Feature Articles

Illustrated Overview of Tiered Smartphone Plans (Q3, 2012) - Updated!

By Sidney Wong - 5 Oct 2012

Basic Tier Plans Comparison

Tiered Smartphone Plans Comparison

StarHub made an announcement yesterday on its new tiered smartphone plans, which would be available to customers from 19th September alongside its enhanced mobile network. With all three telcos having introduced their respective tiered plans, we have re-tabulated all available information with new illustrations below for your easy reference. All tabulated data and graphs correspond to new plan sign-ups only. Here are some additional points to take note when going through the article: 

M1

1. Re-contracting M1 customers will be given an extra 1GB complimentary data bundle on the new smartphone and mobile broadband plans.

2. M1 is the only telco at the moment to roll out a nationwide 4G LTE network.

3. M1 removes the $10.70 surcharge for its 4G value-added service.
 

SingTel

1. SingTel's 3G and 4G price plans will be priced the same, as the company has removed the 4G value-added service charge of $10.70. 

2. SingTel's 4G subscribers will be paying $10.70 per GB block after the current promotional rate of $5.35/GB ends on 31st December 2012. As such, we've used this upcoming new rate in our calculations.

3. SingTel is currently working to increase its 4G coverage to 80% by December 2012, and expects its islandwide roll-out to be completed in early 2013.

StarHub

1. Customers who wish to sign up for StarHub's new 4G SmartSurf plans have to pay $10.70 extra per month when the free speed boost promotion ends on 31st December 2013.

2. StarHub will discontinue the existing SmartSurf and i2Surf plans on 19th September. Existing customers can continue with their current subscription plans, and choose any of the new plans when they re-contract.

3. StarHub offers an upsize option where customers can purchase 1GB extra per month for $2.14 (Promotion valid till 31st December 2013). You can't however buy more than one extra gigabyte.

4. At launch on 19th September, StarHub's 4G network coverage includes the Central Business District, Changi Airport and Singapore Expo. By Q4 2012, it will expand its coverage to more than half of the island. Islandwide coverage is expected to be completed in 2013. 

5. StarHub is extending its free speed boost promotion (4G value-added service) till 31st December 2013.
 


Select a Plan Type for Analysis
Basic Mid-tier High-tier Premium All 3G Plans All 4G Plans

 

Basic Plans Comparison

 

Data Plan M1 SingTel StarHub
Name ValueSurf+ Flexi Lite SmartSurf Lite
Monthly Subscription $39 $39.90 3G: $38
Local Outgoing Mins 120 100 100
Local SMS 600 800 800
Local Data Bundle 2GB 2GB 2GB
Excess Data Charges $5.35/GB, capped at $94.16 $5.35/GB, capped at $94
*4G subscribers pay $10.70/GB
from 1st Jan 2013
$6.42/GB, capped at $62.40

 

Analysis for 3G Plan

Based purely on a price point perspective where you consume within the given entitlements (outgoing mins, local SMS & local data bundle), StarHub's SmartSurf Lite is cheaper at $38. However, if you need that extra 20 minutes of talk time, M1's ValueSurf+ may be a better deal for just an additional $1 per month.

When you take into consideration the perks of being a re-contracting M1 customer and StarHub's option to upsize the local data bundle with 1GB extra per month for $2.14, existing M1 customers on the basic tier plan will have a slight advantage with 3GB of total local data bundle at no extra cost. Considering the extra talk time offered by M1, for light users, the orange team is a better deal.

On the other hand, if you tend to overuse your data plan, e.g. 14GB or more per month, StarHub is a better fit for your needs as the data cap of $62.40 limits your overall phone bill at $100.40.

Basic 3G Data Consumption Cost
Usage (GB) M1 SingTel StarHub (3G)
1 $39.00 $39.90 $38.00
2 $39.00 $39.90 $38.00
3 $44.35 $45.25 $44.42
4 $49.70 $50.60 $50.84
5 $55.05 $55.95 $57.26
6 $60.40 $61.30 $63.68
7 $65.75 $66.65 $70.10
8 $71.10 $72.00 $76.52
9 $76.45 $77.35 $82.94
10 $81.80 $82.70 $89.36
11 $87.15 $88.05 $95.78
12 $92.50 $93.40 $100.40
13 $97.85 $98.75 $100.40
14 $103.20 $104.10 $100.40
16 $108.55 $109.45 $100.40
17 $113.90 $114.80 $100.40
18 $119.25 $120.15 $100.40
19 $129.95 $130.85 $100.40
20 $143.86 $133.90 $100.40
21 $143.86 $133.90 $100.40

 

Analysis for 4G Plan

Again starting off from a price point perspective where you use within the given entitlements (outgoing mins, local SMS & local data bundle), StarHub's SmartSurf Lite is the most affordable at $38. If you need slightly more talk time, M1's ValueSurf+ offers an additional 20 minutes. 

When you take into consideration the perks of being an existing M1 customer and StarHub's option to upsize the local bundle with 1GB extra per month for $2.14, M1's ValueSurf is a better deal at $39 whereas you have to fork out $2.14 for 3GB local data bundle on StarHub.

For the more 'haphazard' users, if you tend to use 14GB or more data per month, StarHub is a better fit for your needs as the data cap of $62.40 limits your overall phone bill to $100.40 (assuming you've not overused your other entitlements such as talk time and others).

Basic 4G Data Consumption Cost
Usage (GB) M1 SingTel StarHub
1 $39.00 $39.90 $38.00
2 $39.00 $39.90 $38.00
3 $44.35 $50.60 $44.42
4 $49.70 $61.30 $50.84
5 $55.05 $72.00 $57.26
6 $60.40 $82.70 $63.68
7 $65.75 $93.40 $70.10
8 $71.10 $104.10 $76.52
9 $76.45 $114.80 $82.94
10 $81.80 $125.50 $89.36
11 $87.15 $133.90 $100.40
12 $92.50 $133.90 $100.40
13 $97.85 $133.90 $100.40
14 $103.20 $133.90 $100.40
15 $108.55 $133.90 $100.40
16 $113.90 $133.90 $100.40
17 $119.25 $133.90 $100.40
18 $124.60 $133.90 $100.40
19 $129.95 $133.90 $100.40
20 $133.16 $133.90 $100.40
21 $133.16 $133.90 $100.40

 

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