Singtel has spotted a market demand for data, and responded with these baffling bundles:
Screenshot of Singtel webpage
Singtel subscribers always had the option of adding extra data of 1GB to 4GB to monthly Combo plans. From June 2 onwards, starting at PC Show 2016, Combo plan users get DataMore options of 5GB to 50GB-you get a 50 per cent discount off the monthly subscription if you sign up at the PC Show.
Nothing wrong with it, apart from the 50GB option being incredibly expensive and completely senseless.
Here’s why:
1. There seems to be a lack of conviction.
Rival telco M1 currently offers data add-ons up to 10GB for a monthly S$69.55. Starhub offers 3GB add-on data for S$25.68 per month. The pay-per-use alternative would be S$10.70/GB.
Current MyRepublic broadband customers may even get a S$60-per-month unlimited data plan (assuming it includes voice and SMS) if the company succeeds in becoming Singapore’s fourth telco.
So, why hasn’t Singtel taken the opportunity to tout “Unlimited” for their range topper? It seems like a misstep to stubbornly stick to a S$8.56/GB increment and not offer progressive discounts for bigger data bundles-especially if customers will be tied to a 12-month contract. Because…
2. You can rent a WiFi router with unlimited data at Changi Airport.
From Changi Recommends, S$10 a day (i.e. no more than S$310 a month), 4G-no less-and no strings attached. Singtel’s DataMore ties you down for 12 months. Of course, you could get it at the PC Show (June 2 to 5) and you only pay S$267.50 per month. However…
3. Exactly what purpose does it serve?
The idea is that this is for families as the extra data can be shared amongst multiple users. (And the router route only works if they are hovering around you all the time.)
But your dependents need to be subscribed to a plan called MobileShare Supplementary-$10.70 per month, no call, no SMS, 500MB data. So…
4. Chances are: the children have their Youth plans, parents and in-laws will probably prefer good broadband connections, and if you have helpers…
There you go: If you regularly share your data connection with employees or people around you and you don’t like asking for WiFi passwords – and you spend a lot of time on social media, playing games and watching videos on-the-go – then Singtel’s 50GB add-on data bundle makes sense.
But for the rest of us, it’s one to avoid.
By the editors of Men’s Health
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