Conspiracy theorists are busy spreading fake news about how 5G causes cancer and spreads Covid-19. But Singapore, ever the early adopter of technology, doesn’t care.
We’ll have full 5G coverage within five years, and already, telcos are starting to offer teasers. Starhub was the first telco to release 5G services, followed by Singtel, and now M1.
In a nutshell, 5G networks allow for much higher transmission speeds than their 4G predecessors. On a very basic level, that means less laggy internet on your computer and mobile devices.
5G will also dramatically expand what we can do on the internet, from virtual reality gaming to video surveillance. Given time, it could boost business and urban infrastructure too, realising the government’s dream of turning Singapore into a Smart City.
What are the 5G networks by Singapore telcos?
Hold your horses! 5G is still very much a nascent thing here. The two 5G networks were announced in April 2020, so it will take some time before island-wide network coverage is rolled out.
The two nationwide 5G networks that have been approved by IMDA, one being run by Singtel and the other a joint venture between StarHub and M1, will only be ready by 2025. To date, trial use of 5G has already taken place in certain maritime operations.
Meanwhile, local telcos have lost no time rolling out their own 5G plans so customers can test out the new network.
Singtel 5G mobile plans
There was a free trial for Singtel’s 5G services, but it’s been over-subscribed. But existing customers can still experience those sweet 5G speeds if they have a compatible device on selected plans.
To test out Singtel’s 5G network, you need to purchase an extra 10GB of data when you sign up for or recontract a Combo or XO mobile plan on a 5G compatible device. 10GB of extra data usually costs $15 a month, but you can now have it for $10 a month while the promotion is still on.
You can give 5G a spin if you get one of the below phones together with a Combo 3 plan. Just pay the price of the phone listed below, a monthly fee for your phone usage, as well as an additional $10 a month for the extra 10GB of data and 5G data access.
| Singtel 5G mobile phones | |||
| Phone model | Price of phone | Monthly fee | Data / outgoing talktime / SMS |
| Huawei P40 Pro 5G | From $188 | $72.90 | 3GB / Unlimited / Unlimited |
| Vivo X50 Pro 5G | From $298 | $72.90 | 3GB / Unlimited / Unlimited |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G | From $338 | $72.90 | 3GB / Unlimited / Unlimited |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | From $548 | $72.90 | 3GB / Unlimited / Unlimited |
M1 5G mobile phone plans
If you’re an M1 user with a 5G-compatible device, you’re entitled to enjoy 5G straight away, no matter what plan you’re on. The catch is that you have to first purchase a 5G Booster Pack on top of your regular plan to experience the glory of 5G.
Here are the Booster Packs on offer:
| M1 5G mobile phone Booster Packs | Data allowance |
| $5/month (for M1 customers with unlimited data plan) | – |
| $5/month (for 6 months) | 25GB on top of existing plan |
| $8/month (for 6 months) | 45GB on top of existing plan |
| $12/month (for 6 months) | 100GB on top of an existing plan |
Want to switch to M1? You’ll need a 5G mobile phone and a plan first. Then you can tack on your Booster Pack and surf the 5G wave.
| M1 5G mobile phones | |||
| Phone model | Price of phone | Monthly fee | Data / outgoing talktime / SMS |
| Huawei P40 Pro 5G | $0 | $78 | 42GB / 300 min / 300 SMS |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G | $300 | $78 | 42GB / 300 min / 300 SMS |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G | $700 | $78 | 42GB / 300 min / 300 SMS |
Starhub 5G mobile phone plans
Instead of making you buy an add-on in order to try out the 5G network, Starhub offers straight-up 2-year 5G mobile plans.
| Starhub 5G mobile phone plans | Data / outgoing talktime / SMS | Additional freebies |
| Mobile+ $65 2-year plan | 30GB / 200 min / 200 SMS | Free 12-month StarHub TV+
Free 1-month Antstream with thousands of classic games |
| Mobile+ $95 2-year plan | 60GB / 600 min / 600 SMS | Free 12-month StarHub TV+
Free 1-month Antstream with thousands of classic games |
| Mobile+ $155 2-year plan | 120GB / 1,000 min / 1,000 SMS | Free 12-month StarHub TV+
Free 1-month Antstream with thousands of classic games |
You’ll need a phone with 5G capabilities to use the above plans. The phones below can be bought in conjunction with Starhub’s Mobile+ 2-year 5G plans. Here’s how much you’ll pay if you get these plans with the Mobile +2 $95 plan.
| Starhub 5G mobile phones | |||
| Phone model | Price of phone | Monthly fee | Data / outgoing talktime / SMS |
| Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G | $259 | $95 | 60GB / 600 min / 600 SMS |
| Huawei P40 Pro+ 5G | $369 | $95 | 60GB / 600 min / 600 SMS |
| Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G | $599 | $95 | 60GB / 600 min / 600 SMS |
How about SIM-only plans in Singapore?
So, maybe you’re not an early adopter and aren’t ready to jump on the 5G bandwagon yet. Or maybe you just want the cheapest possible plan that still gets you a decent amount of data.
SIM-only plans are probably the best value you can get out of a phone plan. They’re so cheap because they don’t come with phones, which suits us just fine because there’s no need to replace your phone every five seconds. Check out MoneySmart’s review of the cheapest SIM-only plans.
Do you plan to try the new 5G network? Share this article with a fellow 5G fan!