StarHub launches WeChat SIM for China visitors to Singapore

StarHub has unveiled two new mobile prepaid SIMs to cater to Chinese visitors to Singapore. The SIMs, called StarHub WeChat Go SIM (新加坡星和WeChat Go微信乐游卡), are launched in partnership with WeChat.

StarHub WeChat Go SIM is designed to better meet the mobile needs of the growing number of visitors from China. According to Singapore Tourism Board, tourist arrivals from China increased 36 per cent in 2016 from the year before*. In a 2017 survey by Hotels.com, Singapore is the top Asia Pacific destination that Chinese travellers want to visit in the next 12 months**.

“Marking four years of partnership with WeChat, we are happy to introduce StarHub WeChat Go SIM and make them available in China for travellers’ convenience. Through this alliance, visitors from China in Singapore will be able to easily stay in touch with anyone on an app they are accustomed to, without worrying about excess local data charges,” said Karen Ng, GM, Mobile Prepaid, StarHub.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with StarHub to offer Chinese travellers an enhanced experience in the island nation,” said WeChat. “Through our network of partners like StarHub, we always work to expand WeChat’s ecosystem and give WeChat users more value-added services.”

With the StarHub WeChat Go SIM in their phones, users will be able to enjoy unlimited social messaging on the WeChat app. The combined monthly active users of WeChat and Weixin reached 963 million as of June 2017. It remains the most popular social media app in China according to Kantar***.

Source: StarHub website. WeChat logo.

StarHub WeChat Go SIM users will be able to enjoy free local data access to the Lingcod TV mobile app. Developed by video streaming provider Sunway Media, Lingcod TV offers over 100,000 hours of high-definition movies, documentaries, and educational content out of China.

"This launch is an achievement for Sunway Media,” said Luo Weiyu, CEO, Sunway Media. “It shows our ability to undertake cross-border research and development as well as marketing and promotion. We will continue to work with global partners to develop innovative products and services for our users worldwide.”

StarHub WeChat Go SIM, available in two denominations, will provide local talktime, SMS and international direct dialling (IDD) credits. Users will also get Happy Roam data for their travels across 14 other overseas destinations. In an upcoming enhancement, users will be able to add data and extend validity using credit cards and WeChat Pay through WeChat’s self-help mini programme.

Pricing details

Price	S$16 StarHub WeChat Go SIM	S$32 StarHub WeChat Go SIM
Validity	7 days of use	12 days of use
Unlimited local data access to WeChat and Lingcod TV	Yes	Yes
Local data bundle	7GB	15GB
Happy Roam data bundle for use across 14 overseas destinations	1GB	2.4GB
Local talktime	500 outgoing minutes with free incoming call	3000 outgoing minutes with free incoming call
Local SMS	Unlimited	Unlimited
IDD calls to China	60 minutes	150 minutes

Starting 11 September 2017, StarHub WeChat Go SIM will be made available to Chinese travellers through popular online travel agencies, namely Mafengwo, Tongcheng Tourism and Qyer.com. Upon touching down at Changi Airport, they will be able to  activate the SIM at any of the 15 UOB Currency Exchange Counters. StarHub WeChat Go SIM will also be made available locally at StarHub Shops and 7-Eleven stores.

*Singapore Tourism Board, 13 April 2017, International Visitor Arrivals Statistics (PDF)

**Hotels.com, 2017, Chinese International Travel Monitor.

***Kantar, June 2017, China Social Media Impact Report 2017. The Weixin app is used by people who register for the WeChat app with a Chinese phone number, and the WeChat app refers to the international mode of the app, which people register for with a non-Chinese phone number.