How to turn on roaming for Singtel, Starhub, M1, GOMO and more

Roaming is a great way to use your mobile plan overseas. Before you roam, you need either a mobile plan that supports roaming, or an international roaming plan add-on. Then you want to confirm the mobile plan covers the area you're travelling to. To use roaming with an eligible plan or add-on while overseas, ensure roaming and mobile data are enabled on your device. 

Before we look at how to turn on roaming for popular mobile providers in Singapore, here are popular mobile plans that include data roaming or voice and SMS roaming, or offer it via separate add-ons.

How do I activate StarHub roaming?

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Download the StarHub app on your phone. Open the app and select 'Mobile', then 'Add-ons', then 'Roaming', 'Explore', and then 'Activate roaming service'. Tap 'International roaming', then 'Next', and confirm.

StarHub offers roaming in up to 195 destinations, with plans split into three geographical categories: Asia Pacific (20 destinations), Global (81 destinations), and Everywhere (180 destinations).

StarHub offers the DataTravel Unlimited add-on, which includes unlimited data and costs $30 a day. StarHub also offers in-flight data and Maritime Connectivity (both for $25). Alternatively, there's a $10 add-on for 100MB of daily data.

StarHub also has a SIM-only plan that offers unlimited global data (in addition to unlimited local data, local and international calls and SMS, and IDD calls) for $188 per month.

Here's a look at popular StarHub mobile plans that offer roaming inclusions or support roaming add-ons.

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How do I activate Singtel roaming?

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Download the My Singtel app for your phone to activate roaming. Launch the app, then select 'Roaming & Other Add-Ons'. Either select a roaming add-on or find one based on an eligible destination. Then activate roaming from the roaming tab in the Singtel app when you reach your destination, ensuring you also have data roaming enabled in your phone's settings.

Singtel offers roaming plans that cover over 150 global destinations across 4G and 5G networks. ReadyRoam data add-ons offer 30 days of data for a range of countries divided into the following categories: Neighbours (3 countries), Asia (18 countries), Worldwide (81 countries) and Others (157 countries). There are also UnlimitedRoam add-ons, which offer unlimited data (capped at 15GB of high-speed data) in your chosen destination.

There are also My Singtel app add-ons for recurring Malaysia roaming, unlimited inflight data on select flights, and unlimited data on select cruises. If you want to text and call, opt for an SMSVoiceRoam Asia (18 destinations) or Others (157 destinations) add-on, which offers 10 minutes of outgoing talk time plus 10 outgoing texts with a 30-day expiry.

Here's a look at some popular Singtel plans that you can add roaming to.

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How do I activate SIMBA roaming?

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All SIMBA mobile plans include roaming, and the base data can be used freely throughout Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia (plus Indonesia, for plans $10 and above, and Thailand, for plans $12 and above). Additionally, users can pay extra for excess data from $4 per gigabyte to $30 per gigabyte. Prices vary based on whether it's a Group A, B, C or D destination. No application is required to activate roaming. Simply ensure your phone has data roaming set to "on", and to check you're ready to go, SMS "3" to 1218.

All SIMBA plans include free VoLTE outgoing calls to Singapore mobiles from abroad, while outgoing calls to local numbers or Singapore fixed lines from VoLTE-supported overseas destinations will be deducted from your plan's included IDD minutes.

SIMBA mobile plans include data roaming for 65 selected countries, with the full reach of destinations covering over 140 locations. Check out popular SIMBA plans below, which include roaming.

How do I activate Circles.Life roaming?

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Circles.Life users use the Circles.Life app to activate roaming. Download and open the Circles.Life app. Now select a roaming booster or add-on in terms of country, call minutes, data and duration. Once activated, international roaming is automatically switched on.

While most Circles.Life plans include some amount of roaming data, they also offer daily and monthly roaming add-ons. "Go Roam" add-ons are available for short-term travel (seven days), while recurring "Super Roam" packs are perfect for longer visits. Packs are divided into the following countries: Asia (7 destinations), APAC Plus (14 destinations), Europe (21 destinations) and Global (15 destinations).

Circles.Life also offers a pay-as-you-go option for any countries not included in its roaming add-ons. Here's a look at some popular Circles.Life plans that support roaming add-ons.

How do I activate M1 roaming?

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M1 offers daily and monthly subscriptions for data roaming, or you can opt for pay-as-you-go roaming. While pay-as-you-go roaming is activated by default, a roaming subscription needs to be activated. First, download the My M1+ app. Open the app, then head to the 'Roaming' tab, choose your destination, and hit 'Activate'. Roaming subscriptions can be deactivated the same way.

M1's Daily Passport and Data Passport allow you to use your plan's included data overseas for a period of one day or one month. Both are available for use in over 70 destinations. The Daily passport ranges from $2.95 per day to $8.95 per day, plus a $4.95 subscription charge per bill cycle in the month of travel. The Data passport ranges from $15 per month to $65 per month, plus a $5 activation fee.

Here's a look at some popular M1 mobile plans you can add roaming to.

How do I activate Maxx roaming?

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To activate Maxx data roaming, simply ensure your device has roaming switched on, and check your roaming allowance in the Maxx app.

All Maxx SIM-only plans offer data roaming to over 20 countries. All plans include at least 2GB of international roaming and 10GB of APAC roaming. In some plans, data can be used in Singapore, Malaysia and/or Indonesia. Maxx also offers data roaming add-ons to 41 countries. Just select one of three add-ons in the Maxx app and head to the checkout. Each add-on is 1GB, though the price ranges from $6 to $16 per GB depend on the destination you’re heading to.

Here are some popular Maxx mobile plans that include roaming data:

How do I activate giga roaming?

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To activate giga roaming, simply ensure your device has roaming data switched on. All plans now come with free monthly roaming to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and South Korea. Depending on your plan, you can enjoy up to 16GB of Asia roaming data and up to 12GB international roaming data.

If you exceed your roaming allowance, there are two gigaRoam packs available. Pay $5 for the gigaRoam APAC pass for 1GB of data that's valid for five days (14 destinations). Or pay $15 for 1GB that's valid for 15 days (48 countries).

Roaming packs are automatically activated for giga users once they arrive at an eligible destination. Users can buy gigaRoam packs up to three months before travelling.

Here are some popular giga mobile plans that support roaming add-ons.

How do I activate GOMO roaming?

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Download the GOMO app to activate roaming. Use the 'Add-ons' app to choose from Asia or Worldwide roaming. If you have issues with roaming, GOMO advises ensuring Access Point Network (APN) is set to 'hicard'. Check this setting under Mobile Data Network on iOS phones or by searching for 'Access Point Names' on Android phones.

GOMO includes some amount of roaming data in each of its plans, but for those looking for more data (or who are going to destinations not included in their plan), there are add-ons available. GOMO splits its roaming plans into two geographical categories: Asia, which includes 15 destinations, and Worldwide, which includes 50 destinations. Additionally, there are also single-destination packs available for selected neighbouring countries.

Here are some popular GOMO mobile plans that you can add roaming to.

How do I activate Zero1 roaming?

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Zero1 users activate roaming by logging into their Zero1 account via My Services Management. Select a Data Roam add-on either on your travel start date or up to 14 days earlier. Look out for a confirmation email and SMS.

Although most plans include some roaming data, travellers can use one of 14 Zero1 14 Data Roam packs, which cover destinations across Asia and the rest of the world. We won't list all of them here, but the RoamLite packages offer the best value roaming for Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Asia (19 destinations) and Europe & USA (45 destinations).

Need a Zero1 mobile plan first? Here are some popular picks.

How do I activate redONE roaming?

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redONE roaming is activated by default. All you need to do is enable data roaming in your device's settings.

All plans include APAC data roaming with additional roaming packages available for purchase if you need more data. These packs are valid for 30 days from the day of activation and are valid for Group A destinations (Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand) and Group B destinations (Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Laos, Macau, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam) only. Destinations outside these groups will be charged on a pay-per-use basis.

Here's a look at some popular redONE mobile plans.

How do I activate VIVIFI roaming?

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Activate roaming with VIVIFI by logging in via the website using your VIVIFI.me account. Select 'Manage', then 'Roaming'. Confirm the mobile number you'd like to roam with, then select the 'View/Edit' button beneath 'Action'. Toggle 'Global Roaming' on.

VIVIFI offers plans with included Asia roaming as well as add-ons for individual destinations and four geographical groups: Zone Asia (18 destinations), Zone Worldwide (80 destinations), and Zone Others (147 destinations).

Here are some popular VIVIFI mobile plans to choose from.

How do I activate MyRepublic roaming?

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To activate roaming, log in to the MyRepublic phone app, tap on 'Manage Roaming' and then toggle 'Roaming Service' to enable or disable it. Data roaming must also be enabled in your phone's settings.

All MyRepublic SIM-only plans include data roaming, however if you need more or need data for a country not listed in your plan's inclusions, there are a number of add-ons to choose from, as well as reasonable pay-as-you-go rates. Each add-ons is divided into groups: Asia I (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong), Asia II & USA (China and USA), Asia III & Canada (Japan, South Korea, The Philippines, Canada), Pacific (Australia and New Zealand), Emerging Asia (India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Brunei, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia) and Worldwide (51 destinations).

Here are some popular MyRepublic mobile plans to consider.

How do I activate CMLink roaming?

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By default, CMLink mobile plans include data roaming for mainland China and Hong Kong, plus additional Asia roaming data. CMLink users can also purchase roaming add-ons to use data in a specific country. SMS 'AIR' to 75086 to activate international roaming at no extra charge.

Below is a list of popular CMLink plans that include data sharing for Singapore, mainland China and Hong Kong.

How do I activate eight roaming?

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eight mobile plans come with included data for APAC roaming as well as international roaming to 57 destinations. Add-ons are available for countries not included, ranging from $8.88 per GB to $28.88 per GB.

Activating roaming is as simple as enabling Mobile Data and Data Roaming in your phone's settings, and ensuring that your phone's Access Point Network (APN) is set to "shwap".

Below is a list of popular eight plans that include data roaming.

How do I activate ZYM Mobile roaming?

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To activate roaming for your ZYM Mobile service, ensure you have enabled data roaming in your phone's settings, then log into the app, navigate to your account, and add roaming packs as needed.

In addition to the roaming data included in your plan, ZYM offers roaming packs for Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, 9 or 18 destinations in Asia, and 81 destinations worldwide.

Here are some ZYM Mobile plans to consider pairing with your roaming pack.