More affordable mobile data plans to help low-income seniors
Affordable mobile data plans to cost as little as $5 a month for 5GB
From next month, low-income seniors will be able to sign up for more affordable one-year mobile data plans that cost as little as $5 a month for 5GB, as part of a national initiative to get them connected online.
Basic smartphones starting at $20 will be bundled with the mobile plans under the Mobile Access for Seniors scheme, announced yesterday by the Infocomm Media Development Authority.
There will be no excess data charges, though surfing speeds will be limited should seniors inadvertently exceed their data limits.
The plans will be offered by Singtel, StarHub, M1 and TPG Telecom. Seniors have to be aged 60 and above, and be receiving ComCare assistance or living in HDB Public Rental Scheme housing, to qualify for the new scheme.
"Seniors worry about the knowledge part (when going digital)... Another major concern they have is about cost, and I think this subsidised plan addresses that concern," Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran said yesterday, when unveiling the mobile data plans.
He added that the absence of excess data charges is an "important source of reassurance" for seniors - that they are not going to be "shocked by a bill" that exceeds what they are committed to.
Eligible seniors can register their interest in the mobile plans with Seniors Go Digital ambassadors after they have attended digital literacy programmes and acquired at least one basic digital skill, such as using messaging apps like WhatsApp, or scanning QR codes.
The four telcos, along with virtual telco Circles.Life, are also launching low-cost mobile plans available to all seniors. For example, StarHub's four plans include SIM-only plans with 5GB or 30GB of monthly mobile data for $8 or $20, respectively.
The other two plans, which come with a bundled smartphone, are priced at $40 or $60 a month for 15GB or 40GB of mobile data, respectively, over two years. Customers can sign up for these plans now at all StarHub outlets.
Meanwhile, M1 is offering a 25 per cent discount on its regular device and SIM-only plans for seniors, along with three-month complimentary access to streaming services Viu Premium and TVBAnywhere+.
This means, for instance, that its $25 SIM-only plan with 30GB monthly mobile data will cost $18.75 for seniors. The plans will be available for sign-up from July 24.
LAUNCH
Singtel will launch its plans next month. These will come with data-free messaging on WhatsApp, among other perks.
It will also hold Seniors Go Digital workshops at eight outlets every Wednesday.
These will be held from 9am to 11am, two hours before the outlets open.
The new Mobile Access for Seniors scheme augments broad-ranging outreach efforts under the SG Digital Office formed last month, including the Seniors Go Digital movement that aims to reach 100,000 seniors by the end of this year.
"What we have now is a truly national digital movement, in terms of its reach, and the inclusiveness, involvement and participation in the effort," Mr Iswaran said. "There aren't many countries in the world that are doing this kind of effort, where we are actually going to almost the very extremes of our society in order to make digital adoption pervasive."
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