Eight Telecom discussion thread

[BBCWatcher]

I'm porting to eight from Singtel soon. Is eight plan able to receive SMS OTP when roaming.

Yes, but see below for details.

Is makinh roaming call ot sending roaming sms chargeable?

Receiving an SMS text message while roaming overseas is never chargeable. Mobile network roaming partners are not available everywhere, and some may not support SMS with Eight.

You can place and receive voice calls in select countries/territories where Eight's mobile network partner supports VoLTE, or when you're connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network and have Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi) enabled. Where you can call and/or the number of voice minutes allotted is/are subject to certain limitations that can vary by plan.

You cannot send outgoing SMS text messages when you're outside Singapore unless you're connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network and have enabled Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi).

All of these details, and more, are available on Eight's Web site.

 

[yhw22]

To add-on, you can enable/disable overeseas call and/or overseas sms as regulated by the laws.

 

[mak888]

Just back from a 8 day trip from Zhangjiajie China. Roaming was smooth, 99% on 4G though, 5G was only available at Tianmen Mountain and airport. Tried China Telecom and China Unicom. Found China Telecom better for coverage and slightly faster. FB, WA, IG, etc smooth as the same as using in SG.

 

[f4ll3n]

just #fyi #dp since returning from yunnan-kunming-dali-chuxiong-lijiang-shangrila
Only 4G avail (not even 4G+) and between our avail China Unicom CU is better China Telecom CTC
In cities, however, both considerably lousier than China Mobile (not avail to eight)

 

[habibali]

I'm porting to eight from Singtel soon. Is eight plan able to receive SMS OTP when roaming. Is makinh roaming call ot sending roaming sms chargeable?

I am at Melaka now. No issues with SMS OTP. Also fine at KL.. and in the bus on the way to KL and to Melaka.

 

[xiaofan]

just #fyi #dp since returning from yunnan-kunming-dali-chuxiong-lijiang-shangrila
Only 4G avail (not even 4G+) and between our avail China Unicom CU is better China Telecom CTC
In cities, however, both considerably lousier than China Mobile (not avail to eight)

Indeed this is a downgrade from eight for roaming in China. Last time got China Mobile which is usually the better roaming partners among the three.

 

[yotoden]

I am at Melaka now. No issues with SMS OTP. Also fine at KL.. and in the bus on the way to KL and to Melaka.

Hi, are you on 4G or 5G in Malaysia? Which one is smoother meaning you can connect to internet without problems.

 

[loganrunning]

Indeed this is a downgrade from eight for roaming in China. Last time got China Mobile which is usually the better roaming partners among the three.

this appears to be the consensus, although there are some opinions that CT is better out in the far side of Xinjiang.
I hope to test this out end of the year/early next year.

 

[limmengteck]

Just back from Tokyo (Gotemba) and Hokkaido (Sapporo). Connect was smooth and good. It straddles between 5G and 4G.

however, i noticed my roaming data usage is much higher than wife’s, though our usage is similar. Not sure if it was due to my work messages and emails.

 

[ShinnAsuka]

Just back from a 8 day trip from Zhangjiajie China. Roaming was smooth, 99% on 4G though, 5G was only available at Tianmen Mountain and airport. Tried China Telecom and China Unicom. Found China Telecom better for coverage and slightly faster. FB, WA, IG, etc smooth as the same as using in SG.

just #fyi #dp since returning from yunnan-kunming-dali-chuxiong-lijiang-shangrila
Only 4G avail (not even 4G+) and between our avail China Unicom CU is better China Telecom CTC
In cities, however, both considerably lousier than China Mobile (not avail to eight)

Was in China too but i had super bad experience with roaming. 5G almost non existent, maybe is a Samsung issue. Most of the places i visited is only 1-2bars.

I had a spare simba line and it is most of the time 5G. Connection on simba is way better than eight.

I cannot recall who are the network provider, but googling now shows eight is with China Mobile and simba China Telecon

 

[hengheng69]

Was in China too but i had super bad experience with roaming. 5G almost non existent, maybe is a Samsung issue. Most of the places i visited is only 1-2bars.

I had a spare simba line and it is most of the time 5G. Connection on simba is way better than eight.

I cannot recall who are the network provider, but googling now shows eight is with China Mobile and simba China Telecon

yes , you are right . Simba is way better in china , i was at chengdu , samsung phone for both eight and simba , but simba seem to be more smooth .

 

[amazingone]

Was in China too but i had super bad experience with roaming. 5G almost non existent, maybe is a Samsung issue. Most of the places i visited is only 1-2bars.

I had a spare simba line and it is most of the time 5G. Connection on simba is way better than eight.

I cannot recall who are the network provider, but googling now shows eight is with China Mobile and simba China Telecon

Eight's partnered telcos in China are China Unicom and China Telecom now, it used to be China Mobile only until early 2026.

 

[Habrosus]

Eight's partnered telcos in China are China Unicom and China Telecom now, it used to be China Mobile only until early 2026.

Luckily our networks aren't Singapore Singtel, Singapore M1, Singapore Starhub, etc. So complicated.

Just saying.

 

[amazingone]

Luckily our networks aren't Singapore Singtel, Singapore M1, Singapore Starhub, etc. So complicated.

Just saying.

Some phones shows the carrier name of M1 as SGP-M1

 

[Habrosus]

Some phones shows the carrier name of M1 as SGP-M1

That's just an indication on the phone.

Think if I'm in China and my traveling companion asks me which network I'm on, I'd just go Unicom, Telecom, or Mobile.

 

[cloudystar]

yeah, I'm sure to them its just either 移动 or 联通 or 电信

 

[ShinnAsuka]

Eight's partnered telcos in China are China Unicom and China Telecom now, it used to be China Mobile only until early 2026.

I didnt recall able to change manually, but probably didnt bothered cause my simba was a breeze. Eight 5G in singapore at times clocked dismal speed at worse than 4G.

 

[alvino]

Yes, but see below for details.

Receiving an SMS text message while roaming overseas is never chargeable. Mobile network roaming partners are not available everywhere, and some may not support SMS with Eight.

You can place and receive voice calls in select countries/territories where Eight's mobile network partner supports VoLTE, or when you're connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network and have Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi) enabled. Where you can call and/or the number of voice minutes allotted is/are subject to certain limitations that can vary by plan.

You cannot send outgoing SMS text messages when you're outside Singapore unless you're connected to the Internet via a Wi-Fi network and have enabled Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi).

All of these details, and more, are available on Eight's Web site.

Hmm the way I read even when connected to WiFi and VoWIFI you still CANNOT send roaming outgoing sis while overseas. Receiving is fine even without WiFi or VoWIFI, since IIRC sms is legacy system and do not depend on VoLTE etc.

Do correct me if I’m wrong, the following is from your link to eight’s FAQ link.

• Does roaming covers calls and SMS?​

  Absolutely! Our plans include 288 minutes of roaming calls—whether you’re calling back to Singapore or making local calls in the country you’re visiting.
  • To ensure smooth calling, check the “Network Operator (VoLTE Calls)” column in our roaming guide.
  • For example: In Malaysia, connect to MAXIS/UMOBILE/CELCOM to enjoy VoLTE calls and stay in touch with home.
  • For SMS, there will be no issues to receive OTP, but our plans do not include outgoing international SMS from a roaming destination at the moment.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Hmm the way I read even when connected to WiFi and VoWIFI you still CANNOT send roaming outgoing sis while overseas.

If WiFi Calling (VoWiFi) works at all in a particular location, I don't see why it wouldn't support outgoing SMS text messages. SMS traffic would ride over the same connection; it's part of the spec. You can even switch your phone to Airplane Mode and still make/receive voice calls (and send/receive SMS text messages) via VoWiFi.

I haven't found anything in writing that suggests StarHub or Eight blocks WiFi Calling when you're outside Singapore — that they try to apply IP geolocation filters. (M1 does, and they say so in writing.) No guarantees, of course, but if your Wi-Fi connection to StarHub/Eight isn't blocked, your voice and SMS traffic should be fine.

 

[alvino]

If WiFi Calling (VoWiFi) works at all in a particular location, I don't see why it wouldn't support outgoing SMS text messages. SMS traffic would ride over the same connection; it's part of the spec. You can even switch your phone to Airplane Mode and still make/receive voice calls (and send/receive SMS text messages) via VoWiFi.

I haven't found anything in writing that suggests StarHub or Eight blocks WiFi Calling when you're outside Singapore — that they try to apply IP geolocation filters. (M1 does, and they say so in writing.) No guarantees, of course, but if your Wi-Fi connection to StarHub/Eight isn't blocked, your voice and SMS traffic should be fine.

Eh I merely correcting the portion on your reply mentioning one is able to send outgoing sms if you’re roaming on WiFi. I haven’t tried it myself and no plans or no needs to but acccording to FAQ, just take a look at the quote I pasted from their site from your link. The last bullet point.

I’ll copy and paste again if you missed it. Cheers

• For SMS, there will be no issues to receive OTP, but our plans do not include outgoing international SMS from a roaming destination at the moment.