Getting a Postpaid Mobile Phone Service in Singapore

When getting a mobile phone connection in Singapore, you have choice of opting for a prepaid or postpaid mobile phone service. In this guide, we focus on postpaid mobile phone service. A postpaid mobile phone service is where you pay for the service on a monthly basis after usage as per the service contract you signed with the Singapore phone company. The postpaid mobile phone service is ideal for people that are normal to heavy users of the cell phones and will be staying in Singapore on a longer-term basis.

Related Topics:

• Choosing between Prepaid and Postpaid Cell Phone Service
• Getting a Prepaid SIM Card in Singapore
  

The three cell phone service providers in Singapore – Singtel Mobile, M1 and Starhub offer competitive subscription plans with slight variations in the features offered. All three companies have reliable and island-wide coverage. This guide will help you get an idea of the typical plans and features available from the three phone companies so you can decide on the service provider that best suits your needs.

Mobile Phone Service - Documents Required

When applying for a postpaid mobile phone service in Singapore, the following documents are required:

• For Singapore citizens and PRs: Singapore identity card
• For employment pass / dependent pass/student pass holders: Passport and Pass
• Proof of residential address (e.g. utility bill)

Mobile Phone Service - Sample Subscription Plans

Because of fierce competition among phone companies, all three mobile phone service providers in Singapore offer very similar rates and subscription plans. Here is a sample plan offered as of July 2008:

The above plan is a representive mobile connection subscription plan only. For a comprehensive list of available mobile subscription plans, refer to the following links:

• Starhub mobile service plans
• Singtel mobile service plans
• M1 mobile service plans

Mobile Phone Service - International Calls & Rates

To make an overseas call, you need to dial the access code followed by the country code, area code and telephone. Each telephone company in Singapore has its own International Direct Dialing (IDD) access codes:

• Starhub: 008 (best quality) and 018 (VOIP based, best value)
• SingTel: 001 (best quality), 013 and 019 (VOIP based, best value)
• M1: 002 (best quality) and 021 (VOIP based, best value)

At the time of this writing, Starhub and Singtel were offering free international calls using their VOIP IDD services for certain subscription plans. For details, refer to Guide to making international calls in Singapore.

Mobile Phone Service - Phones and Supported Networks

If you are bringing your mobile phone with you from overseas, you need to make sure that it's compatible with the frequency bands of mobile networks in the Singapore. Fortunately, Singapore supports dual-band, tri-band, and quad-band cell phones.

Alternatively, you have access to the latest models of mobile phones from the world's leading companies (Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Apple, etc.) in Singapore. You can buy a cell phone handset in Singapore for the full-price or for a discounted price if you sign a long-term (usually 2 years) mobile service contract with one of the phone companies. When signing a long-term service contract, the price of the phone is discounted by 40-100% depending on the phone and subscription plan. All three phone companies provide very similar discounts.

Mobile Phone Service - Phone Number Selection

When signing up for a cell phone service in Singapore, the phone company will offer you a list of available phone numbers to choose from. If you are willing to pay extra, for an additional one-time charge, the phone company will let you choose from a list of premium numbers (the ones that are more easy to remember!).

Starting June 2008, Singapore has implemented a true mobile number portability which means once you have gotten a number from one phone company, you are free to take this number with you when switching your mobile service provider.

Mobile Phone Service - Where and How to Apply

When you are ready to subscribe to a postpaid mobile phone service plan, use the following steps to make it easier for you:

• After reading this article, review the mobile service plans offered by the phone companies using the links specified earlier and narrow your selection to one of the phone companies and a service plan.
• Visit one of the outlets of the chosen phone company and don't forget to bring the required documents. For a list of outlets, see below:
  • Starhub outlets
  • Singtel outlets
  • M1 outlets
• The customer service rep at the outlet will be able to explain you the available plans and promotons in detail. Sign-up for the desired service plan, complete the necessary paperwork, and make any payment due. The customer service rep will give you a new SIM card and a new phone (if you are buying one) immediately and your new mobile service should be active within 1-2 hours.
• Enjoy your new cell phone service and don't forget to pay the monthly bill!