Hong Kong and Macau - Prepaid 3G data in Hong Kong

From initial Googling around, it looks like 3 has the option of "unlimited" data of 28 HKD per day or 338 HKD per month?

How do the coverage and speed compare among the carriers? I've heard of Hutchinson but didn't see it mentioned in the other prepaid SIM thread.

A lot of hotels seem to charge at least 100 HKD a day so how do the 3G services compare? Can you even get signal inside a hotel?

How long does it take to activate the data? Is it better to pick up at the airport or in town? More likely English-speaking clerks at the airport?

Any restrictions on how to use the data? For instance, are the plans only for use in a smart phone or could you use it in a Mifi device (Huawei E585).

Signal and speed depends on where you are. No way to know until you're in your hotel room.

Activation of the card is instant.

I have been using one of the "3" cards in a "3"-branded USB finger made by Huawei. No idea how it works with other ones.

7-Eleven clerks at HKG should have passable English skills.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14262632-post15.html

Flights I would be taking would arrive at HKG on a Sunday night.

Are those shops open at that time?

Flights I would be taking would arrive at HKG on a Sunday night.

Are those shops open at that time?

If you're set on "3", you can just go to their store till 11p:

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/insideshopping/all/audio/3sho.html

7-Elevens are open 24 hours.

Well which one has the best coverage?

Odd about 7-11, they're all practically gone from where I am (Northern CA). They used to be fixtures about 20-30 years ago.

But they're all over Asia-Pacific?

It really depends on where you are staying for signal strength, but generally the majority of networks in HK have decent signal strengths.

3HK has a decent prepaid package, and you should be able to pick it up in most 7-11's or K-Marts, however make sure you get the right sim card, as 3HK has several sim cards.

How long are you planning on staying? CSL's one2free offers a data sim card for HK$78 a week. It works fine on smartphones, mifi devices and usb dongles.

http://one2free.hkcsl.com/jsp/o2f_next_g/o2f_next_g/starter_pack/overview.jsp

One week. Thanks I'll check out CSL.

One week. Thanks I'll check out CSL.

Should also add, I've tried both 3HK and CSL in my mifi device and I've found CSL to be a bit more stable and get faster data speeds. I am presently using the CSL card in my mifi while I wait for broadband to be connected in my new flat.

However, not sure if you can buy this sim card from 7-11 at the airport.

Are these the only shops where you can buy the CSL SIM?

Are these the only shops where you can buy the CSL SIM?

I'm going to probably pop out at lunch time. If I pass by a 7-11 I'll see what sort of sim cards they are selling.

Another option, could you get your hotel to go out and buy you a CSL sim card for before you arrive?

I haven't booked anything yet but I guess I could ask once I book. My trip would be in late November.

The flight I'm looking at is scheduled to land at 20:00 on Sunday night. So by the time I get into TST, probably around 22:00.

Worst case, I could pick something up in the morning.

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/insideshopping/all/audio/1010.html

1o1o is CSL, which also owns one2free.

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/insideshopping/all/audio/1010.html

1o1o is CSL, which also owns one2free.

I'm going to try to pick this up, though in the consolidated thread post that is linked above, it says the CSL SIM is $178 HKD?

I understand the charge is $78 for one week but what is the SIM price and how much credit is included in the SIM?

Will it be difficult to get to Level 7 Departures from wherever I would be landing in Terminal 1?

I'm going to try to pick this up, though in the consolidated thread post that is linked above, it says the CSL SIM is $178 HKD?

I understand the charge is $78 for one week but what is the SIM price and how much credit is included in the SIM?

Will it be difficult to get to Level 7 Departures from wherever I would be landing in Terminal 1?

I haven't updated that thread, but can confirm the price for a week is HK$78, as I used it back in August when I was sorting out a landline broadband connection.

I think the SIM price is around HK$100 and you get that much in credit.

It is very easy to walk from Level 7 Departures to T1.

Thanks for the reply, looks like that info is outdated then.

It lists the APN as CSLP2? Is that right or is something missing?

I'm going to try to pick this up, though in the consolidated thread post that is linked above, it says the CSL SIM is $178 HKD?

I understand the charge is $78 for one week but what is the SIM price and how much credit is included in the SIM?

Will it be difficult to get to Level 7 Departures from wherever I would be landing in Terminal 1?

Credit on the SIM is exactly what you pay - $78. No cost for the SIM itself.

Arrivals is at Level 5. Just ride elevator or escalators back up to Departure.

Awesome. Thanks and it also looked like there was an Airport Express stop outside level 7 too?

Also CSL pages show some LTE products already, which is the first foreign carrier offering LTE that I've seen.

Awesome. Thanks and it also looked like there was an Airport Express stop outside level 7 too?

Airport Express platform is on Arrivals level. After you get your SIM, you'll take elevator or escalators back down to Arrivals to get the train.

I haven't updated that thread, but can confirm the price for a week is HK$78, as I used it back in August when I was sorting out a landline broadband connection.

I think the SIM price is around HK$100 and you get that much in credit.

It is very easy to walk from Level 7 Departures to T1.

wish i saw this (on people's data plan, $78 for a wk is dirt cheap..)
good info, thanks for sharing!!

Just want to say that the CSL deal has worked out great.

Found the 1010 shop and they asked to see which device I wanted to use it with. Handed them the Huawei E585, which he recognized and put in the SIM.

Initially the display said 2G but after awhile, it connected to 3G and the Wifi showed up on the iPhone.

Didn't have to configure the APN at all, which was different from the TIM SIM that I used in Sicily last June.

Signal has been great, down in the MTR, inside most buildings, etc. Speed at the hotel was about 2 Mbps and about 1.4 Mbps upload. For comparison, the wired network at the hotel was about 2/2.

Thanks all for the information in this thread.

Oh and it was $100 HKD so $22 HKD which I didn't use. Do have an unlocked phone so I can use it up with some calls and texts but even at $100 HKD for one week of reliable connectivity is a good deal.

Will a BB Bold 9700 [TMO brand but unlocked] work in HK with a prepaid sim card w/ data plan to access emails? I won't be surfing internet or have any real need for 3G, just occasional voice calling and regular checking of emails...

Will a BB Bold 9700 [TMO brand but unlocked] work in HK with a prepaid sim card w/ data plan to access emails? I won't be surfing internet or have any real need for 3G, just occasional voice calling and regular checking of emails...

There is no prepaid blackberry service in HK.

This means you can still use a regular prepaid SIM card. Voice call will work. BB *push* email won't. Internet surfing via BIS won't.

Some BB have the capability to use "regular" internet. If that is the case, you can check email by going to the email website to retrieve it. Google search "Blackberry without BIS" for details.

Cannot recall if this has been noted about the 3 sim card. I am using one now and it disables the 'Personal Hotspot' (tethering).

TetherMe is a jailbreak tweak that reenables the tethering, I put that on and it works now.

Just want to say that the CSL deal has worked out great.

Found the 1010 shop and they asked to see which device I wanted to use it with. Handed them the Huawei E585, which he recognized and put in the SIM.

[...]

Oh and it was $100 HKD so $22 HKD which I didn't use. Do have an unlocked phone so I can use it up with some calls and texts but even at $100 HKD for one week of reliable connectivity is a good deal.

The price is still $78 HKD for the SIM and one week of prepaid data. (At least it was as of last week for our most recent purchases). There are posters and brochures in the shop to point at with the price.

What seems to happen is the sales people point out that the $78 HKD price is only for data and if you'd like other services, you'd need to have more on the card, say perhaps $100 HKD. If you go for it, it also means they don't have to make change.

The airport 1010 shop staff also are very familiar with a wide variety of phones, and usually offer to install and configure the SIM for you. (They seem to be able to complete the entire process in less time than it would take for us to just open our phones and get the SIMs out.)

Since most Hong Kong hotels charge more for a single day of (often pokey) internet access, $78 HKD for a week of prepaid mobile data is a smashing deal.

Before I went on this trip, I checked air fares for Thanksgiving week and the week between Xmas and New Years.

Well I went Thanksgiving week but I see that the fares for the week after Xmas has dropped by over 50%!

Since I have some CSL credit and unused Octopus Card credit, I should go again. :p

Odd about 7-11, they're all practically gone from where I am (Northern CA). They used to be fixtures about 20-30 years ago.

But they're all over Asia-Pacific?

7-Eleven was purchased by a Japanese company a few years ago, I think by the same company that held the 7-Eleven franchises for Japan for many years. Now they own the brand worldwide, although there may be local franchisees in various countries. In any event, it's a very popular brand in Hong Kong.

7-Eleven was purchased by a Japanese company a few years ago, I think by the same company that held the 7-Eleven franchises for Japan for many years. Now they own the brand worldwide, although there may be local franchisees in various countries. In any event, it's a very popular brand in Hong Kong.

The franchiser of 7-11 in Hong Kong is Dairy Farm International, part of the Hongkong Land conglomerate. Wellcome supermarkets, Mannings drug store, and all the Maxim group restaurants are part of the same group.

It is NOT the same franchiser in Japan, which is Seven & I Holdings.

What about the 7-11 stores in Australia?

Well at least there, the name makes sense. Or do the Asians call the stores "seven-eleven" or the translated name for the numbers 7-11?

Well at least there, the name makes sense. Or do the Asians call the stores "seven-eleven" or the translated name for the numbers 7-11?

In Hong Kong, the Cantonese way to pronounce the name is 七 十一. 七 is 7 and 十一 is 11. But most locals call it 七仔, or "Seven Kid". I am not sure why.

More weird is Circle K. Official Chinese name is "OK便利店", i.e. "OK Convenient Store". I believe locals find the world "Circle" too hard to pronounce, or they're just lazy. The "Circle" simply became an "O". But I still call it "Circle K".

Credit on the SIM is exactly what you pay - $78. No cost for the SIM itself.

Sure? The Website of the Company (http://one2free.hkcsl.com/jsp/o2f_next_g/o2f_next_g/starter_pack/overview.jsp) shows only $100 Sim Card.

Will need a Sim Card with data only for just 3 days, so I search for the cheapest one.

Sure? The Website of the Company (http://one2free.hkcsl.com/jsp/o2f_next_g/o2f_next_g/starter_pack/overview.jsp) shows only $100 Sim Card.

Will need a Sim Card with data only for just 3 days, so I search for the cheapest one.

It was $78 when the thread started. Point is, whatever the card cost is how much value there is on it.

And what will a Three Card cost? I need it just for 3 days, so if I could get a card with 3x$28 value would be better than a $100 card.

And what will a Three Card cost? I need it just for 3 days, so if I could get a card with 3x$28 value would be better than a $100 card.

http://www.three.com.hk/website/appmanager/three/home?_nfpb=true&pageid=618001&_pageLabel=P200470391219567710594&lang=eng

Save you $2.

And what will a Three Card cost? I need it just for 3 days, so if I could get a card with 3x$28 value would be better than a $100 card.

Cheapest 3 card is HK$98, so regardless of how much the daily rate is, you still have to pay the HK$98.

However I strongly suggest you get the CSL One2Free card at HK$100 and the weekly rate of HK$78.

CSL's coverage is MUCH better than 3HK's coverage.

Save you $2.

$2 isnt a difference to talk about. So I will buy the CSL One2Free here (http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/insideshopping/all/audio/1010.html). Do they have to active it with a special plan or just put it in my phone and thats it?

$2 isnt a difference to talk about. So I will buy the CSL One2Free here (http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/shopping/insideshopping/all/audio/1010.html). Do they have to active it with a special plan or just put it in my phone and thats it?

You put the sim in it then go to a specific page, from that page you activate the plan. If possible, try and get it done at the shop by them.

You put the sim in it then go to a specific page, from that page you activate the plan. If possible, try and get it done at the shop by them.


Thank you.

Cheapest 3 card is HK$98, so regardless of how much the daily rate is, you still have to pay the HK$98.

However I strongly suggest you get the CSL One2Free card at HK$100 and the weekly rate of HK$78.

CSL's coverage is MUCH better than 3HK's coverage.
The "3g International Roaming Rechrgeable SIM Card" is charged with 98 HK$ of Data plus 174 free minutes of local calls (therafter the calls cost 0.30 per minute). 3G Data costs 2 HK$ per MB, capped at HK$ 28 per day. The monthly cap has been increased to 428 HK$.

The card sells at 98 HK$ normally, but can be found for 55 HK$ on Apliu street in Sham Shui Po.

However I strongly suggest you get the CSL One2Free card at HK$100 and the weekly rate of HK$78.

CSL's coverage is MUCH better than 3HK's coverage.

i got this on my recent trip to HK and had the shop set up everything at the airport. highly recommended, easy and great coverage.

Only bad thing about it for people visiting HK is that the 1010 shop is at the Departures level instead of Arrivals.

They do have other shops in the city of course but would someone get a CSL SIM and fly out of HK?

Only bad thing about it for people visiting HK is that the 1010 shop is at the Departures level instead of Arrivals.

They do have other shops in the city of course but would someone get a CSL SIM and fly out of HK?

Departures and Arrivals in HKIA are not exactly that far away.

Departures and Arrivals in HKIA are not exactly that far away.

Exactly! It's just one elevator or escalator ride. There are lot more shop spaces in the departure level, and CSL/1o1o doesn't just sell local SIM cards - they sell phones and accessories for the travelers.

Only bad thing about it for people visiting HK is that the 1010 shop is at the Departures level instead of Arrivals.

They do have other shops in the city of course but would someone get a CSL SIM and fly out of HK?

not exactly sure how that's bad. departures is upstairs, just exit the arrivals hall, find nearest elevators/escalators and you're there.

Lets just say it's not optimal, if it's the case that most of the people who would shop at that airport store would be people arriving to HKG, not departing from it.

Yeah easy enough to use the elevator and then go back to the Arrivals level to get on the Airport Express or other ground transportation.

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Well I will say airport store rent is such a premium that there no other option.....
And where can you have put it in level 5 (arrival)? It is pretty occupied already.

Good info. I'll try to get a MiFi and pop one of these inside.