Eight Telecom discussion thread

[oric1]

Is it possible to upgrade eight plan to higher tier for more data for 1 month temporarily going travel then downgrade back to smaller plan?

This is what I asked them last month.

My query:
I’m going to UK next month and If I need more International Roaming, can I go to the Recharge Option to select $11.80 Fortune Eight Plan so that I can get 8GB International Roaming? When I’m back from my UK trip, can I recharge it back to my original $8 Double Eight Plan?

Eight reply:
Yes you can do an upgrade of my plan. For every plan upgrade, it will take effect immediately and you will be charged the full amount of $11.80 for the Fortune Eight Plan.

The current plan ($8 Double Eight Plan) will be forfeited immediately. All items or amounts paid are not refundable.

For plan downgrade ($11.80 Fortune Eight Plan to $8 Double Eight Plan), it will happen in the next cycle as you have paid for the existing plan and the entitlement is yours.

My Observation:
If I can get an additional 6GB for International Roaming by switching from $8 Double Eight Plan (2GB International Roaming) to $11.80 Fortune Eight Plan (8GB International Roaming) at a much lower cost of $11.80 - $8.00 = $3.80, why would I want to top-up the extra 6GB at $3.88 x 6GB = $23.28? It doesn't make any sense. So temporarily upgrade my $8 Plan to a $11.80 Plan is a smarter choice for me if I need more international data.

 

[Habrosus]

just now saw a xmm eight flyer distributor, I think they are having a mini roadshow to encourage seniors to port to their seniors plan

Helped a senior friend change plans the other day, IIRC started yesterday. Sure is quite a savings.

Now waiting for their data-only plan to get to a more sensible $5, or even $3!

 

[BBCWatcher]

My Observation:
If I can get an additional 6GB for International Roaming by switching from $8 Double Eight Plan (2GB International Roaming) to $11.80 Fortune Eight Plan (8GB International Roaming) at a much lower cost of $11.80 - $8.00 = $3.80, why would I want to top-up the extra 6GB at $3.88 x 6GB = $23.28? It doesn't make any sense. So temporarily upgrade my $8 Plan to a $11.80 Plan is a smarter choice for me if I need more international data.

1. As you just explained, you forfeit the remaining days on your $8 plan when you switch to higher cost plan. The incremental cost is not $3.80. It’s more expensive, even if your plan switch is “perfectly” timed.

2. If your phone supports eSIMs you can buy additional data from anybody selling eSIMs, if you need it, when you need it, as much as you need it. If for example you run out and need 1GB for 3 days, you can buy that. Or buy a “bucket” of data good for a year or two that you only dip into if/when you need it. On a carrier you prefer, not necessarily the carrier Eight picks.

Eight may or may not offer the best deal on additional data. “It depends.”

 

[Baddieko]

You can pick the cheaper plan on your next renewal

Noted thx!

Yes, but you may be better off buying a separate eSIM (if your phone supports eSIMs) if and only if you need additional roaming data, when you need it. You may or may not like Eight’s incremental price or roaming partner(s). It’s a fresh competition for the increment.

Agreed. Roaming partner is important as well.

This is what I asked them last month.

My query:
I’m going to UK next month and If I need more International Roaming, can I go to the Recharge Option to select $11.80 Fortune Eight Plan so that I can get 8GB International Roaming? When I’m back from my UK trip, can I recharge it back to my original $8 Double Eight Plan?

Eight reply:
Yes you can do an upgrade of my plan. For every plan upgrade, it will take effect immediately and you will be charged the full amount of $11.80 for the Fortune Eight Plan.

The current plan ($8 Double Eight Plan) will be forfeited immediately. All items or amounts paid are not refundable.

For plan downgrade ($11.80 Fortune Eight Plan to $8 Double Eight Plan), it will happen in the next cycle as you have paid for the existing plan and the entitlement is yours.

My Observation:
If I can get an additional 6GB for International Roaming by switching from $8 Double Eight Plan (2GB International Roaming) to $11.80 Fortune Eight Plan (8GB International Roaming) at a much lower cost of $11.80 - $8.00 = $3.80, why would I want to top-up the extra 6GB at $3.88 x 6GB = $23.28? It doesn't make any sense. So temporarily upgrade my $8 Plan to a $11.80 Plan is a smarter choice for me if I need more international data.

It just don’t make sense go buy $3.88 or more for 1 extra gb, might as well go for full upgrade a month to the $11.80 plan. This is the reason not good to buy a full year on mobile plans nowadays.

 

[A7997A]

You can wait until just after plan expire or about to exceed roaming quota before upgrading the plan. Upgrade is effective immediately and can be done even after plan is expired. That is one point that I prefer eight over Simba, Simba you can only re-instate existing plan after expire, you cannot change plan until plan is re-instated.

 

[Baddieko]

You can wait until just after plan expire or about to exceed roaming quota before upgrading the plan. Upgrade is effective immediately and can be done even after plan is expired. That is one point that I prefer eight over Simba, Simba you can only re-instate existing plan after expire, you cannot change plan until plan is re-instated.

Plan expire didn’t recharge, will the SIM card functions like data, calling, sms get cut on expiry date? Have grace period?

 

[Habrosus]

Plan expire didn’t recharge, will the SIM card functions like data, calling, sms get cut on expiry date? Have grace period?

https://www.eight.com.sg/faq-renew-recharge-and-billing

 

[BBCWatcher]

You can wait until just after plan expire or about to exceed roaming quota before upgrading the plan. Upgrade is effective immediately and can be done even after plan is expired.

You can, but that’s not generally ideal for travel purposes. If for example your trip is scheduled 10 days in advance but your plan has 25 days left to run, that doesn’t really mesh.

Keep in mind that, if your 30 day cycle happens to end during your trip, you get two international data allotments.

Eight might offer the best deal for your international trip if/when you need additional data. But often there’s a better deal elsewhere while you keep your base Eight plan (or even possibly let it expire for a while).

 

[elvintay07]

Can I ask the users here how is the experience compared to Vivifi, cmlink and gomo? Thinking of getting another data line

 

[gapboy]

Can I ask the users here how is the experience compared to Vivifi, cmlink and gomo? Thinking of getting another data line

This is eight thread ..

 

[elvintay07]

This is eight thread ..

that is why I am asking Eight users whether better

 

[sibeiTrolled]

Can I ask the users here how is the experience compared to Vivifi, cmlink and gomo? Thinking of getting another data line

Starhub vs Singtel
Same old thing.

If you need another data line, then better to get different telco provider, in this case something different from Singtel

 

[twosix]

Yah, sh vs st. Should ask vs simba. Haha.

 

[elvintay07]

Starhub vs Singtel
Same old thing.

If you need another data line, then better to get different telco provider, in this case something different from Singtel

Ok. Thanks. I try

 

[BBCWatcher]

Can I ask the users here how is the experience compared to Vivifi, cmlink and gomo? Thinking of getting another data line

Starhub vs Singtel
Same old thing.
If you need another data line, then better to get different telco provider, in this case something different from Singtel

VIVIFI, CMLink, and GOMO all rely on Singtel's network in Singapore. Eight rides on StarHub's 4G network in Singapore. StarHub's 4G network is probably the best overall 4G network in Singapore at the moment. However, Eight lines probably get the lowest priority on that network. If for example there's a National Day rally near your location then higher priority StarHub lines may push down your data throughput.

Nonetheless, I think there's some merit in having a non-Singtel connection if you want a substantially different second line, one that won't be affected by events specific to Singtel's network. M1 Maxx and SIMBA (which are likely to merge) are the notable alternatives to Eight (and to StarHub, Giga, and StarHub MVNOs which also all use StarHub's network).

 

[elvintay07]

Yah, sh vs st. Should ask vs simba. Haha.

Simba I used 1 time. I paid the penalty and left. Even they give me free, I think I won’t use also

 

[BBCWatcher]

Simba I used 1 time. I paid the penalty and left. Even they give me free, I think I won’t use also

When? SIMBA has improved (overall) over time, especially in coverage terms. (Throughput is more debatable.) Also, the device(s) you use can matter a lot. In particular, SIMBA uses a couple bands (Bands 40 and n258, I believe) that no other carrier in Singapore uses. If your device doesn't support all of SIMBA's bands, you'll only be able to access a fraction of SIMBA's network.

 

[twosix]

Simba I used 1 time. I paid the penalty and left. Even they give me free, I think I won’t use also

Simba since day 1 when they trial run in sg for me. Haha.

 

[elvintay07]

Simba since day 1 when they trial run in sg for me. Haha.

Very good ah

 

[twosix]

Very good ah

No complaints. Yes sometimes slow but ok for my usage pattern while on the move.