Singtel launches data-roaming plan to help prevent bill shock

SINGAPORE — In what is a first among local telcos, Singtel has launched a prepaid data-roaming plan designed to assuage travellers’ concerns of racking up hefty bills from overusage.

The cost and data bundle on offer, however, poses questions about the potential take-up, say analysts. Launched yesterday for five Asian countries, hi!DataRoam is sold in 100MB bundles to be used within seven days of the date of activation. The plan for Malaysia is the cheapest at S$10 and for China the most expensive at S$30. Prices for Indonesia, Hong Kong and India fall in between at S$25.

Noting that markets such as Indonesia offer cheap roaming plans that provide up to 1GB data, IDC associate research director of consumer mobility Shiv Putcha said he was “a bit sceptical” about demand for Singtel’s offering. “The pricing seems to be on the higher side and data allowances are quite low. The main attraction ... is for someone who wants the convenience of getting a plan before leaving Singapore. If the activation works smoothly and there is no bill shock, people with minimal data needs may be willing to trade off the higher cost for convenience.”

In response, a Singtel spokesperson said the pricing factors in convenience for customers, adding that roaming charges typically cost more than local data packages. In its media release yesterday, Singtel said hi!DataRoam customers will receive SMS reminders when they hit 50, 80 and 100 per cent of their data limit. Before travelling, customers can buy the plan on their phone, then activate it and buy top-ups when they arrive.

Responding to queries, a Singtel spokesperson said there are plans to expand the plan to other countries.

M1 said it does not have a similar product, while StarHub said: “As more mobile prepaid customers use smartphones, we expect mobile data usage ... to increase. We are monitoring this trend and will continue to offer services that are relevant to evolving needs.”