Tampines Mall, 4 Tampines Central 5 #02-26D/27/28
Open daily from 10:30am-9:00pm

IMM Shop, 2 Jurong East Street 21, IMM Building #01-62
Open daily from 11:00am-9:pm

Just bring the required documents when you walk-in for fixed line telephone service application. The service will be activated in 5 working days. For additional information, check out this website at
http://www.starhub.com/portal/site/Voice.

Your choice of Singtel vs Starhub fixed phone line service will ultimately depend on your consideration of the pros and cons as mentioned in this guide. Given the fact that power outage is rarely an issue in Singapore, Starhub landline phone service is almost as equally reliable. The key benefits of selecting Starhub include  attractive rates for making international phone calls and free local calls.