eSIM thread
Jan 19, 2024 | 6:38 pm
#706
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,961
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.
Jan 19, 2024 | 6:56 pm
#707
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,735
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
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.
Jan 19, 2024 | 8:12 pm
#708
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,530
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.
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.
Jan 19, 2024 | 8:59 pm
#709
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,961
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.
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.
Jan 19, 2024 | 9:33 pm
#710
Join Date: Sep 2022
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 1,735
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.
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.
Jan 19, 2024 | 10:19 pm
#711
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,961
Jan 19, 2024 | 11:00 pm
#712
Moderator: Hyatt, American Express; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, AA EXP, UA Silver, Hyatt Glob, Mlife Noir (=> Marriott Amb), invol FT beta tester
Posts: 21,654
I posted about it 10 posts before yours 
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jan 19, 2024 | 11:54 pm
#713
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,961
Jan 20, 2024 | 12:20 am
#714
Moderator: Hyatt, American Express; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, AA EXP, UA Silver, Hyatt Glob, Mlife Noir (=> Marriott Amb), invol FT beta tester
Posts: 21,654
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 Customers 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.
[...]
(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 Customers 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 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
Jan 20, 2024 | 2:00 am
#715
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,961
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 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
Jan 20, 2024 | 8:42 pm
#716
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: AA Platinum for Life (2MM), Marriott Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,041
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.
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.
Jan 21, 2024 | 8:28 pm
#717
Join Date: Apr 2022
Programs: AA: EXP Delta: DM
Posts: 113
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
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
Jan 22, 2024 | 4:39 am
#718
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DAL
Posts: 2,226
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?
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?
Jan 23, 2024 | 11:19 am
#720
Join Date: Nov 2023
Programs: \_(ツ)_/
Posts: 677
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 😁