SIMBA Telecom discussion thread

[Teo Ming Ern]

just did that cuz travelling to KR and PRC next 2 months. Easy bump up! Very convenient to switch.

Thanks! Helpful to know it is easy to do... let us know if easy to switch down....

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

This thing started in end 2024, so experience prior to that will not be relevant.
The scary part about this whole thing is that they can ban phones of their choosing using such lame excuse, and the worrisome part of it is that if they find that they can get away with it, it might expand in scope.

You can say it is a country's policy that does not affect us, but time and again we have seen operators learning from each other, esp for the not so good things.

I don't think it's as bad as you described... probably affects those who buy China phones with China ROMs... or those with unofficial ROMs... I think the current generation of phones shouldn't be a problem... especially with Samsung & iPhones... for all other brands, I guess the international models which are globally available won't pose a problem as well...

 

[dreamcast18]

Thanks! Helpful to know it is easy to do... let us know if easy to switch down....

Pretty easy, I went from the $25 plan (pretty useless as inflight roaming almost non-existent) to $10 for 2 months, then now just bumped to $12. Just time it to switch before Day 25.

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

Pretty easy, I went from the $25 plan (pretty useless as inflight roaming almost non-existent) to $10 for 2 months, then now just bumped to $12. Just time it to switch before Day 25.

Thank bro! Yeah I had a chat with the SIMBA customer service officer about this and the info given is the same as your experience... got a question of paying...

My billing cycle starts on 9th of each month... I'm leaving on 28th Nov night, so I guess I have to upgrade my plan either on 27 or 28th Nov ... and then I'm flying back 25th Dec... so I can't downgrade until after the 28 Dec when I am billed the 2nd month's cycle... and then I will downgrade 9th of Jan to align all the accounts under me...

I understand that I have to pay $12 when I upgrade on 28 Nov. And I will be billed $12 on 28 Dec. But when I downgrade on 9 Jan, do I have to pay $10 even though I am in the same billing cycle from 28 Dec? What's your experience?

Thanks!

 

[CPTMiller]

Simba has better 5G on Circle Line compared to Gomo

How the speed simba and gomo on mrt circle line??

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

How the speed simba and gomo on mrt circle line??

SIMBA is quite ok... still got blind spots... I don't take the train often but underground seems better than above ground... I tend to lose signal above ground on the green line in the extreme west side... say between Redhill and Boon Lay....

 

[CPTMiller]

SIMBA is quite ok... still got blind spots... I don't take the train often but underground seems better than above ground... I tend to lose signal above ground on the green line in the extreme west side... say between Redhill and Boon Lay....

Thanks

 

[dilphinus]

Just take note of the phone brand used over there. Some Chinese brand will not be able le to connect to the network.

I've used Xiaomi and Vivo phones with Simba roaming in Australia and both works.

Vodafone on my husband's ancient Huawei works too.

I don't think it's as bad as you described... probably affects those who buy China phones with China ROMs... or those with unofficial ROMs... I think the current generation of phones shouldn't be a problem... especially with Samsung & iPhones... for all other brands, I guess the international models which are globally available won't pose a problem as well...

I'm using a Vivo phone with a China rom. Simba sim card in it. Works flawlessly in Australia.

I didn't have a problem in 2019 though... not sure about lately... but I think if you're carrying an international edition phone, it shouldn't be a problem lar... usually Samsung phones no issue right? I'm using an A73 5 G now and I think it should be good?

I've used the Samsung A73 in Australia with Simba roaming.

My husband's Taiwan sim card didn't work in Australia though. His China sim, my Simba sim and his Vodafone sim all work in Australia. We have/had a Huawei, Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone and Vivo.

My sister's M1 roaming didn't work on her phone in Australia (June 2024). Her Singtel roaming did work on her iPhone. My other sister was using Optus with her iPhone.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...-phones-starting-nov-1.7076043/post-154226338

We are Australian/PR living outside of Australia and goes back to Australia often enough. Most recent was in Feb this year.

 

[dilphinus]

Thank bro! Yeah I had a chat with the SIMBA customer service officer about this and the info given is the same as your experience... got a question of paying...

My billing cycle starts on 9th of each month... I'm leaving on 28th Nov night, so I guess I have to upgrade my plan either on 27 or 28th Nov ... and then I'm flying back 25th Dec... so I can't downgrade until after the 28 Dec when I am billed the 2nd month's cycle... and then I will downgrade 9th of Jan to align all the accounts under me...

I understand that I have to pay $12 when I upgrade on 28 Nov. And I will be billed $12 on 28 Dec. But when I downgrade on 9 Jan, do I have to pay $10 even though I am in the same billing cycle from 28 Dec? What's your experience?

Thanks!

You can switch plans from day 1 to 25 of your billing cycle. Switch on the 25th day.

Billing cycle date is different each month becos Simba is base on 30 days cycle, not a calendar month.

Assuming 9 Nov is day 1. Count backwards. Day 25 of the previous cycle is 3 Nov.

Do your own Maths if it's better switching cycle on the 25th day of the previous month 3 Nov or as your plan 28 Nov.

Billing cycle date change when you change plan. One billing cycle is 30 days.

 

[hwsstx]

I've used Xiaomi and Vivo phones with Simba roaming in Australia and both works.

Vodafone on my husband's ancient Huawei works too.



I'm using a Vivo phone with a China rom. Simba sim card in it. Works flawlessly in Australia.



I've used the Samsung A73 in Australia with Simba roaming.

My husband's Taiwan sim card didn't work in Australia though. His China sim, my Simba sim and his Vodafone sim all work in Australia. We have/had a Huawei, Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone and Vivo.

My sister's M1 roaming didn't work on her phone in Australia (June 2024). Her Singtel roaming did work on her iPhone. My other sister was using Optus with her iPhone.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...-phones-starting-nov-1.7076043/post-154226338

We are Australian/PR living outside of Australia and goes back to Australia often enough. Most recent was in Feb this year.

Thanks.

Use this website, key in your phone's IMEI to check if your device is affected or not.

https://amta.org.au/3g-closure-old/check-my-device/

I did the check for my OPPO Reno 12 F (bought new last year, supports 5G) with SIMBA's SIM & it says my device may not be fully supported when 3G closes.

 

[hwsstx]

Thanks.

I did the check for my OPPO Reno 12 F (bought new last year, supports 5G) with SIMBA's SIM & it says my device may not be fully supported when 3G closes.

We are travelling to Gold Coast this June and also having the headache of handsets not compatible with Australian Telco's network.
Searched around and bumped into a few useful sites, tot it'll benefit many other who are travelling to Oz land too
p/s: use at your own risk

Quoted:

"New rules were introduced on 28 October 2024 by the Australian Federal Government mandating that Australian telecommunication network providers need to block devices that can’t call Triple Zero (000) over 4G using VoLTE. This means that identified incompatible devices will be blocked from the Optus network and will not be able to make or receive calls/texts or use data on the Optus mobile network."​

Some sites to check for phone compatibility (using phone's IMEI nos.
Australian Mobile Telecommunication Association (AMTA)

https://amta.org.au/3g-closure-old/check-my-device/​

Telstra

https://www.telstrawholesale.com.au/3G-Network-Closure-Blocked-Devices-Checker.html​

Boost (using Telstra network)

https://www.boostmobile.com/check-compatibility​

Optus

https://www.optus.com.au/support/checkdevice​

Vodafone

Couldn't find from Vodafone site.​

Interestingly, when I check for "Redmi 12 5G"...
... AMTA says "Please contact your service provider or handset vendor"
... Optus says "the REDMI 12 device is blocked"
... Telstra says "Good news – this phone is not blocked."

Checked with Telstra, Boost & Optus...all 3 gave my phone ...

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

I've used Xiaomi and Vivo phones with Simba roaming in Australia and both works.

Vodafone on my husband's ancient Huawei works too.



I'm using a Vivo phone with a China rom. Simba sim card in it. Works flawlessly in Australia.



I've used the Samsung A73 in Australia with Simba roaming.

My husband's Taiwan sim card didn't work in Australia though. His China sim, my Simba sim and his Vodafone sim all work in Australia. We have/had a Huawei, Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone and Vivo.

My sister's M1 roaming didn't work on her phone in Australia (June 2024). Her Singtel roaming did work on her iPhone. My other sister was using Optus with her iPhone.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...-phones-starting-nov-1.7076043/post-154226338

We are Australian/PR living outside of Australia and goes back to Australia often enough. Most recent was in Feb this year.

Thank for the update!

 

[Teo Ming Ern]

You can switch plans from day 1 to 25 of your billing cycle. Switch on the 25th day.

Billing cycle date is different each month becos Simba is base on 30 days cycle, not a calendar month.

Assuming 9 Nov is day 1. Count backwards. Day 25 of the previous cycle is 3 Nov.

Do your own Maths if it's better switching cycle on the 25th day of the previous month 3 Nov or as your plan 28 Nov.

Billing cycle date change when you change plan. One billing cycle is 30 days.

How do I find out the Day 1? Is Day 1 the day they bill you? I look at the billing date on SMS alerts and I
was billed on 4 Jul for this month... so 30 days means next month bill will be 3 Aug then 2 Sep then 2 Oct, then 1 Nov. So 1-25 Nov is the 1st 25 days... so must upgrade within this window...

Say I upgrade on 25 Nov, this would be considered Day 1. Next bill is on 25 Dec. 25 Dec - 18 Jan is the upgrade window... cos can downgrade only in the 2nd billing cycle.

If want to align the billing date with the rest of my lines then the rest of the lines will be billed on 1 Dec then 31 Dec. So if I upgrade on 31 Dec, I am paying $12 for the 2nd billing cycle ＋ $10 for the downgraded plan, but use the plan in the 2nd billing cycle only for 6 days, so it's totally bohua...

So moral of the story is bohua to align my billing... cos most wuhua is to upgrade or downgrade on the 25th day of the billing cycle so that you lose only 5 days of the previous billing cycle...

Not sure if my analysis above is correct or not... anyone got advice? Thanks!

 

[dilphinus]

How do I find out the Day 1? Is Day 1 the day they bill you?

https://account.simba.sg/

 

[stillgottheblues]

Simba call always cut off on NSL. getting bad nowadays. Too many sub us it?

 

[CPTMiller]

Simba call always cut off on NSL. getting bad nowadays. Too many sub us it?

Simba connection was never great. They have improved all this years but still not great. Mrt connection was always weak

 

[keenklee]

Simba connection was never great. They have improved all this years but still not great. Mrt connection was always weak

IMHO.
I use Simba 4G for Android Auto. Certain areas my Spotify will stutter.

 

[chari-men]

Wish Simba can increase their IDD call destinations ...cover China and Hong Kong but not Taiwan... So weird...

 

[Habrosus]

Wish Simba can increase their IDD call destinations ...cover China and Hong Kong but not Taiwan... So weird...

That's covering the places I won't be going anymore, while excluding the place I might want to go again.

Oh well

 

[CPTMiller]

IMHO.
I use Simba 4G for Android Auto. Certain areas my Spotify will stutter.

For travelers overseas data roaming destinations list. I believe Simba still the cheapest option.