FlyerTalk Forums

FlyerTalk Forums (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/index.php)
-   Travel Technology (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology-169/)
-   -   eSIM thread (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1954827-esim-thread.html)

Majuki Jan 19, 2024 6:38 pm


Originally Posted by mistytalon (Post 35924819)
Looking for a eSIM card for Indonesia and Taiwan, 5G if available. Need about 10gb data for phone and tablet.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Taiwan Mobile has eSIMs available with 5G service. It looks like Airalo's option is limited to LTE for the Asialink product, which covers both Taiwan and Indonesia.

frappant Jan 19, 2024 6:56 pm


Originally Posted by Majuki (Post 35911134)
You can tether with Airalo eSIMs. Another option might be a prepaid eSIM from Singtel, which covers both Singapore and Thailand:

https://www.singtel.com/personal/pro...ans/hi-tourist


Has anyone used these Singtel tourist SIMs?

Looks like you can buy and set up their eSIM entirely online, upload passport pic, don't have to go into stores for registration.

https://www.singtel.com/content/dam/...jNDk4YzM5YThi~


Especially curious about speed difference between 4G and 5G on Singtel. The 12 SGD and the 30 SGD SIMs both are 100 GB of data but the more expensive one is 5G. Also 14 vs. 28 days.

Question is if the speed difference is worth 2.5 times the price difference. But even the 30 SGD is a pretty good value, that's like $22-23 for 100 GB of 5G data?

Hell, I could buy and activate that maybe before I get to Singapore, and then roam in Thailand a bit with it and have it when I land in SIN?


There are other carriers but Singtel is suppose to be the largest and their prices seem comparable, so not even sure it's worth tracking down other offerings for Singapore.

docbert Jan 19, 2024 8:12 pm


Originally Posted by frappant (Post 35925020)
Has anyone used these Singtel tourist SIMs?

Over the past 10+ years I've used physical SIMs from all of the Singapore providers (Singtel, StarHub, and M1) on multiple occasions. In general, the coverage pretty much everywhere and the same between all providers (it's not like it's a big area to cover!), to the point that I would say that I don't have any preference on which provider to use from a coverage/performance perspective.

Historically the process to purchase involved going into a store as you had to show ID - great to see they have overcome that requirements for eSIMs. I can't speak to 4G v's 5G as I've never really pushed the performance - especially given that Wifi is pretty widely available and fast around the country.

Majuki Jan 19, 2024 8:59 pm


Originally Posted by docbert (Post 35925137)
Over the past 10+ years I've used physical SIMs from all of the Singapore providers (Singtel, StarHub, and M1) on multiple occasions. In general, the coverage pretty much everywhere and the same between all providers (it's not like it's a big area to cover!), to the point that I would say that I don't have any preference on which provider to use from a coverage/performance perspective.

Historically the process to purchase involved going into a store as you had to show ID - great to see they have overcome that requirements for eSIMs. I can't speak to 4G v's 5G as I've never really pushed the performance - especially given that Wifi is pretty widely available and fast around the country.

Yeah, I've only used physical SIMs from Singtel. I was using up some residual data on my 3 UK SIM, since Singapore is a Go Roam country, and the partner network was StarHub. I didn't do any speed tests with my last Singtel tourist SIM a year ago, so I can't comment other than the data allocation is more than sufficient for a visit.

frappant Jan 19, 2024 9:33 pm

I try to maximize when I can, as long as costs are not unreasonable.

I've used 100-200 GB over some periods, when hotel wifi is weak downloading podcasts, apps and more recently streaming over VPN.

So I get tens of gigs when I can rather than the cheapest like 3 or 5 GB. I know I can use a couple of gigs just updating apps and downloading podcasts on my iPhone.

But I would expect Singapore hotels have fast wifi, though you never know.

Majuki Jan 19, 2024 10:19 pm


Originally Posted by frappant (Post 35925241)
I've used 100-200 GB over some periods, when hotel wifi is weak downloading podcasts, apps and more recently streaming over VPN.

It seems like the Singtel Tourist eSIM option would work well. I've not had a problem with Internet speeds in hotels in Singapore.

Zorak Jan 19, 2024 11:00 pm


Originally Posted by frappant (Post 35925020)
Has anyone used these Singtel tourist SIMs?

I posted about it 10 posts before yours :)


Originally Posted by frappant (Post 35925020)
Looks like you can buy and set up their eSIM entirely online, upload passport pic, don't have to go into stores for registration.

Correct, I did as much of it as possible before arrival and finished it after exiting customs/immigration at Changi.

I did get the 5G version, but I bought that one for eSim + 28 days, not because I particularly cared about the speed, so can't speak to its performance.


Originally Posted by frappant (Post 35925020)
Hell, I could buy and activate that maybe before I get to Singapore, and then roam in Thailand a bit with it and have it when I land in SIN?

You can only complete activation in Singapore, so if you will be in Thailand first and then Singapore then I don't think this plan will work. Otherwise, as mentioned in my earlier post, I did successfully roam in Thailand once I figured out to manually change the APN.

Majuki Jan 19, 2024 11:54 pm


Originally Posted by Zorak (Post 35925334)
You can only complete activation in Singapore, so if you will be in Thailand first and then Singapore then I don't think this plan will work.

Does the eSIM require connecting to the Singtel network to activate before the first time using it?

Zorak Jan 20, 2024 12:20 am


Originally Posted by Majuki (Post 35925394)
Does the eSIM require connecting to the Singtel network to activate before the first time using it?

That is my read of the T&Cs regarding registration/activation.


1.5 Registration and activation
(a) After arriving in Singapore, you have to complete eSIM registration within 7 days upon logging into hi!App using the eSIM reference number. It is your responsibility to locate an available Wifi network to access hi!App to setup and install the eSIM in Singapore.
(b) Customers are given up to 90 days from their declared arrival date in Singapore to login to hi!App using their eSIM reference number to set up their eSIMs. Beyond the 90 days grace period, Customers cannot set up their eSIMs and there will be no refund or exchange.
(c) Upon successful registration of the Prepaid Tourist eSIM in hi!App, the eSIM and its features plan have been will be activated and in use.
(d) It is the Customer’s responsibility to provide accurate information during eSIM purchase and activation.
(e) All eSIMs will be activated with local voice call, local SMS, international voice call and local data for immediate use upon successful registration.
[...]
I don't know what the actual restrictions are or how they verify them, but for what it's worth my vague recollection (sorry, this was almost a month ago) is that
- I completed the know-your-customer steps from home in the US
- upon arrival in SIN, I connected to mobile data via Google Fi and was unsuccessful
- I connected to the wifi at Changi and it worked
- also FWIW, I looked just now and in the Android permissions for the hi! app, I do not seem to have enabled Location perms for the app

Majuki Jan 20, 2024 2:00 am


Originally Posted by Zorak (Post 35925416)
I don't know what the actual restrictions are or how they verify them, but for what it's worth my vague recollection (sorry, this was almost a month ago) is that
- I completed the know-your-customer steps from home in the US
- upon arrival in SIN, I connected to mobile data via Google Fi and was unsuccessful
- I connected to the wifi at Changi and it worked
- also FWIW, I looked just now and in the Android permissions for the hi! app, I do not seem to have enabled Location perms for the app

I'm wondering if you turn on a VPN with a Singapore location if you'd be able to complete the steps as well.

tai4de2 Jan 20, 2024 8:42 pm


Originally Posted by frappant (Post 35924797)
The one advantage of going through Airalo seems to be that you don't have to take time to go and register your passport at a carrier store. I'm arriving at BKK just after midnight so picking it up at BKK probably isn't likely, so I'll have to hunt down a store in the city.

There's a good chance the arrival hall airport shops are open when you arrive. Around midnight is a very popular arrival time, as it includes afternoon flights from elsewhere in Asia (as an aside: these flights themselves notably carry a lot of the inbound traffic from North America).

Note: my understanding is that the shops airside (such as in baggage claim) are more expensive, so I'd probably avoid those even if open.

Igene Jan 21, 2024 8:28 pm

I was just thinking about Visible..

Seems to be a good savings over Verizon. How would it work with a data sim like Airalo?

Verizon seems to "ping" their server daily and I would accrue international charges. I'd rather not jump through too many hoops, could I just set Airalo as the data sim and carry on as usual (turning off data on the Verizon eSim)

Thoughts?

I travel to the UK regularly, generally stay 3+ weeks at a time. T-Mobile would be perfect if their coverage in So Cal wasn't so bad.. I moved from them to VZW just for that reason

TGarza Jan 22, 2024 4:39 am


Originally Posted by Igene (Post 35930371)
I was just thinking about Visible..

Seems to be a good savings over Verizon. How would it work with a data sim like Airalo?

Verizon seems to "ping" their server daily and I would accrue international charges. I'd rather not jump through too many hoops, could I just set Airalo as the data sim and carry on as usual (turning off data on the Verizon eSim)

Thoughts?

In the Reddit Visible forum, many have discussed using Visible over the cellular data with Dent and Airalo.

Igene Jan 22, 2024 6:43 pm


Originally Posted by TGarza (Post 35931039)
In the Reddit Visible forum, many have discussed using Visible over the cellular data with Dent and Airalo.

Thanks... I'll make a visit over there!

VorelNaCestach Jan 23, 2024 11:19 am


Originally Posted by mistytalon (Post 35924819)
Looking for a eSIM card for Indonesia and Taiwan, 5G if available. Need about 10gb data for phone and tablet.

Any suggestions are welcome.

I used Airalo Asialink when I was in Taiwan. It was LTE only, and I had a problem with one of the supported operators (Chunghwa Mobile or Taiwan Mobile, don't remember). The speed was absolutely horrible, I wouldn't even use Google Maps. When I manually selected the other mobile operator, it worked again. However, I had no issues in HK.
It is always better when you can choose between several mobile operators.

Check Holafly or Nomad. They may already supportsuppoMind you, as it all be roaming, it is still 4G between operators 😁


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 2:01 am.


This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.