Getting a prepaid SIM card in China

ahyeo

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Hi all,

Just wondering if it is easy and cheap to buy a pre-paid sim card in China. Visiting for just 5 days, and need a sim for data and voice calls.

Anyone had recommendations and price?


Cheers,
 

zzxxzzxx

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http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/c...ss-great-firewall-china-5223380-new-post.html

M1 have data passport, but expensive for 5 days use in China. For Postpaid
Starhub Happy Roam on their Prepaid.
$20 for 3.6GB that last 30 days.
But need min $8 in the prepaid account.

It's not easy to get prepaid SIM in China.
If you only want Data, other alternatives are better.

If you need a China number, get one that is cheapest. Do note you need to physically go back to the shop to Terminate your prepaid SIM. Else you'll be black listed.

Also do Note VPN services are currently curbed by China. So you can't use Google services and Facebook.
 

muthiahs

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sorry for the blur / noob question. i'm visiting China soon and wondering how I enable the Happy Roam service. Just buy Happy prepaid, subscribe to a dataplan and can use in China? I'll be using on a dual-sim to use SG local number also. So anything to consider as I'm worried if enabling data roaming will charge to my local SG number also. Thanks.
 

SkyBlueCheng

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Hi all,

Just wondering if it is easy and cheap to buy a pre-paid sim card in China. Visiting for just 5 days, and need a sim for data and voice calls.

Anyone had recommendations and price?


Cheers,
Yes, it is quite easy to buy pre-paid sim in China. Most China airports have telecom counters that sell the sim card. Price varies from 80 to 150 rmb which will allow you to use for at least 1 week.

Outside the airport, you can also get to buy from telecom sales office or authorised dealers. Sometimes can be time-consuming to look for them so my recommendation is to buy from the airport.
 

zzxxzzxx

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http://m.mydrivers.com/newsview/543126.html?ref=

Baidu Prepaid SIM 百度圣卡

RMB$9 - No Free Stuff
- RMB$15/1GB/Month (Whole China)

RMB$19 - Free 1GB/Month (Whole China)
- RMB$10/1GB/Month (Whole China)

RMB$59 - Free 4GB/Month (Whole China) + 200 Minutes Outgoing
- RMB$10/1GB/Month (Whole China)

RMB$0.10/Minute Outgoing
RMB$0.10/SMS
RMB$1/500MB/Day/Province

But reading through, only local can get it.
 

twinklingstars

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i can't use m1 data passport as my phone plan is not eligible. does anyone know if hotmail is accessible in china? what vpn can i use to bypass the firewall? thanks!
 

twinklingstars

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Yes, it is quite easy to buy pre-paid sim in China. Most China airports have telecom counters that sell the sim card. Price varies from 80 to 150 rmb which will allow you to use for at least 1 week.

Outside the airport, you can also get to buy from telecom sales office or authorised dealers. Sometimes can be time-consuming to look for them so my recommendation is to buy from the airport.

can foreigners buy these sim cards?
 

zzxxzzxx

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Most major airport sells prepaid(?) SIM @ around RMB$180 for 4GB data plus some minutes.
Foreigners are able to get it.

Can be seen even before you exit the custom.
 

zzxxzzxx

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i can't use m1 data passport as my phone plan is not eligible. does anyone know if hotmail is accessible in china? what vpn can i use to bypass the firewall? thanks!

The the easiest thing to do, just grab a Starhub Prepaid SIM from Singapore Changi Airport. SGD$15 for $18 credit.

Can use for $5/1GB/3Days * 3 = $15/3GB/9Days
Longer Trips can go for $10/1.2GB/30Days, or $15/2.4GB/30Days
 

twinklingstars

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I just reached beijing, got the starhub prepaid card at changi airport. It has 2GB data which i can use overseas. I turned on my mobile data and data roaming, but i couldn't make any calls nor access the internet. Any idea why?
 

dilphinus

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I just reached beijing, got the starhub prepaid card at changi airport. It has 2GB data which i can use overseas. I turned on my mobile data and data roaming, but i couldn't make any calls nor access the internet. Any idea why?

Need to activate it.

VBIOpI0.png
 
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bulb33

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starhub prepaid in China

Hi, would like to check if anyone has tried roaming in Beijing with starhub prepaid? a friend tried 2 weeks ago and his feedback is good... because can access to google and facebook. :look: anyone can share experience? needed a 2nd opinion

Thanks in advance
 

zzxxzzxx

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I just reached beijing, got the starhub prepaid card at changi airport. It has 2GB data which i can use overseas. I turned on my mobile data and data roaming, but i couldn't make any calls nor access the internet. Any idea why?

If you've purchased the $32GB prepaid card from Singapore Changi Airport, it comes with 2GB Roaming Data for 10 Days.
The $50 card gives 5GB for 30 Days of Data Roaming.

I'm not sure why you can't use it.
1. Was the card activated in Singapore?
2. Did you download the Happy Prepaid App?
3. Did you activate Data Roaming?
4. Did you set the APN on your phone?
5. Where you able to connect to the China network?
6. Do you see 2G/E/H/H+/3G+/4G?

I'd advice to get the counter to setup the Prepaid App on your phone with all settings done.
Like activating the card, download the prepaid app, activate auto roaming, checking if you are on the 2GB *Free Roaming Plan, etc.

If you did not have a data plan, and you turn on Data Roaming, you stored value will wipe out in just few mins.
I've got a colleague did a top up, not sure if he's gotten a data plan, but when i tried to use USSD method to check, the balance was $0.

Hi, would like to check if anyone has tried roaming in Beijing with starhub prepaid? a friend tried 2 weeks ago and his feedback is good... because can access to google and facebook. :look: anyone can share experience? needed a 2nd opinion

Thanks in advance

I've used Starhub Prepaid for 2 trips in China, Used in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hefei (An Hui).

All worked as i expected. Since always have signal, but not always 4G.
FB/Google/Anything can access.
 
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twinklingstars

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Need to activate it.

VBIOpI0.png

Hi, the second and third option has been activated. Should i activate the first as well even though I'm not using it locally?

I got my card at T3 basement. The staff told me everything has been set up and i would be able to use whenever i turn on the mobile. Not sure why it's not working.
 

dilphinus

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Hi, the second and third option has been activated. Should i activate the first as well even though I'm not using it locally?

I got my card at T3 basement. The staff told me everything has been set up and i would be able to use whenever i turn on the mobile. Not sure why it's not working.

You have to pay for whichever plan you activate. Why waste $15 for the nbr 2 call time when you dont intend to use it in SG?

Starhub website has the procedures and faq.
 

twinklingstars

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Ok.. I managed to get on the network and data roaming when i set the apn settings. However, when i turned off the roaming service on my happy app (since im in hotel, can use wifi), i got logged out of the app, my network and roaming services have been cut off. Any idea how do i get back on? I can't logged in to my app as well since i need a one time otp which i can't receive since i dont have any network service.tried calling starhub but they are not of much help.
 

dilphinus

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Ok.. I managed to get on the network and data roaming when i set the apn settings. However, when i turned off the roaming service on my happy app (since im in hotel, can use wifi), i got logged out of the app, my network and roaming services have been cut off. Any idea how do i get back on? I can't logged in to my app as well since i need a one time otp which i can't receive since i dont have any network service.tried calling starhub but they are not of much help.

Erm, you don't turn off the roaming service on the happy app. You turn off the data service on your mobile device when you want to use WIFI only.

I was never prompt for any OTP when I used the Starhub prepaid. I switched sim cards a few times when I was in North America.
 

twinklingstars

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Sigh.. Not sure what to do now.. I'm like stuck. I cant access my happy app, the starhub operator has already reset roaming service but it is not working. I also cannot connect to the china mobile network on this starhub prepaid card.
 

dilphinus

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Sigh.. Not sure what to do now.. I'm like stuck. I cant access my happy app, the starhub operator has already reset roaming service but it is not working. I also cannot connect to the china mobile network on this starhub prepaid card.

You don't need to be logged into the Happy App to be able to connect to the network.

You log into the Happy App to access your balance, activate a plan, etc.

Make sure your mobile device isn't set to Airplane mode.
 

twinklingstars

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It's not on airplane mode. I think the issue now is i can't seem to log on to China mobile network.
 
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