SIMBA Telecom discussion thread

[CPTMiller]

After the initial setup, must use SpeedTest to check the speed at home (Jurong West, near to Jurong Point).

Poco X7 Pro
SIMBA S$12 5G plan
5G NSA connection
Band B8 (900 MHz)
Moderate signal at -97 dBm
Only 10 MHz bandwidth

Two results, much lower than Eight S$8 4G (and no need to compare with M1 Maxx S$10 5G).

Worst is the high latency -- I can really feel the lag when loading SpeedTest Results website. This is in line with the second test result.

Anyway, I do not have high hopes for local usages of SIMBA. The main purpose is to check its China Roaming (26 GB in total for China) performance versus Eight S$8 plan (only 2GB)

Edit to add:
Uploading two photos to Gmail were so slow that in the end it failed. I had to switch to WiFi.

I think Simba local usage cannot make it because upload too slow even thought sometimes download speed can get more then 50Mbps.
But Simba data roaming quota and countries is generous that can save money while traveling.

 

[xiaofan]

Now I got SIMBA, need to take on the 200Mbps download speed challenge.

I've got 200mbps on 4G. 5G simba I've seen 220mbps on street level.

Can ask your daughter to help do speedtest for simba too, then can no need play game.

Give her a task, if you can get 200mbps download speed on simba, papa treat you beach road curry rice.

She does not use SIMBA but rather StarHub Prepaid S Plan (5G enabled, migrated from old StarHub Prepaid card).

She does not allow me to carry out SpeedTest on her Poco X6 Pro...

Haha, I think she is not really a fan of Curry Rice.

 

[xiaofan]

Main reason to get SIMBA -- to see how good it is when it comes to roaming in China. My wife may need to visit China more often in the future.

Good about Eight Mobile is when going on oversea trip - Receiving / Making cellular Calls (to SGP and in the same oversea country) do not carry additional charges other than the plan pricing.

Exactly the reason why I get Eight to supplement my main SingTel line. Maxx does not have this free voice roaming feature. And it cost a BOMB to use Singtel MVNOs for voice roaming.

But SIMBA is a strong competitor here as it also offer free voice roaming.

New plans from StarHub (5G Unlimited+ and 5G Platinum, but not 5G Lite) also offers free voice roaming, but it starts at S$38 per month, so cannot compare with Eight or SIMBA.

Having personally used both I do find Simba to be superior for this purpose in my experience, but at $2 more a month. .

Also eight $8 plan dont seems to get 5G when roaming compared to Simba.

However where you go could make a major difference.

OTOH, eight local network might be better or worse depending on where you frequent, and many are able to get it for less than $8, and you can keep it alive by keeping a plan active every 3 months, so those are other factors to consider.

 

[xiaofan]

The other thing -- I tend to beleive M1/SIMBA merger will be approved soon (say in early 2026) and then SIMBA Mobile/Broadband users will see quite some improvement.

Mobile side -- better 4G/5G coverage, better backend 4G/5G core network. So we may see much faster 5G speed and also better latency, judging from my experiences with M1 Maxx.

Broadband side -- SIMBA users may finally get rid of CGNAT as SIMBA broadband user number is negligible so it is okay to offer dynamic IPv4 to the combined M1/SIMBA fibre broadband users. Take note M1 is offering dynamic IPv4 to Fibre broadband users.

 

[CPTMiller]

The other thing -- I tend to beleive M1/SIMBA merger will be approved soon (say in early 2026) and then SIMBA Mobile/Broadband users will see quite some improvement.

Mobile side -- better 4G/5G coverage, better backend 4G/5G core network. So we may see much faster 5G speed and also better latency, judging from my experiences with M1 Maxx.

Broadband side -- SIMBA users may finally get rid of CGNAT as SIMBA broadband user number is negligible so it is okay to offer dynamic IPv4 to the combined M1/SIMBA fibre broadband users. Take note M1 is offering dynamic IPv4 to Fibre broadband users.

Being a MNO , Simba may be better off to keep as a spare line. Traveling is still a plus point for Simba compare to other MVNO.
The merger with Simba M1 definitely a good choice In long run improvement.

 

[A7997A]

Mobile side -- better 4G/5G coverage, better backend 4G/5G core network. So we may see much faster 5G speed and also better latency, judging from my experiences with M1 Maxx.

Broadband side -- SIMBA users may finally get rid of CGNAT as SIMBA broadband user number is negligible so it is okay to offer dynamic IPv4 to the combined M1/SIMBA fibre broadband users. Take note M1 is offering dynamic IPv4 to Fibre broadband users.

The dynamic IPv4 for broadband might be the most useful part for consumer to come out of this merger.
This is esp useful since Simba gives out proper IPv6.

Mobile side the improvement is more likely for 4G. For 5G due to the shared infra with Starhub that is looking messy and unclear.

 

[uncle_josh]

Looks bengz

Simba better take down the 5G
More like 4G.

 

[xiaofan]

Interesting news.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/co...osa-parent-sues-simba-over-equipment-trespass

iFly Sentosa parent sues Simba over equipment ‘trespass’​

Skyventure VWT alleges the equipment has resulted in revenue loss

...
Simba, however, said that it is acting in line with the regulations issued by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), more specifically the Code of Practice for Info-Communication Facilities in Buildings 2018 (Copif 2018).

Copif 2018, which came into effect in December 2018, states that building owners are obligated to provide designated space for mobile network operators (MNOs) to install their telco equipment rent-free.
...
It is believed that three other MNOs – M1, StarHub and Singtel – all have telco equipment within the iFly building.

Tan said that according to Copif 2018, Skyventure is obliged to provide 24 sq m of mobile installation space to the four telcos. This translates to about 6 sq m per telco, he added
...

 

[sango65]

Interesting news.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/co...osa-parent-sues-simba-over-equipment-trespass

iFly Sentosa parent sues Simba over equipment ‘trespass’​

Skyventure VWT alleges the equipment has resulted in revenue loss

...
Simba, however, said that it is acting in line with the regulations issued by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), more specifically the Code of Practice for Info-Communication Facilities in Buildings 2018 (Copif 2018).

Copif 2018, which came into effect in December 2018, states that building owners are obligated to provide designated space for mobile network operators (MNOs) to install their telco equipment rent-free.
...
It is believed that three other MNOs – M1, StarHub and Singtel – all have telco equipment within the iFly building.

Tan said that according to Copif 2018, Skyventure is obliged to provide 24 sq m of mobile installation space to the four telcos. This translates to about 6 sq m per telco, he added
...

Hahaha, will Sentosa sue iFly if iFly force Simba to remove its equipment, then Simba network is so bad that visitors complain to Sentosa mgmt and don’t want to go Sentosa

 

[Habrosus]

Hahaha, will Sentosa sue iFly if iFly force Simba to remove its equipment, then Simba network is so bad that visitors complain to Sentosa mgmt and don’t want to go Sentosa

Now I know who to blame if I'm in the area and my Simba 5G becomes like 3G.

 

[gapboy]

Now I know who to blame if I'm in the area and my Simba 5G becomes like 3G.

My friends also complain about 5g on simba nowadays .. so it is not a one-off issue

 

[xiaofan]

I have not seen 5G SA connection with SIMBA yet, mostly 5G NSA.

Not bad speed while waiting for Bus 198 at Boon Lay Bus Interchange, inside Jurong Point. It is also near to the Wall Cabinet C shop where I bought the SIMBA SIM card yesterday.

Poco X7 Pro
SIMBA S$12 plan
5G NSA
Wednesday 8:16am

Edit to add: for the Bus 198 trip from Boon Lay to Jurong East Avenue 1, SIMBA is pretty usable. No issues using Facebook and HWZ Forum.

 

[xiaofan]

Even TKL is complaining the slow speed of SIMBA now. He is using SIMBA S$5 Senior plan. Not so sure if it is true that SIMBA can raise 50% and stay competitive though, even for the senior plan.

****
I have commended Simba for their simple billing process and low cost plans for seniors.

However, I noticed recently that the connection is rather slow. I could not get a connection on the MRT train, even when it is above ground.

I suspect that there is a high demand for Simba that goes beyond their capacity.

I hope that Simba can increase its capacity. Even if they have to increase their current rates by 50%, it would still be competitive. It is more important to give their customers a better connection to the internet.

Tan Kin Lian
*****

 

[Jurong640]

Even TKL is complaining the slow speed of SIMBA now. He is using SIMBA S$5 Senior plan. Not so sure if it is true that SIMBA can raise 50% and stay competitive though, even for the senior plan.

****
I have commended Simba for their simple billing process and low cost plans for seniors.

However, I noticed recently that the connection is rather slow. I could not get a connection on the MRT train, even when it is above ground.

I suspect that there is a high demand for Simba that goes beyond their capacity.

I hope that Simba can increase its capacity. Even if they have to increase their current rates by 50%, it would still be competitive. It is more important to give their customers a better connection to the internet.

Tan Kin Lian
*****

Just waiting for the approval of sale of M1 by Simba. Once approved, they can start merging both network.

Both network operators can and will be able to use each other bands. Simba weaknesses is the limited number of bands, they will finally be able to use M1 5G SA.

Patience is virtue.

 

[Habrosus]

My friends also complain about 5g on simba nowadays .. so it is not a one-off issue

Ya, I also noticed there's something far from ideal lately. Just kidding about Sentosa, though can't say I won't be thinking of that fly if I need to deploy aeroplanes around there.

Primary line has Eight 1+2 5G data backup.

 

[Jurong640]

Interesting news.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/co...osa-parent-sues-simba-over-equipment-trespass

iFly Sentosa parent sues Simba over equipment ‘trespass’​

Skyventure VWT alleges the equipment has resulted in revenue loss

...
Simba, however, said that it is acting in line with the regulations issued by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), more specifically the Code of Practice for Info-Communication Facilities in Buildings 2018 (Copif 2018).

Copif 2018, which came into effect in December 2018, states that building owners are obligated to provide designated space for mobile network operators (MNOs) to install their telco equipment rent-free.
...
It is believed that three other MNOs – M1, StarHub and Singtel – all have telco equipment within the iFly building.

Tan said that according to Copif 2018, Skyventure is obliged to provide 24 sq m of mobile installation space to the four telcos. This translates to about 6 sq m per telco, he added
...

That is another case study that building owners are very bias or they have their limit in space and do not allow Simba to install their network equipment.

Hence, it affect their coverage and customers complain simba slow and bad.

I mean, simba is really tight and nothing they can do further, they wanted to improve but building owners park bus

 

[keenklee]

IMHO.
So one day the telco come and put the antenna at your window, you want to have a say or not ?

 

[xiaofan]

IMHO.
So one day the telco come and put the antenna at your window, you want to have a say or not ?

Typically you do not need to worry if you live in HDB or Condo. For owner of
“landed dwelling-house”, then you may need to read the COPIF 2018.
(a) detached house;
(b) semi-detached house; or
(c) terrace house

https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imd...tations/consultation-papers/11/copif-2018.pdf

 

[cloudystar]

So I heard SIMBA charges a $5 admin fee to generate a new eSIM QR code.

Ridiculous when every other telco does it for free!

SIMBA also has the most expensive entry level plan at $10.

They were once the game changer but now they seem to have lost touch. Who knows what'll happen if the merger goes through.