This was posted 7 years 5 months 3 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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StarHub (Singapore) SIM Card $15 SGD/AUD; 3GB/30 Day in Japan, SKorea, US, UK, HK, Aus, NZ, Thailand, Taiwan, Canada, China+

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StarHub (Singapore) SIM Card $15 SGD/AUD; 3GB/30 Day in Japan, SKorea, US, UK, HK, Aus, NZ, Thailand, Taiwan, Canada, China+
Go to Deal
StrayfireX on 01/07/2017 - 18:55 starhub.com (4251 clicks)
Last edited 01/11/2019 - 12:53 by 3 other users

April 2019 update: now 4-Week 2GB/$18 or 4GB/$25 - please read comments, deal not otherwise updated

October 2018 update: Happy Roam data plans have slightly increased in price (details below have not been updated)

Supported Destinations: Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America

extending sim/credit expiry

Same deal as before, but now works in Japan, South Korea, Philippines, NZ.

Buying it

  • This SIM is only sold in Singapore/on-board Jetstar flights but roams to many different countries. This works super well with Jetstar trips that stop by Singapore because you can buy the SIMs onboard; they include a free hot drink!

  • Alternatively you can but these at the Singapore airport at the UOB money exchange counters.

This SIM is positively awesome for a SE Asia trip! You can use whatever data you have left back home too!

Starhub has LTE/4G roaming, I tested this in Indonesia/Hong Kong; also gives unrestricted Internet access in mainland China without VPN (eg Google Maps, Gmail etc)

Prepaid SIMs

  • $15 SGD with $18 of credit
  • $32 SGD with $32 of credit, 15GB/10 day local data, 2GB/10 day int'l data
  • $50 SGD with $50 of credit, 15GB/10 day local data, 5GB/10 day int'l data (UOB only)

Spend credit on:

  • 1GB/ 3 days $5
  • 1GB/ 7 days $7
  • 1.2GB/30 days $10
  • 2.4GB/30 days $15
  • 3.6GB/30 days $20

For example, you can buy a $32 SIM which includes 2GB int'l, then spend the credit on 2 x 2.4GB data packs for a total of 6.4GB of int'l data over ~ 70 days

Supported Countries:

  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Singapore
  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • Hong Kong
  • China
  • Indonesia
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • UK
  • USA

How to use

You need to have bought a valid domestic (Singaporean) data plan before and activate Happy Roam by (star)123(star)333#. Your APN needs to be switched to 'shppd'.
Source

T&C:

  • Roaming partners and additional information available in the link.
  • Cannot be combined with the Changi Airport $40 voucher
  • Recharge will last for 180 days so to keep this SIM alive you just need to topup once every 6 month and you can use it every time you travel to those countries. Credit also rollover on recharge. Able to be recharged with Aussie CC.
Travel Mobile Broadband Plan Travel SIM Card

Related Stores

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closed Comments

      • samehada on 02/07/2017 - 11:35

        @illumination: thanks for confirming, as I have guessed, China don't restrict internet access for foreign roaming SIM.

  • snivy on 01/07/2017 - 22:39

    Do you know how much is the minimal topup for every 6 months?

    This is a good way actually, I'd rather get this one sim card and use it in S Korea, Japan, China etc. Saves from the hassle. Data is cheaper in Indonesia and Taiwan though.

    • StrayfireX on 01/07/2017 - 22:40

      I believe it's $20 or so.

    • samehada on 01/07/2017 - 22:54

      You can ONLY top-up via Happy Prepaid app and I think only $20 or more recharge will have extend the expiry date for 180 days.

    • auri on 02/07/2017 - 08:53

      There is no minimum top up.
      If you still have credit left, it can be used to extend expiry.
      $1.50 for 90 days.

      Otherwise can do $10 top up online, or via app.
      It is even possible to do $5 top up, via third party methods, eg via qoo10.sg

      • samehada on 02/07/2017 - 11:28

        Starhub website states that top-up will extend expiry date by 15-180 days. There is only $10 top-up and $20+ top-up.

        I have used $20 top-up and got 180 days, so $10 top-up may just extend only 15days. You can try and report back.

      • Jamesx on 03/07/2017 - 16:26

        can anyone confirm you can use left over credit $1.50 for 90 days?
        if so, getting a $32 or $50 sim would be a better value one.

        • snivy on 03/07/2017 - 17:28

          I might be going to Singapore in the next 1-2 weeks so I'll try it out.

        • tonester on 03/10/2018 - 02:30

          90 days - $1.40

  • qazwsx on 01/07/2017 - 23:49
    +4

    OP please add in your description the $1 10MB 7d top up option. Looks useless but is probably one of the handier top up options, because Starhub add the new expiry to your old expiry date. It is essentially a cheap way to extend the life of your data.

    If you want data for a week, instead of buying the 1GB 7d $7 pack, you save money by buying the 1GB 3d $5 data pack and then the $1 10MB 7d pack. Total cost $6, you get 1GB (+10mb) data and 10days expiry.

    Also for those that dont want to continuously top up to extend the SIM card expiry, there is an option to pay to extend the SIM expiry for a few dollars. Better than constantly stacking it with more and more credit that you may not use and may forget about.

    • samehada on 02/07/2017 - 00:21
      +1

      This SIM is really the best one in the world. I think you will travel at least once a year so it won't be that hard to use up $20 recharge.

      I have travelled to HK, Malaysia and China last time and it would cost me at least $15 for a local SIM just for a few days use in each countries and with this one all I paid is $15 for my 3 weeks trip.

      Not to mention HK, China and Malaysian local SIM for the same amount of data access for 30days cost even more than $15 SGD. With this SIM you can use right away when you land and still can use it for the next destination in your itinerary.

      I have not found a single SIM with such a great benefit, i.e pay 1 time subscription for multiple countries mobile data usage. Even many Singaporeans don't even know about this SIM and still rent the wifi egg at a rip-off rate or pay exorbitant roaming charge.

      Even Wifi egg is not unlimited data usage like many people misunderstood it for. Their T&C stated the data limit for each countries per day.

      • qazwsx on 02/07/2017 - 01:01
        +1

        A lot of them are clueless about many things to be honest. I hate those egg things because it is another device, the battery is often quite mediocre and you are stuck together if you want data or be able to contact each other. But I see the wifi egg counter at the airport, there are usually a stack of them ready for pick ups…

        Other tips I have with the Starhub SIM (being SG based now I use it quite a lot):
        - Make sure you set the APN correctly. Wrong APN and it will ignore the data packs and just chew through your credit. APN is shppd, no username or pw
        - For those that forget to put your phone on airplane mode, pay extra attention. Because you have turned data roaming on, on airlines and aircraft that have onboard internet delivered through a mobile network-type service (as opposed to wifi), you may find your phone connecting and data roaming onboard which will chew through your credits (happened to me on an Oman Air flight from KUL-SIN, I was so tired I passed out as soon as I boarded and didn't realise Oman Air offers onboard internet - got woken up from receiving WhatsApp messages in the middle of the flight).
        - The standard Starhub requirement to data roam is to have $8 credit. It is supposed to be reduced to $3 for Happy Roam (used to be no credit requirement to roam on Happy Roam), but I have had issues on a few SIM cards before with using Happy Roam with less than $8 credit. So if you are struggling to get it working, try topping up.

    • MingMerciless on 02/07/2017 - 00:40

      Link for validity extension.

      http://www.starhub.com/personal/support/mobile/prepaid/prepa…

    • samehada on 02/07/2017 - 11:43
      +3

      This is a very nice hack and very useful. I need 10days last time but didn't have the option. I didn't know they add on expiry date :) So using your hack we will have

      • 1GB for 10days: $6 ($5/1GB/3days +$1/10MB/7days)
      • 2GB for 20days: $12 (repeat option 1)
      • 3GB for 30days: $18 (repeat option 1)

      And we can use up all the $18 included credit.

      • qazwsx on 05/07/2017 - 02:31

        I do not know why, and they can never explain to me when I call up, but I always leak a few cents to them. For some reason, my $18 will become $17.95 which would be a ball breaker being 5c short.
        The expiry and the data do stack multiple times - so if you need 17 days but only use 1GB, then buy the $5 1GB 3d pack plus 2x $1 10mb 7d packs and you have 1GB for over half a month for the princely sum of $7. There is a cap though but I don't think it should interfere on a normal basis.

  • Forgot69 on 02/07/2017 - 00:12

    Would any kind OzBarginer pickup two for me? Me and my partner are traveling in the next few weeks to Japan and Thailand. I'd love to get my hands on 2 of them. Happy to cover someone's time and any postage.

    • samehada on 02/07/2017 - 00:26
      +1

      I'm afraid nobody can pick up for you. You have to register the SIM under your name when you buy it at Changi airport.

      • jace88 on 03/07/2017 - 11:38

        And it's linked to your passport (which they will take a copy of).

  • mbwl2010 on 02/07/2017 - 02:32

    Will the SG roaming rates work in Cambodia? Doesn't seem to appear in the list of roaming destinations.

  • voteoften on 02/07/2017 - 03:46

    How do you use the credit to buy data packs? Do you do it in the happy app? Thanks to all those who have added knowledge. 😘

    • sol95 on 02/07/2017 - 08:47
      +1

      all done in-app

      • qazwsx on 05/07/2017 - 02:32

        the app just dials the ussd code for you

    • samehada on 02/07/2017 - 11:16

      You can use USSD menu, dial *123# and it is all there. Similar to #100# of Telstra

  • auri on 02/07/2017 - 08:58
    +1

    One thing to note is making sure you are only connected to their preferred partners in the various countries, otherwise, will eat into your credit instead of your data plan.

    • samehada on 02/07/2017 - 11:15
      +1

      You don't have to. Starhub has locked it to their partner only. It is stated on their website.

  • rocky7st on 02/07/2017 - 09:18
    +1

    If you wanted to could you just use this as your Aussie sim card? So top up each month.

    • INFIDEL on 02/07/2017 - 09:27
      +1

      Don't see why not, if you pick up in Singapore. As long as people don't mind paying for an overseas call to ring you📞

      • samehada on 02/07/2017 - 11:13

        Not only that, you will also be charged international call rates to receive call.

  • SirFlibbled on 02/07/2017 - 09:34

    This sounds like a great idea. Will be spending 2.5 weeks in Japan then 2 days in Singapore (and will be flying via Singapore to Japan).

    Much cheaper than a Japan sim and lasts longer than 2 weeks.

  • uniqualz on 02/07/2017 - 10:17

    I presume this would be no good for data for a 4 week Sept/Oct trip to Europe, as Europe doesn't seem to be listed, is that correct? If no good, does anyone have any other possible suggestions? My family of 4 phone users will chew through any data plans fairly quickly :-/

  • almonds65 on 02/07/2017 - 15:12

    I'm flying to Singapore in 1 month's time, but I am going to Japan year end in December. Is it possible to buy the SIM card in SG this July, but not activate it until December when I fly to Japan?

    • nandystam on 02/07/2017 - 15:40

      I'd also like to know this. How long do you have between purchasing the SIM and then activating it for the first time?

      Since I'm traveling to SG in a few months I wouldn't mind getting a couple for travels in 2018, provided I can activate them at that time.

    • samehada on 02/07/2017 - 16:10
      +1

      Last time I checked my SIM, you have to activate within 3 months after purchase and the included credit last for 6 months. So you have up to 9 months to use it.

      Then you can top-up once every 6 month to keep it active which is very good. Even much better than many prepaid recharge option in Australia.

  • gembel on 02/07/2017 - 16:27
    -1

    How do you top up? Is it online?
    Going to korea in september and china in november. I will be using data only so i want to get the datapacks.

  • googoogaga on 02/07/2017 - 19:07

    anyone know if this modem can use this sim and just have it as a hotspot while travelling?

    • qazwsx on 05/07/2017 - 02:34

      Not sure if it will work but you will need to put it into a phone to activate the datapacks first. And being on the hotspot, you wont get notifications or warnings if your data expires or runs out.

      Given how much it costs, I would just buy one for everyone travelling - a lot easier.

  • boy53 on 03/07/2017 - 09:27

    I'm going Singapore/Thailand in end of Sept and can I buy this now or I can buy it Singapore Airport UOB money exchange? Will the deal expire?

    Also, can I use this sim with huawei wifi modem?

    Thanks!

    • StrayfireX on 03/07/2017 - 09:50

      Buy at Singapore UOB.

      Compatibility depends on what country you are going to and what bands the pocket WiFi supports.

      • boy53 on 03/07/2017 - 10:10

        Awesome. Thanks for your reply buddy!

  • jace88 on 03/07/2017 - 11:42

    Has anyone used this sim in Taiwan? I happen to be doing a trip to a few countries on the list (Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia) and think the sim card might be perfect; although I do know from experience that when roaming abroad, it can get very slow as the data is sent back to Singapore.

    On a side note, VPN over 4G was pretty much unusable when I was in HK using a Singtel sim before.

    • StrayfireX on 03/07/2017 - 12:42
      +1

      Not sure how bad data over VPN would be. I have used the Opera "VPN" that is in Singapore.

      In Indonesia you get LTE coverage on XL, Indosat and 3. Back when I was in Indonesia with this SIM I had trouble getting the SIM to lock onto 3's towers for extended periods lwhen I was in a taxi. I kept getting no signal. If you want stationary data it should be fine. Weirdly it worked fine on 3 in Hong Kong although a certain park I frequent was a black spot on 3.

      That said back then Starhub was only partnered with 3 and their Indonesian coverage is awful (4th-5th telco) so it might have just been 3 being shit in Indonesia. My Indonesian housekeeper sure thinks 3 is shit. I have my own dedicated Indosat SIM and I strongly recommend roaming to their network if possible, it's the least congested.

      • jace88 on 03/07/2017 - 15:07

        I personally ended up buying a sim card from Bolt! (one of the local providers) with a cheap plastic pocket wifi device after getting fed up with my dialup speed internet (speedtest never broke the 1Mbps mark in Jakarta on Singtel) despite it being LTE.

        Anyhow, I probably will get it for my trip as it's really just for Whatsapp and Pokemon Go :)

        • StrayfireX on 03/07/2017 - 15:19
          +1

          Singtel roams to Telkomsel which has a >50% market share. Therefore almost everyone clogs up the network.

          It's so congested it's basically useless unless it's 2am in the morning or something.

        • furythree on 07/07/2017 - 01:56

          @StrayfireX: hi do you know if this is the same sim as what your post is talking about?

          https://au.cheaptravelsims.com/sims/singapore/starhub-singap…

        • StrayfireX on 07/07/2017 - 10:06

          @furythree:

          I'm not sure, Starhub has a lot of word product ranges.

        • furythree on 07/07/2017 - 11:14

          @StrayfireX: you mean each sim has a different product name?
          how did you find out about the new roaming areas? was it updated against the previous deal/product or was it a "new" product

          if the latter then the one i linked probably doesnt work

        • StrayfireX on 20/07/2017 - 08:27

          @furythree:

          Oh sorry, that was a typo.

          I'm not certain that SIM is valid for this offer.

    • qazwsx on 05/07/2017 - 02:39

      I was stuck on 3G in TW (I think it was more of a case of my SIM being old stock since that SIM card was roaming everywhere in 3G - only when I changed SIM did I start to get LTE, but have not been back to TW since). Speeds were fine for general browsing etc, no complaints from me during the trip.

  • dasher86 on 03/07/2017 - 13:11
    +1

    tempted to buy so i can play Pokemon go in HK and Singapore.

    • StrayfireX on 03/07/2017 - 13:20

      Haha well you need to collect your daily coins and do your daily raid!

      • dasher86 on 03/07/2017 - 13:40
        +1

        is it embarrassing that i'm travelling the world only to get the regionals?

        • StrayfireX on 03/07/2017 - 13:48

          Not really, I'm going to play PoGo in Japan for farfetch'd

        • dasher86 on 03/07/2017 - 14:01

          @StrayfireX:
          don't forget to leave a kangaskhan as a present.

    • jace88 on 03/07/2017 - 15:07

      Don't worry, me too. I want a farfetch'd.

  • bluechan on 03/07/2017 - 14:08

    I've got a friend coming over from Singapore and they are bringing me a couple of these SIMs.
    Is Happy Roam activated by default or does it need to be activated in Singapore before they fly over?
    And before people ask. I can't get them to bring over anymore.

  • Jamesx on 03/07/2017 - 16:29

    I just want to make sure all the Starhub sim cards with various prices are the same, really depending on what data plan that you buy. Thanks!

    • jace88 on 04/07/2017 - 12:02

      This stuff has fixed pricing in Singapore.

    • auri on 30/07/2017 - 09:44

      No, they are not the same.
      Get the Starhub Happy prepaid card.

  • Jamesx on 04/07/2017 - 09:12

    dupe

  • MingMerciless on 06/07/2017 - 20:53
    +2

    UPDATE 5 July 2017.

    UOB foreign exchange desk Changi T2 transit area(open at 03:00 so presumably 24hrs) only has $18, $32, and $50 cards. According to the UOB staff, they do not stock or advertise the $15 for $18 cards. $18 cards automatically activates as 5 days roaming data at 2GB a day with $0 remaining balance.

    However, spotted ad for the $15 cards at 7 Eleven stores that also was open at 03:00. So get them there.

    Using this sim in Bangkok CBD atm, usable but bloody slow. 500MB download took 5 hrs in BKK, but only 30 min at Changi. Suspect speed limited when roaming as its slow even at 01:00. Will try in KL and Jakarta next week.

    • furythree on 07/07/2017 - 01:55

      any chance you can grab an extra one or two? im travelling in Aug and this would help me alot

      happy to buy one off you at a premium

      • jace88 on 07/07/2017 - 20:42

        Unfortunately it needs to be registered to passport and there's a limit on sims per passport.

        • furythree on 07/07/2017 - 21:06

          fooking terrorism ruining it for everyone

      • MingMerciless on 08/07/2017 - 01:11

        Sorry, was only in Changi for 3 hours, and not passing back this trip. Also as others have commented, they scanned my passport during purchase.

        • furythree on 09/07/2017 - 14:42

          thats fine

          i ordered a HK unicom sim directly from their website that covers hk china sk and japan for $100hkd

          so its all good!

        • netbies on 11/07/2017 - 09:46

          @furythree:

          Which website?

        • netbies on 12/07/2017 - 14:07

          @furythree:

          Can you go to fb in China? Or still need VPN? Cheers

        • bluechan on 12/07/2017 - 14:34

          @netbies: Woops. Please ignore this comment.

        • furythree on 14/07/2017 - 01:08

          @netbies: u can surf the net in china without vpn using HK sim

        • ykwon10 on 31/07/2017 - 11:25

          @furythree: Did you get it delivered to Aus? Do you know if activation can be done outside of HK/China? Thanks!

        • furythree on 31/07/2017 - 15:25

          @ykwon10: yes i recieved mine last week. not amazing quick but faster than most shipments from HK

          i actually dont know about the activation. i should check (i got this info from the ozbargain wiki!)

        • ykwon10 on 31/07/2017 - 15:35

          @furythree: this travel simcard lasts for 7 days only and unable to topup. if i want it to last for 30days, do you know a way around it? besides buying 4 of them…

        • furythree on 01/08/2017 - 11:18

          @ykwon10: where does it say unable to top up? the wiki says you just add credit using paypal or CC via their hk website and add more data when they text you saying your balance is low

          i bought 2 anyway so it doesnt matter

          if you need it for 30 days, there is the greater china sim for 30 days but has 1gb data only. sufficient for checking emails (i survived on 1.5gb per month in australia up until a month ago

    • samehada on 09/07/2017 - 16:50
      +1

      Not sure why it's slow for you but my speed was fast in HK and China.

    • illumination on 10/07/2017 - 16:00
      +1

      Thanks for the update. The 7-Eleven store was located airside?

      • illumination on 18/07/2017 - 12:07

        To answer my own question, there is a 7-Eleven located airside somewhere in Terminal 1.

        Here is my recent experience:

        I was transiting through recently (14 July) but did not have enough time to go and buy the SIM.

        UOB forex counter told me to "turn right when you see Swarovski" - but I did not have enough time to go there because it was approximately a 5 minute walk. Factoring in the walk back and the time needed to purchase the SIM etc. I decided not to do it.

        UOB forex counter told me they had run out of stock of the $15 Happy Roam SIMs. In addition, my Jetstar flight on the way to Singapore also had no stock.

  • samehada on 09/07/2017 - 16:49
    +1

    Just an update for top-up to keep the sim alive
    - $10 top-up will get you 120days
    - $20+ top-up will get you 180days

    So you can top-up a minimum $10 every ~4months

    • Jamesx on 24/07/2017 - 14:55
      • $10 top-up will get you 120days with $10 credit
      • $20+ top-up will get you 180days, gives $20 + $3 credit
        use that accordingly.
      • samehada on 26/07/2017 - 14:30
        +1

        the extra $3 credit is useless, this bonus credit can ONLY be used for call and sms in Singapore. So unless you are in Singapore it is useless.

        So recharge accordingly ;)

  • Serena12 on 10/07/2017 - 19:57

    Anyone going to Singapore soon and purchasing? Would a kind ozbargainer grab one for me please 😊

  • F1ngolf on 17/07/2017 - 23:32

    Activated Starhub 1G data mobile roaming plan in New Zealand. Worked fine on Spark network. Downside was I can't use my mobile phone to tether as hotspot.

    • illumination on 18/07/2017 - 10:48

      So tethering from this SIM card through your phone wasn't working? Does it ordinarily work?

      • F1ngolf on 18/07/2017 - 11:58
        +1

        Spoke to Starhub CS and was told that I can't tether when on Happy roam prepaid data plan. Tether would work if I'm using it in Singapore. So I ended up getting a Vodafone prepaid as an additional sim for my tablet and as hotspot.

        • samehada on 26/07/2017 - 14:32

          Just ignore their bs, I have been tethering it when roaming in HK, China, Malaysia.

          The only reason why you can't tether is that NZ network is similar to Optus with iPhone which is disabled by iOS. Just use any non-iPhone or even USB Wifi and you should be able to tether.

        • bluechan on 18/08/2017 - 15:16

          @samehada: I opened up a mobile hotspot on my Samsung S8+ to share data with my son. Without an issue. I did this in Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia.

        • tonester on 18/09/2018 - 20:15

          @samehada:

          Just ignore their bs, I have been tethering it when roaming in HK, China, Malaysia.

          Is it still possible to do so in China?

          I'm there right now and can't seem to up an iOS hotspot - Starhub is using China Mobile

  • jes on 20/07/2017 - 23:28

    i thought mine was expired but i must have topped up $10 even after main balance has expired. it still gave me the option.
    Does anyone know what is the grace period starhub gives after main balance expiry?
    I can confirm top up of $10 gives 120 days.

    • samehada on 26/07/2017 - 14:35

      Not sure how long but better don't risk it. Maybe setup a Google Calendar reminder on expiry date will help. That is what I did.

  • enveloped on 08/08/2017 - 16:06

    "Alternatively you can but these at the Singapore airport at the UOB money exchange counters. (cdn.discordapp.com)"

    Can the OP change it to this?

    "You can buy these at the Singaport Airport Star Hub counter, which is diagonally opposite to the UOB money exchange counters"

    If you go to UOB Money Exchange counter, they do have the SIM, but they can't accept Credit Card payment and you end up exchanging your money there too. Better buy it from Start Hub counter then.

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