Travel Singapore eSIM | Singtel, StarHub & M1 Coverage
Roami
Roami is a global eSIM carrier focused on travel connectivity. This guide is compiled from network data, official carrier and manufacturer documentation, and traveler inquiries.
📑 Table of Contents
A Singapore eSIM contest is fought indoors, not across open countryside — this guide compares the three networks on the thing that matters most in a city-state: in-building reach. Singapore is too compact for the rural coverage gaps a large country suffers, so the real contest between its three networks is how well each one reaches indoors. On Ookla’s 2H 2025 Singapore report, Singtel was named Best Mobile Network and Best 5G Network, with a Speedtest Connectivity Score of 87.22. StarHub and M1 sit close behind and are often cheaper for the same data. Which one is best for you depends on where you stay, how long you visit, and whether your trip spills into Malaysia or Indonesia. A Singapore eSIM is the easiest way to land already connected, and the prepaid tourist tiers from all three carriers are open to foreign passport holders. Nothing anonymous made it into this guide; the closing source list covers every Singapore figure.
Quick answer: For a short trip, Singtel’s tourist plan is the least-effort option; for longer stays, StarHub tends to win on price per gigabyte. The sections below break down where Singtel and StarHub each shine — and if this is your first eSIM, start with the activation walkthrough.
Before anything else, confirm the handset actually supports eSIM. The eSIM compatibility quiz settles that in under a minute, and the explainer on what eSIM activation is and how it works covers what happens when a profile downloads. From here on, it is all about the carriers.
Quick verdict: Staying in Marina Bay, Orchard or the CBD? Singtel is the fastest and most consistent network, and it is the only one with genuinely dependable coverage in deep MRT tunnels and basements. Want the cheapest entry? StarHub and M1 both sell a tourist eSIM from S$12. Commuting to Johor Bahru or taking the ferry to Batam? Singtel, StarHub and M1 tourist eSIMs all bundle Malaysia and Indonesia roaming data. Want to skip the passport eKYC and the 30 day passport limit? free trial tests the networks at no cost, and the code WEB20 cuts 20% from Singapore prepaid eSIM plans.
Singapore eSIM carriers: Singtel, StarHub and M1
Singtel, StarHub and M1 compared for visitors
| Singtel | StarHub | M1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepaid tourist eSIM for visitors | Yes, hi! Tourist eSIM (S$10 / S$15 / S$30) | Yes, Travel eSIM (S$12 / S$15 / S$30) | Yes, Tourist eSIM (S$12 / S$13) |
| Where it wins | Best overall network, widest coverage, strongest underground | Best value on bundled regional roaming | Cheapest entry, flexible 15 day validity |
| 5G architecture | Standalone on n1, n3, n78 and n28 | Standalone on n1, n3, n78 and n28 | Standalone on n1, n3, n78 and n28 |
| Getting it as a visitor | ★★★ passport eKYC, foreign passport holders only | ★★★ passport eKYC, activate within 18 days | ★★★ passport eKYC, pick up or instant |
Passport eKYC applies to all three majors, so every visitor clears the same identity hoop before a profile is issued. What separates them is reach and price: Singtel holds the underground layer and the widest footprint, while StarHub and M1 trade some coverage breadth for cheaper entry and fatter Malaysia and Indonesia roaming bundles.
Which budget brands sell eSIMs in Singapore?
Singapore’s fourth tier is where visitors find the lowest prices, and several of these brands now support eSIM too.
| Virtual brand | Host network | eSIM support | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIMBA (formerly TPG) | Own network, fourth mobile operator | Prepaid eSIM available | Budget travelers wanting the lowest price |
| Circles.Life | M1 network | App based eSIM | Longer stays with no contract |
| GOMO | Singtel network | eSIM available | Simple, no fuss data plans |
| MyRepublic Mobile | Budget brand | eSIM available | Value seekers on M1 coverage |
GOMO is the one worth singling out, because it is Singtel’s own digital-only brand rather than a reseller with a markup: a GOMO eSIM gives you Singtel’s network without a Singtel contract, sold through the app and still subject to the same registration rules as the parent brand.
Two cautions. First, budget brands and the cheaper tourist tiers cap or shape speed once a fair usage threshold is passed, so read the fine print before you rely on them for hotspotting a laptop. Second, a plan bought from any single carrier or budget brand is tied to one network. You get Singtel’s towers on a Singtel eSIM and nobody else’s, which matters the moment you care about underground coverage or a cross border hop.
Two more virtual brands appear in Singapore search results without ever appearing in a tourist guide. Vivifi is a no-frills MVNO on Singtel’s network: app-only sign-up, month-to-month plans, no shops, and it is the name locals raise when Circles.Life’s pricing creeps upward. Its eSIM is issued in the app and limited to listed handsets, so confirm your model before planning around it. redONE started in Malaysia and sells in Singapore through neighbourhood agent shops rather than an online checkout, which makes it hard to arrange before you land and largely pointless for a five-day stay — its appeal is a cheap line with calls to Malaysia bundled in. Neither beats a travel eSIM for a short visit, but for a month-long stay both are worth pricing against GOMO and SIMBA.
Singapore carrier eSIMs vs travel eSIMs: the differences
| Direct from a Singapore carrier | Travel eSIM on a Singapore network | |
|---|---|---|
| What you need | Passport for eKYC; foreign passport only for tourist tiers | A compatible, unlocked phone |
| How the profile arrives | eSIM QR by email after ID verification | QR code or app install immediately after checkout |
| Typical tourist cost | From S$10 to S$30 for 7 to 30 days | A single upfront price, no SIM fee |
| Network access | One carrier | Automatic switching between Singtel, StarHub and M1 |
| Best for | Stays needing a local number and regional roaming | Landing connected, short trips, no paperwork |
The economics favor a travel eSIM for a normal holiday. A carrier tourist eSIM is great when you want a real Singapore number and Malaysia or Indonesia roaming baked in, but it forces you through passport eKYC and caps the passport registration at 30 days. A travel eSIM buys data at wholesale and lets the device move between networks without any paperwork.
💡 A multi network eSIM profile is the practical middle path: Roami’s Singapore eSIM keeps the convenience of instant delivery, switches automatically between Singtel, StarHub and M1, and still lands you on Singtel in the MRT where that matters most.
Is your phone eSIM-ready for Singapore?
Three things decide whether your phone works on a Singapore carrier: its bands, its lock status, and a short list of device specific quirks. All three are covered below.
Do international phones support Singapore’s bands?
Singapore’s 5G is built on specific bands: n78 (3500 MHz) is the primary band all three carriers use for capacity, backed by n1 (2100 MHz) and n3 (1800 MHz), with n28 (700 MHz) used to push coverage into buildings and underground. The LTE layer runs on B1, B3, B7, B8 and B28. Most international handsets sold in the last three years support these bands, but some regional variants miss n28, which is exactly the band that helps deep indoors.
You do not need to memorize the band tables. The reliable move is to check your exact model, model number not marketing name, against compatibility lookup tool. If you want the underlying mechanics first, what your phone does when it loads an eSIM profile explains the process.
Will a SIM lock block your Singapore eSIM?
A locked phone is the most common reason a Singapore eSIM install simply fails, and Singapore’s rule here is the opposite of what many visitors expect.
Singapore has prohibited SIM locking of devices sold locally since 1997, when the then telecoms regulator barred operators from locking phones, tablets and smartwatches imported and sold in the country. In practice that means a phone you buy from a Singapore carrier is unlocked by default. The catch is your own phone: a handset you bring from home may still be locked to its home carrier, and no Singapore operator can unlock it. That lock, not the local rule, is what blocks your eSIM.
Check it: on an iPhone open Settings, then General, About, and Carrier Lock. If it shows “No SIM restrictions” you are clear. If it shows “SIM locked” no third party eSIM will install until that changes.
Fix it: contact the carrier the phone is locked to and request an unlock. Devices that are paid off are normally cleared within hours, and there is usually no fee. Only then try installing your eSIM.
If you bought a used phone, assume it may be locked and check before you fly. Full detail: IMDA, Singapore’s telecoms regulator.
Which devices have trouble with Singapore eSIMs?
| Device | Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland China iPhone models | No “Add eSIM” option at all, the hardware is disabled in that market | Not fixable; use a physical SIM or another device |
| Carrier purchased phone still locked to home network | eSIM install fails at the carrier check | Unlock with the home carrier before you fly |
| Phone without n28 (700 MHz) | Weaker deep indoor and basement signal | Expected; prefer Singtel where underground coverage matters |
| Dual SIM users | eSIM installed but no data | Set the eSIM as the line used for mobile data |
Anything beyond this is device specific rather than carrier specific. Run your model through the eSIM compatibility checker before you spend money on a plan.
How to buy a Singapore tourist eSIM
Three routes exist and they differ more in paperwork than in price: Singtel’s hi! Tourist eSIM, StarHub’s Travel eSIM, and M1’s Tourist eSIM. Each route, step by step.
Can you buy a Singapore eSIM from Singtel?
Singtel’s hi! Tourist product is built for this. It is sold to foreign passport holders only, so it is the cleanest visitor route of the three.
Singtel hi! Tourist eSIM, step by step:
- Order the tourist eSIM online from the Singtel hi! Tourist page and pick a tier.
- Complete passport eKYC at checkout. A local address is not required.
- Receive a confirmation email with your eSIM details after payment.
- Install the profile in your phone settings and you are done. No physical SIM, no store visit.
Singtel markets three tourist tiers: a S$10 plan for 7 days with 500GB of 5G+ data across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong plus unlimited local calls and SMS; a S$15 plan for 30 days with 500GB of 5G+ data, 18GB of APAC roaming, 8GB of worldwide roaming and unlimited local calls and SMS; and a S$30 plan for 30 days with 1000GB of 5G+ data, 100GB of Asia roaming, 18GB of worldwide roaming and unlimited local calls and SMS. Passport registration is valid for 30 days, after which you must re register with a Singapore issued ID to keep the line.
How to get a StarHub Travel eSIM
StarHub’s Travel eSIM is the value play, especially if you want the largest regional roaming bundles.
For a StarHub Travel eSIM, the newcomer path is online: provide your passport for verification during purchase, and StarHub emails the eSIM QR code to you. The data only eSIM variants arrive as a QR code you install yourself; plans with calls and SMS are also available as physical SIM at Changi Airport counters. One rule to respect: a StarHub Travel eSIM must be activated within 18 days of purchase, so do not buy it weeks before you fly.
How to get an M1 Tourist eSIM
M1’s Tourist eSIM is the cheapest entry and the only one with a genuine 15 day option, which suits short trips better than the 30 day norm.
M1 lets you buy online and either pick up in Singapore or, on selected data only tiers, activate instantly after eKYC with a redemption code. M1’s tourist eSIM comes in a S$12 version valid 15 days with 100GB of local data, 3GB of APAC roaming and 500 local minutes plus 30 international minutes, and a S$13 data only version valid 30 days with 150GB of local data, 3GB of APAC roaming and 1GB of international roaming. M1 also notes that each passport can register up to 3 SIMs with calls and SMS, while data only SIMs are excluded from that cap.
Tourist eSIM prepaid tiers compared
All figures below are current published prepaid tourist eSIM prices in SGD, collected from the carriers’ own pages.
| Carrier | Plan | Price | Validity | Local data | Regional roaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singtel | hi! Tourist | S$10 | 7 days | 500GB 5G+ | SG, MY, ID, TH, HK |
| Singtel | hi! Tourist | S$15 | 30 days | 500GB 5G+ | 18GB APAC + 8GB worldwide |
| Singtel | hi! Tourist | S$30 | 30 days | 1000GB 5G+ | 100GB Asia + 18GB worldwide |
| StarHub | Travel eSIM data only | S$12 | 30 days | 300GB (4G) | 15GB APAC + 200GB SEA |
| StarHub | Travel eSIM data only | S$15 | 30 days | 300GB (5G) | 30GB APAC + 200GB SEA |
| StarHub | Travel eSIM data only | S$30 | 30 days | 400GB (5G) | 95GB APAC + 300GB SEA |
| M1 | Tourist eSIM | S$12 | 15 days | 100GB | 3GB APAC |
| M1 | Tourist eSIM data only | S$13 | 30 days | 150GB | 3GB APAC + 1GB intl |
Prepaid provisioning is tied to one network and to passport eKYC, so plan for the 30 day passport limit if you stay longer than a month. If you only want the cheapest short stay, the M1 S$12 for 15 days or the Singtel S$10 for 7 days are the floor.
What to prepare before you pay for a Singapore eSIM
- Passport — original, required for eKYC on every tourist eSIM
- IMEI and EID — dial
*#06#to confirm eSIM support - A card that works online — some carrier checkouts reject foreign billing addresses
- Wi-Fi — install the profile before you fly, not at the airport
- A clear passport photo — eKYC is faster with a clean scan
Singapore eSIM coverage: Singtel vs StarHub
Two questions settle this section: how fast each network is where you actually are, and what kind of trip you are taking. The Ookla figures below answer the first; the trip type table answers the second.
Singtel vs StarHub: which Singapore carrier is faster?
All figures below come from Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence data for 2H 2025 (collection period July to December 2025) and are national level measurements for Singapore’s three mobile networks. Source: Ookla Speedtest Connectivity Report, Singapore 2H 2025.
| Metric | Singtel | StarHub | M1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speedtest Connectivity Score (Best Mobile Network) | 87.22 | 80.58 | 83.06 |
| Speed Score (Fastest Mobile Network) | 82 | 69.57 | 75.09 |
| Consistency Score | 96.7 | 92.4 | 93.1 |
| 5G Availability | 82.6 | 70.3 | 75.4 |
| Video Streaming Score | 87.82 | 87.21 | 86.4 |
| Game Score (Best Mobile Gaming) | 89.98 | 87.83 | 89.47 |
| 5 Star Rating (Top Rated) | 3.57 | 2.91 | 2.83 |
Where the report does not publish a figure, the cell is left blank rather than estimated. Two things worth noticing: Singtel leads on almost every score and was named both Best Mobile Network and Best 5G Network in Singapore for 2H 2025, while M1 edges StarHub on speed and consistency and StarHub is strongest on the cheapest bundled roaming. These are Ookla’s proprietary scores, not raw megabits per second, so they are best read as a ranking of the three networks rather than a promise for your handset.
For context on the country as a whole, Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index put Singapore’s median mobile download at about 240 Mbps in June 2026, around 20th globally, with 25 ms latency, while fixed broadband leads the world at roughly 635 Mbps. Cable.co.uk prices 1 GB of mobile data in Singapore at about USD 0.63, 59th of 237 markets against a USD 2.59 global average, so local data is cheap but a travel eSIM still beats home roaming by a wide margin.
Best Singapore eSIM by trip type
| Your itinerary | Top pick | Why it wins | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| City break, Marina Bay, Orchard, Chinatown | Singtel | Best overall and strongest underground and MRT coverage | None major |
| Budget traveler | StarHub or M1 | Low S$12 entry with large bundles | StarHub base tier is 4G, not 5G |
| Gamer or streamer | Singtel | Highest Game Score 89.98 and Video 87.82 | Little difference in practice |
| Commuter to Johor Bahru | M1 or Singtel | Includes Malaysia roaming data | Enable data roaming and pick preferred network |
| Ferry to Batam, Indonesia | Singtel or StarHub | Includes Indonesia roaming | Roaming must be enabled before leaving |
| Short 7 day trip | Singtel S$10 or M1 S$12 | Cheapest short validity | M1 S$12 runs 15 days, better value |
| Long 30 day stay | StarHub S$30 or M1 S$13 data only | More data, longer validity | StarHub needs activation within 18 days |
Singtel vs StarHub: coverage compared
Singapore’s 5G coverage follows population: excellent everywhere people live and work, with the only real gaps being deep indoors, MRT tunnels and the smallest offshore islands. What that means area by area:
| Area | Reality on the ground | Best carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Central, Marina Bay, Orchard, CBD | Densest 5G, strongest everywhere, MRT covered | Singtel |
| West, Jurong, Tuas | Excellent city coverage, industrial zones strong | Singtel |
| North, Woodlands, causeway to Johor | Strong, but border congestion; Malaysia roaming handy | M1 or Singtel |
| East, Tampines, Changi, Bedok | 5G on all three, holds along expressways | Singtel |
| Sentosa and southern islands | Resort fully covered; smaller offshore islands patchier | Singtel |
| Deep basements and MRT tunnels | Singtel leads underground via 700 MHz; others thinner | Singtel |
The single most useful fact on this page is that Singapore has no rural coverage gap, but it does have an indoor and underground gap, and Singtel is the carrier that closes it. If your trip is mostly above ground in the city, any of the three works; if you live on the MRT and in shopping basements, Singtel is the safer pick. Crossing into Malaysia at Woodlands or taking the ferry to Batam is where the regional roaming baked into these tourist eSIMs earns its keep.
Planning a route that leaves Singapore? Start with eSIM for Malaysia, or compare Indonesia eSIM plans and the Thailand eSIM page. If your itinerary crosses borders more than once, a Southeast Asia eSIM saves you buying twice.
💡 Automatic network selection is what makes this work. A profile that can move between Singtel, StarHub and M1 covers the indoor and cross border gaps that any single carrier plan cannot.
What APN settings do Singapore eSIMs use?
APN settings are the last thing most travelers need to touch and the first thing worth ruling out when data fails. Below: the values for all three carriers, when manual entry is genuinely required, and the exact menu paths.
APN values for Singtel, StarHub and M1 eSIMs
You will only need these if you bought an eSIM directly from a Singapore carrier. If you are roaming on a travel eSIM, the profile supplies its own APN and you should not change anything.
| Carrier | APN | Username | Password |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singtel | hicard (or internet) |
blank | blank |
| StarHub | shwap (or shinternet; prepaid shppd) |
blank | blank |
| M1 | sunsurf (or sunonet) |
blank | blank |
Leave username and password empty. These values are the commonly used ones for each network; the activation email or app that came with your profile will state the exact value if it differs.
When manual APN entry actually helps in Singapore
On a Singtel, StarHub or M1 tourist eSIM the profile configures its own APN, so treat manual entry as the exception rather than the setup step. It earns its keep when:
- A handset old enough not to fetch carrier settings on its own
- A profile installed from a manual activation code instead of a QR scan
- A carrier issued tourist eSIM where automatic configuration did not run
- Almost never on a travel eSIM, which is the point of a managed profile
How to enter Singapore APN settings on iPhone and Android
- iPhone: open Settings, Cellular, tap the eSIM line, Cellular Data Network, enter the APN
- Android: Settings, Connections, Mobile Networks, Access Point Names, add a new APN
Reboot the phone once you have saved. If data still will not flow, make sure it is the eSIM, not your home SIM, that is chosen as the data line before you touch anything else.
Singapore eSIM won’t activate? Start here
One trip through this section: clean install to working data, with the failure patterns a Singapore network can produce covered in the order they arrive.
Five checks before installing a Singapore eSIM
| # | Check | What good looks like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phone is not carrier locked | Carrier Lock in About shows “No SIM restrictions” |
| 2 | Phone supports eSIM | *#06# shows an EID, or the compatibility list confirms your model |
| 3 | Passport ready for eKYC | Valid original passport |
| 4 | Profile installed before departure | Install on Wi-Fi at home; the profile connects when you land |
| 5 | Data line and roaming set | eSIM selected for mobile data, data roaming on |
Do step 4 at home. Changi Airport has decent Wi-Fi, but the arrivals hall is the worst place to fight a slow download while everyone else does the same.
Singapore eSIM activation, step by step
Each Singapore carrier releases the profile only once passport eKYC clears, then hands you a QR code or an in-app install. The scanning and line-labelling mechanics live in our the activation how-to; the carrier-by-carrier differences are these:
- Singtel: ordered online, eKYC with passport, eSIM details emailed; the S$10 tier is 7 days, the S$15 and S$30 tiers are 30 days
- StarHub: eKYC at purchase, QR emailed, must be activated within 18 days of purchase
- M1: online buy then pick up or instant eKYC on data only tiers; S$12 is 15 days, S$13 is 30 days
- Travel eSIMs: install by QR code, and the same profile roams onto whichever of Singtel, StarHub or M1 is strongest
Five fixes when your Singapore eSIM does not work
General activation errors, a profile that will not download, a scan that fails, an eSIM that installs but never registers, are covered in our eSIM troubleshooting resource. The patterns below are the Singapore specific ones.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| eKYC rejected at purchase | Passport scan unclear or non passport ID used | Re upload a clear passport photo; use a foreign passport |
| eSIM QR never arrived | Email delay or spam folder | Wait up to 5 minutes; check spam; use the carrier app eSIM manager |
| Data stalls after landing | APN not auto configured | Enter the APN manually using the table above |
| No signal in an MRT tunnel | That network has no underground layer there | Switch to Singtel, toggle airplane mode to force re register |
| Regional roaming dead in Malaysia or Indonesia | Data roaming not enabled | Enable roaming, manually pick the preferred network |
A. The eSIM will not install
- Settings -> General -> About holds the Carrier Lock field; it should say “No SIM restrictions”
- Check the QR code is clean and unscanned, most are single use
- Ask whether the profile is queued on the carrier side
B. Installed, but no signal bars
- Re check the lock status
- Settings, Cellular, Network Selection, select Singtel, StarHub or M1 manually
- Wipe network settings and restart the phone
C. Signal bars, but no internet
- Hold the APN up against the table values
- Set the Singapore eSIM as the data line rather than your home SIM.
- Check you have not blown past a fair usage cap that throttles speed
D. No data in Malaysia or Indonesia
- Confirm data roaming is on for the eSIM
- Manually select the preferred partner network
- Reboot and reset network settings if it still will not attach
What to have ready before contacting Singapore eSIM support
| Information | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Order or eKYC reference | Confirmation email |
| Phone model and OS version | Settings, About |
| EID | *#06# |
| Screenshot of the error | Take it before the screen changes |
| Current APN settings | Settings, Cellular Data Network |
| Data roaming status | Settings, your eSIM line |
| Steps already tried | Keep a short list |
FAQ for Singapore eSIM buyers
Can visitors buy a Singtel tourist eSIM?
Yes. Singtel’s hi! Tourist eSIM is sold to foreign passport holders only and comes in S$10 (7 days), S$15 (30 days) and S$30 (30 days) tiers, all with large 5G+ data bundles and regional roaming. You register with a passport through eKYC, and the line is valid for 30 days unless re registered with a Singapore issued ID.
Does StarHub sell a tourist eSIM for visitors?
Yes. StarHub’s Travel eSIM is available from S$12 and comes as a data only eSIM in 4G and 5G tiers, all valid 30 days with generous APAC and Southeast Asia roaming bundles. The one rule is that the eSIM must be activated within 18 days of purchase, so do not buy it too early.
Which carrier wins on coverage in Singapore?
Singtel, on the evidence. It won Ookla’s Best Mobile Network and Best 5G Network for Singapore in 2H 2025 and posts the highest 5G availability at 82.6 percent. Its real edge is indoor and underground coverage, where its 700 MHz layer reaches MRT tunnels and basements that the other two reach less reliably.
Singapore’s budget data plans
From S$10 for a 7 day Singtel tier up to S$30 for the top tiers from all three carriers. The cheapest useful entry is the M1 S$12 plan valid 15 days or the Singtel S$10 plan valid 7 days. StarHub and M1 both start at S$12 for 30 day data only plans.
Is there paperwork for SIMs in Singapore?
Yes. IMDA requires identity verification, called eKYC, for every prepaid SIM and eSIM in Singapore, and visitors verify with a passport. Since July 2024 a passport registration is capped at 30 days of service unless you can show lawful residency, and each passport can register up to 3 mobile services with calls and SMS across all operators.
Are phones in Singapore sold locked?
No. Singapore has prohibited SIM locking of devices sold locally since 1997, so a phone bought from a Singapore carrier is unlocked. The lock you need to worry about is on a phone you bring from home, which may still be tied to its home carrier and must be unlocked there before a Singapore eSIM will install.
Which 5G bands do Singapore carriers use?
The main 5G bands are n78 (3500 MHz) for capacity, n1 (2100 MHz) and n3 (1800 MHz) for coverage, and n28 (700 MHz) for buildings and underground. The LTE layer uses B1, B3, B7, B8 and B28. A phone that supports n78 plus n28 will give the best Singapore experience, especially indoors.
Does a Singapore eSIM cover Malaysia and Indonesia?
Yes, on the tourist tiers. Singtel, StarHub and M1 all bundle regional roaming that covers Malaysia and Indonesia, which matters for the Johor Bahru commute and the Batam ferry. You must enable data roaming and, if it does not attach automatically, manually select the preferred partner network.
Why does signal drop in the MRT tunnels?
Some networks have little or no underground layer in certain tunnel sections, so the signal drops between stations. Singtel’s 700 MHz deployment gives it the best underground reach, which is why it is the recommended carrier for heavy MRT users. Toggling airplane mode forces a fresh registration when you resurface.
Should I buy from a Singapore carrier or a travel eSIM?
Direct means one network, passport eKYC, a 30 day passport cap, and often a real Singapore number with regional roaming. A travel eSIM means instant delivery, no paperwork, automatic switching between Singtel, StarHub and M1, and a fixed upfront price. Short trip: travel eSIM. Need a local number or longest stay: direct.
Which APN does each Singapore carrier use?
Only if you bought direct from a carrier and data stalls. Use hicard for Singtel, shwap for StarHub, or sunsurf for M1, leave username and password blank, then restart. A travel eSIM supplies its own APN and should not be touched.
What if my Singapore eSIM will not activate?
Work the Singapore specific patterns above in order, eKYC, QR delivery, APN, underground signal, then regional roaming, and if it still fails the wider error catalogue in eSIM activation fixes guide covers the rest. Have your EID, order reference and a screenshot ready before you contact support.
More questions? More questions? View the full FAQ →
How we researched this Singapore eSIM guide
- Ookla Speedtest Connectivity Report, Singapore 2H 2025 — the per-carrier report is where every carrier-level number originates: Singtel’s 87.22 Connectivity Score and Best Mobile Network award, StarHub’s 80.58 and M1’s 83.06, along with the Speed, Consistency, 5G Availability, Video, Game and 5-Star rows. National medians of about 240 Mbps mobile and 635 Mbps fixed come from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index.
- IMDA — Singapore’s telecoms regulator documents the prepaid SIM and eSIM registration rules and the 5G standalone policy referenced above.
- Cable.co.uk — the worldwide data-pricing table supports the cost-per-gigabyte comparison used here.
- Carrier pages — Singtel hi! Tourist, StarHub Travel SIM and M1 Tourist SIM are the origins of plan prices, delivery methods and ID requirements.
These are third-party measurements, not our own. Results depend on your handset, the band you latch onto and how busy the nearby cell is.
Get your Singapore eSIM ready before you fly
Roami’s Singapore eSIM moves between Singtel, StarHub and M1 on its own, so you stay covered in the MRT tunnels and across the border into Malaysia or Indonesia. New customers can try it free first, or take 20% off with code WEB20 on Singapore prepaid eSIM plans.
New-customer launch pricing
