Starting today, you can pay for your public transit by using your smartphone with the new EZ-Link NFC SIM card. The SIM card also lets you pay at supported retail terminals using your EZ-Link purse money like before.
What is this new EZ-Link NFC SIM card?
The new EZ-Link NFC SIM card uses an NFC-enabled smartphone to allow users to pay for rides on MRT, LRT and public buses. The SIM card will store your digital credit, like how a typical EZ-Link card has its own e-purse for transactions. Users with the new SIM card only need to turn on their NFC feature on their smartphone, and they can pay for rides as if the phone is an EZ-Link card itself. The new SIM card also works with 30,000 other retail and food & beverage outlets which supports the EZ-Link NFC payment method.
While it’s possible to pay for rides using nothing but a smartphone, EZ-Link still recommends users to carry a spare EZ-Link card in case of any difficulty with the new payment method, according to their FAQ.
How do I top up EZ-Link value on it?
You can top up the EZ-Link SIM card’s purse with conventional top-up methods, such as the General Ticketing Machines found within MRT stations, the Add Value Machine in a bus interchange, or even through the EZ-Link App from the Google Play Store. The maximum top-up value is $500 – which is the same as the standard EZ-Link card. Users can also use GIRO to link to their EZ-Link NFC SIM.
How do I get this NFC SIM card?
Interested users need to go to their current telcos to acquire the new SIM cards. Each telco gave a different name for the EZ-Link NFC SIM cards that are peddled by the respective brands.
M1 users can get the new NFC transit SIM card as early as today (29th March 2016), at S$37.45 (GST included). M1’s launch promotion for the NFC transit SIM card waives the S$9.10 activation fee for customers signing up from tomorrow until 30th April 2016, while stocks last.
StarHub users can get the new NFC Transit SIM from 2nd April 2016 onwards. They are charging S$37.45 for a new SIM card, and only S$26.75 for a SIM card replacement. The S$5 NFC EZ-link purse fee is waived till further notice as a launch promotion.
Singtel users can get the Singtel Transit NFC SIM in “late April”, at “prevailing SIM rates”. According to Singtel’s Terms & Conditions, a change of SIM card will be S$37.45 for existing customers. The S$5 EZ-Link registration fee will also be waived for a limited time.
Can my phone use the new card?
As amazing as paying for rides on your phones can be, this feature will only work with specific NFC-enabled smartphones. The full list (as of 28th March 2016) is on the EZ-Link website, and we have it below as well:
- LG Optimus G
- LG Optimus G Pro
- Samsung GALAXY ACE 3 With LTE
- Samsung GALAXY Note II LTE
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5 4G+
- Samsung GALAXY Note Edge 4G+
- Samsung GALAXY S III
- Samsung GALAXY S III LTE
- Samsung Galaxy S6 4G+
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ 4G+
- Samsung Galaxy S7 4G+
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge 4G+
- Sony Xperia Z
- Sony Xperia Z2
- Sony Xperia Z3
- Sony Xperia Z3 Compact
- Sony Xperia Z5
- Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
- Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
Since Apple currently locks their iPhone’s NFC chip to only allow Apple Pay support, we will likely not see iPhones enjoying the benefits of the new NFC SIM cards until the restriction is taken off.
Is the old EZ-Link SIM card the same as this new card?
Back in 2012, EZ-Link Pte Ltd first launched the EZ-Link NFC SIM card, and it was compatible only for payment at EZ-Link supported merchants. There are more than 30,000 EZ-Link acceptance points island-wide, and it includes shopping, retail, food & beverage outlets, and taxis. In order to wirelessly pay for both public transport and retail with a compatible smartphone, users will need to get the newly launched EZ-Link NFC SIM card that supports both functions. Old EZ-Link NFC SIM cards expiring before 26th Aug 2020 cannot be used for transit payments; it is required for users switch to the new SIM card to enjoy the extra convenience.
The official FAQ for the new EZ-Link SIM card can be found here.
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.