Over the past months, there were many SIMBA users complaining about data roaming overseas. While most users do not face issues, some of the readers simply think that everything is automatic and do not know how to troubleshoot. They think that SIMBA SIM (on roaming) works like a local SIM card that they purchase locally.
We decided to come out with this checklist.
Payment matters
If you are not using a credit/debit card to make auto monthly payments (login and check your monthly cycle, it is not necessarily on the 1st day of the month), you might need to top up the wallet before you depart.
Take note that the line must be active status. If no payment was made every cycle, the line might turn into inactive status due for disconnection.
Check your plan roaming allocation
SIMBA has a number of plans, the popular plan is the S$10 for 100 GB SIM ONLY Plan, this plan comes with 1 GB data roam free in Group A destinations. Do take note plans like SuperROAM MY, SuperRoam 50GB does not come with 1 GB free data roam for all ZONE A countries. In this case, you will need to top up your wallet via https://topup.simba.sg/ or go thru shopee retailers (starts from $5).
SIM must be active > 48 hrs
To be roam ready ensure that your SIMBA SIM is slotted into your mobile device at least 48 hours before departure. This allows your SIM to be updated with the latest parameters.
To check if your SIM is roaming ready, SMS <SIMBA> to 1218 if you are in Singapore or DIAL *1218# if you are overseas. Your usage details will be sent to your number via SMS.
Set the APN to TPG (VERY IMPORTANT)
On-device settings, please ensure the following:
- Data settings: Turn on Data Roaming
- Network selection: Set to Automatic
- APN settings: Key in TPG to Name and APN
This step is important because most Samsung users can still surf the net locally as their default APN is INTERNET. In fact, if you put ABCDEF or anything as APN it will function in Singapore. Once you are on data roaming, it may fail to roam. So, it is important, set it once to TPG and save it and use it as the active profile for SIMBA.
Enable data roaming on your handset
As you are data roaming with SIMBA SIM, you will need to enable that you have enabled data on the active SIM. This is very important if you are using a dual sim phone.
If your SIMBA SIM is in SIM SLOT 1, you have to make sure that SIM SLOT 1 is your active data line and you will also need to enable data roaming on your handset.
Go to settings and search for roaming and you will find this screen. Enable data roaming by setting International Roaming to Always. (Xiaomi phone). Other phones may have the option under other menu settings.
Also uncheck the Set daily data limit while roaming if you are a heavy user. You can also set a limit to 2 GB (as seen in the screen shot below). As SIMBA will auto turn off your roaming data when data exceeds the allocated amount for the plan you signed up with, you can don’t set any limit. You can top up the wallet through online at SIMBA or other means so that you can get more roaming data (which will be deducted from your wallet balance).
Japan Roaming Special Requirement – phone that supports VoLTE Roaming and LTE bands used in Japan (updated 19/Aug/2023)
Firstly, you must ensure your phone support the bands used in Japan mobile operator KDDI-Au and Rakuten. You can refer to this link for more information.
If you intend to data roam in Japan. This is something that you need to take note.
To roam successfully, you must ensure that you are have a VoLTE compatible phone. This is a requirement of KDDI and Rakuten.
For Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco users. If you cannot find the VoLTE option in the settings, you can dial this code *#*#86583#*#* to disable carrier detect and the VoLTE option will appear in SIM settings. Turn on VoLTE.
You can use the Phone’s Dialer to make calls in those countries where VoLTE is supported.
Of course, you would also need to adhere to the basic requirements of setting the correct APN etc.
APN Name : TPG
APN : TPG
Troubleshooting
After arriving at your destination, and if your settings are already done as above, the phone will search for it’s roaming partner network to logon to. If it still takes a long time to connect, try turn on Airplane Mode to On and Off it after 5 seconds, this will allow it to reconnect to the roaming partner network. If it still could not connect automatically, do a manual network search and connect to the partner network (list can be found here).
If all fails, check your APN settings, if you are roaming in Europe, you might see a new profile ORANGE WORLD, select that as default APN. Either reboot or turn airplane mode off and on again. Let it auto search for a few minutes. If it still fail, do a manual connection to the roaming partner network.
Do note that ORANGE WORLD will be used for most of the European countries, USA, Australia. For countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, it uses the original TPG APN.
If you are still unable to connect using the original TPG APN or Orange World APN, there is a high chance your SIM might not be ready for data roaming. Try deleting all the APN settings, reboot. Reconfigure it as NAME : TPG
APN TPG
Different plans
There are various plans offered by SIMBA and some offers more data bundle but it is not for all 57 destinations e.g. SuperRoam50GB, SuperRoam MY. In this case, you will have to top up the wallet if you need to roam in other countries that is not listed in the plan. See chart below.
| SuperRoam50GB (30D) | SuperRoam50GB (90D) | SuperRoam MY | SuperRoam Max | SIM-Only 100GB | SIM-Only130GB | Seniors Plan20GB | Prepaid100GB | |
| Price | $20/30 days | $60/90 days | $30^/90 days | $25/30 days | $10/30 days | $18/30 days | $5/30 days | $10/30 days |
| Local Data | 130GB | 130GB | 130GB | 100GB | 100GB | 130GB | 20GB | 100GB |
| Local Fixed Line Minutes | 500 mins | 500 mins | 500 mins | 500 mins | 300 mins | 500 mins | 300 mins | 300 mins |
| Local SMS | 50 | 50 | 50 | 100 | 30 | 50 | 30 | 30 |
| Roaming Data | 50GB 10GB to Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam + 40GB to Malaysia | 50GB 10GB to Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam + 40GB to Malaysia | 10GB (to Malaysia only) | 10GB (to 57 Destinations in Group A) | 1GB (to 57 Destinations in Group A) | 2GB (to 57 Destinations in Group A) | 1GB (to 57 Destinations in Group A) | 1GB (to 57 Destinations in Group A) |
| IDD Minutes | 300 mins (to 21 Destinations) | 300 mins (to 21 Destinations) | 100 mins (to Malaysia only) | 300 mins (to 21 Destinations) | – | 300 mins (to 21 Destinations) | – | – |
| Other add-ons | – | – | – | – | – | – | $3 Mobile Security | – |
Do take note that for Group A (57 countries), you will only have 1 GB* of data for roaming (Super Roam and My130 plan have a higher data bundle). If you exceed the limit, you will need to top up your SIMBA wallet before you can continue to data roam. As for countries in groups B, C and D, you will need to top up the wallet before you can roam as there is no free data for roaming for these groups of destinations.
Recharge your Account Balance to access roaming data at the 124 destinations. SIMBA rates are charged every 10MB of data usage according to destinations.
- Group A destinations = $4 per GB
(excess charges after you have used up your free-roaming data entitlement) - Group B destinations = $8 per GB
- Group C destinations = $15 per GB
- Group D destinations = $30 per GB
Any comments please post below.