While this may seem like an unfamiliar term to you, Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) have become a part of your daily life. Circles.Life, MyRepublic and Changi Mobile are all examples of MVNOs. With the entrance of MVNOs, Singaporeans have access to a larger variety of value-for-money and flexible mobile plans.
So what does it mean to be an MVNO, and what difference does it make to your mobile plan?
What Is A Mobile Virtual Network Operator?
MVNOs are communication service providers that do not operate on their own wireless network infrastructure. Instinctively, you may see MVNO as a competitor to the traditional Telco service provider (otherwise known as mobile network operator). Yes, in the sense that they belong to the same industry. But to a larger extent, they work on a partnership basis to complement each other’s services.
Most of the time, an MVNO will enter a mutually beneficial business agreement with a telco service provider to access network services at wholesale rates and operates other elements independently. For instance, Circles.Life (as an MVNO) relies on M1 Limited’s mobile network to deliver its own voice, messaging and data services.
How Does A MVNO Differ From The Traditional Telco Service Provider?
A telco service provider is licensed to establish its own network and provide end-to-end mobile services such as wireless, voice, data and roaming facility to subscribed users. Telco service providers have physical retail branches to manage customers. There are currently three main full-service mobile network operators (MNOs) in Singapore – SingTel, Starhub, and M1.
On the other hand, a typical MVNO does not possess a license to own an independent mobile network infrastructure. They serve like a reseller of wireless communication services.
Despite obvious differences between an MVNO and telco service provider, they are similar in terms of providing certain services and prepaid plans.
Here is a general comparison of an MVNO and a telco service provider.
| Features | MVNO | Telco service provider |
| Services | Voice calls, SMS, data usage, billing, customer support services | Voice calls, SMS, data usage, billing, customer support services |
| Mobile Plans | Prepaid and postpaid | Prepaid and postpaid |
| Network Infrastructure | No independent network | Owns independent network |
| Physical Presence | No | Yes |
| Contract Terms | Flexibility to tweak mobile plan month-by-month | Mobile plan usually lasts for 2 years, but there are options to re-contract after 1 year or purchase 1-year contract. |
| Data coverage | Option to purchase data-only SIM and add-ons | Option to purchase data-only SIM and add-ons |
While there is a clear distinction between the two, telco service providers have been adapting to customer preferences by launching flexible SIM-only plans. In the case of Singtel, it has also launched GOMO, an MVNO to attract younger customers.
Read Also: Complete Guide To Prepaid SIM Plans In Singapore
How Are The MVNOs Different From Each Other?
Circles.Life – the pioneer MVNO – took Singapore by storm in 2016 with its bold marketing campaigns and competitively priced data plans that were too good to be true. Within the span of a few years, there are now at least 10 MVNOs, with the latest being eight telecom, which started in April 2024, wooing digital-savvy customers aggressively with affordable data plans.
Despite promoting similar services, each MVNO deploys unique marketing strategies such as upselling data-only plans to target young heavy data users or offering flexible data-sharing plans.
With many options available in the market, it can be a headache to dig into the details. Here’s a summary table on the 4G plans to help you compare the coverage and features between each MVNO:
| 4G Mobile Plans | |||||
| Mobile Operator | Monthly Price | Data | Talktime (mins)/ SMS | Network | Remarks |
| CMLink | $7.70 | 100GB | – 300 local mins – 100 local SMS |
Singtel | – Free 1GB roaming data to use in mainland China and HK – Free 2GB Asia roaming data for use in Msia, Indo, Thai, PH, Macau, and Taiwan. – Free additional 100GB Msia roaming data for first 90 days – Free caller ID & unlimited local incoming calls |
| CMLink | $10.90 | 30GB | – 100 local mins – 100 mins free international calls from Singapore to China, Hong Kong, Msia, Indo, Thai, USA – 100 local SMS |
Singtel | – Up to 10GB roaming data can be used in mainland China and HK – Free 1GB APAC roaming data for use in Msia, Indo, Thai, South Korea, Japan, Macau, and Taiwan. – Free additional 600GB Msia roaming data for first 365 days – Free caller ID & unlimited local incoming calls |
| Giga | $10.19 | 100GB | – 300 mins local outgoing talktime – 300 SMS |
StarHub | – Free 2GB Asia roaming to Msia, Indo, Thai, South Korea, India – Free rollover of unused data for another two renewal cycles capped at 100GB – Free caller ID & incoming calls |
| Changi Mobile | $10.00 | 180GB | – 200 mins local outgoing talktime – 100 mins international calls from Singapore to Bangladesh, China, India & Msia – 50 SMS |
M1 | – Free 1GB monthly roaming data (with rollover up to 6 months) to Msia, Indo, & Thai – Free rollover of local data, talktime & SMS – Free caller ID & incoming calls |
| Circles Life | $15.30 | 150GB | – Unlimited local incoming & outgoing talktime | M1 | – Free 1GB monthly roaming data across 7 Asian countries (Msia, Indo, Thai, Taiwan, HK, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka) – Free caller ID |
| ZYM Mobile | $7.77 | 200GB | – 300 mins local outgoing talktime – 100 SMS |
Singtel | – Free 100GB shared roaming data to Msia – Free 3GB shared roaming data across 6 countries (Msia, Indo, Thai, Taiwan, & India) – Free caller ID & incoming calls |
| RedONE | $10.90 | 250GB | – 500 mins outgoing talktime – 200 mins international calls to Msia, Thai, Indo – 200 SMS |
StarHub | – Voice calls to all SG and Msia numbers originating from SG – Simple & flat call rates |
| Zero 1 | $10.10 | 300GB | – 300 mins local outgoing talktime – 100 SMS |
Singtel | – Free 600GB one-time roaming data to Msia & Indo for 365 days – Free 5GB RoamAP data to 13 countries – Free caller ID & incoming calls |
| VIVIFI | $7.70 | 200GB | – 300 mins local outgoing talktime – 100 SMS |
Singtel | – Free 100GB roaming data to Msia for 365 days – Free 3GB roaming each month across Msia, Indo, Thai, Philippines, Taiwan, India – No excess local charges – Free caller ID |
| GOMO | $10.18 | 88GB | – 300 mins local outgoing talktime – 300 SMS |
Singtel | – Additional 68GB local data & 12GB Msia roaming data for 3 months |
| My Republic | $9.90 | 288GB | – 200 mins local outgoing talktime – 100 SMS |
M1 for 4G | – Free 3GB roaming data to Msia & Indo – Free caller ID & incoming calls |
| eight Telecom | $8 | 288GB | – 588 mins local talktime – 288 mins IDD talktime (excluding Myanmar) – 88 SMS |
StarHub | – Local data can be fully used in Msia – 28GB APAC roaming – Free 2GB international roaming |
| eight Telecom | $18 | 588GB | – 888 mins local talktime – 488 mins IDD talktime (excluding Myanmar) –188 SMS |
StarHub | – Local data can be fully used in Msia, Indonesia, Thailand – 28GB APAC roaming – Free 10GB international roaming |
Read Also: Best Unlimited Data Mobile Plans In Singapore (Plus: Which Plan Gives The Most 4G Data Per Dollar?)
Here’s a summary table on the 5G plans to help you compare the coverage and features between each MVNO:
| 5G Mobile Plans | |||||
| Mobile Operator | Monthly Price | Data | Talktime (mins)/ SMS | Network | Remarks |
| Zero 1 | $20.00 | 500GB | – 300 mins local outgoing talktime – 100 SMS |
Singtel | – Free 600GB one time roaming data to Msia, Indo & Thai for 365 days – Free 15GB RoamAP data to 13 countries – Free caller ID & incoming calls |
| Circles Life | $18.30 | 250GB | – Unlimited local incoming & outgoing talktime | M1 | – Free 8GB monthly roaming data across 7 Asian countries (Msia, Indo, Thai, Taiwan, HK, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka) – Free caller ID – Exclusive access to $10 Golden Village movie tickets (up to 4 tickets each month) |
| CMLink | $21.00 | 200GB | – 300 mins outgoing talktime – 300 mins free international calls from Singapore to China, HK, Msia, Indo, Thai, USA – 300 SMS |
Singtel | – Up to 30GB roaming data can be used in mainland China and HK – Free 3GB APAC roaming data for use in Msia, Indo, Thai, South Korea, Japan, Macau, and Taiwan – Free additional 600GB Msia roaming data for first 365 days – Free caller ID & unlimited local incoming calls |
| My Republic | $15.95 | 250GB | – 800 mins local outgoing talktime – 800 sms |
StarHub for 5G | – Free 3GB roaming data across Msia, Indo, Thai – Free caller ID & incoming calls |
| ZYM Mobile | $17.10 | 300GB | – 1,000 mins local outgoing talktime – 100 SMS |
Singtel | – Free 600GB shared roaming data to Msia for 365 days – Free 5GB shared roaming data across 13 countries – Free caller ID & incoming call |
| VIVIFI | $15.20 | 210GB | – 300 mins local outgoing talktime – 100 SMS |
Singtel | – Free 100GB roaming data to Msia for 365 days – Free 3GB roaming data per month to Msia, Thai, Indo, Philippines, Taiwan, India – Free caller ID & incoming call |
| Giga | $18.33 | 300GB | – 800 mins local outgoing talktime – 800 SMS |
StarHub | – Free 10GB Asia roaming to Msia, Indo, Thai, South Korea, India – Free 1GB International roaming to 38 countries – Free rollover of unused data for another two renewal cycles capped at 100GB – Free caller ID |
| GOMO | $18.33 | 300GB | – 800 mins local outgoing talktime –800 SMS |
Singtel | – Free 10GB roaming data to Msia, Indo, Thai, Taiwan, & Australia (MITTA) – Free additional 88GB roaming data to (MITTA) for 3 months – Free 1GB international roaming – Free caller ID & incoming calls |
*Pricing is derived from each MVNO official website, updated as of 7 May 2025.
Read Also: What Are The Best SIM-Only Plans In Singapore (2025 Edition)
3 Factors To Consider Before Signing Up With A MVNO
Without the need to maintain its own network infrastructure, MVNOs have the capacity to offer generous data plans with affordable price points and flexible policies. This is definitely good news for active data users.
But before you get too excited about more data coverage, consider these three factors before signing up with a MVNO:
#1 Usage Pattern:
Based on your past usage patterns, you should have a fairly good estimation of how much data, talktime and SMSes you need. Compare the plans between your existing service provider and other MVNOs to determine the most suitable option. Do also consider if you need overseas coverage or more flexibility in sharing data usage with your loved ones.
Read also: 5G Mobile Services: What Exactly Are You Paying For?
#2 Underlying Network Provider:
Most of us today have little tolerance for poor connection and slow loading speed. It may be helpful to find out the network that the MVNO is operating on and check for reviews before signing up. The process of porting over from your existing mobile plan to the MVNO may also influence your decision-making process.
Read Also: Guide To Overseas Data Roaming Plans
#3 Promotional Pricing:
Pay attention to the details attached to different promotional plans. While the pricing is attractive, you need to clarify on the terms and conditions such as validity period, eligibility criteria and miscellaneous fees.
Similar to how you will assess a company before investing in its stock, the same applies when it comes to choosing your mobile plan with a MVNO or telco. After all, there is no perfect plan but you can make a well-informed decision by getting the most suitable plan that serves your needs.
Featured Image Credit: Giovanni Lidya/DollarsAndSense
This article was first published on June 10, 2021 and has been updated to reflect the latest information.
