Prepaid data - for visitors to HK (further thoughts)

At the start of the year I had written about the best prepaid data plans for visitors to HK: Prepaid data - for visitors to Hong Kong, where I had recommended CSL one2free and China Mobile.  PCCWSince then it seems PCCW Mobile has come out with a very competitive preaid sim card targeted specifically for tourists called the Discover Hong Kong Tourist SIM card.  The sim card is available as a mini and micro sim.The Tourist SIM card is available either for HK$69 or HK$96.  The HK$69 card comes with local data for 5 days, up to a cap of 1.5GB and the HK$96 card comes with local data for 8 days, up to a cap of 5GB [the information on the PCCW website doesn’t indicate if this is 2G, 3G or 4G data, but based on PCCW other prepaid sim cards, it is fair to assume PCCW is offering 3G data].  Both cards come with access to PCCW Wi-Fi access points and flat rate IDD (at HK$0.45 a minute) to 36 destinations and local calls, SMS etc at regular rates.This all sounds great, but one major downside to this prepaid sim card is that it is only available at the Kowloon Visitor Centre at the Star Ferry Concourse in TST. PCCW also offer an All-In-One Rechargeable SIM card. This card is available at most 7/11s (so you should be able to pick it up at either the airport or at the 7-11 at Hong Kong station).This is available with either HK$98 or HK$198 of credit, as either mini or micro sim (and the HK$98 card is also available in nano sim format).  The card has several options for data, based on different day passes as follows (subject to maximum caps): 1 day – HK$18 (600MB), 3 days – HK$38 (1GB), 7 days – HK$68 (1.5GB), 30 days – HK$188 (4GB).  You also get access to PCCW Wi-Fi access points.This is a 3G sim card, offering speeds of up to 42Mbps.  This card seems to offer better value that the one2free prepaid card, especially, with the Wi-Fi available via PCCW’s hotspots.  Note, the PCCW sim card is subject to a monthly admin fee of HK$2.5.Three Hong Kong3HK also offers several prepaid data sims, their offering has not really changed much since I had looked into this back in 2010: Prepaid mobile data options in Hong Kong.  There is one sim card from the previous article called the 3HK Rechargeable SIM which is quite good value for anyone staying in Hong Kong for around a month, 3HK also have a SIM called the Data SIM is listed differently but from the tariffs it seems both cards are identical.The sim card costs HK$198 and is available in both micro and mini sim format.  On initial activation of the card HK$18 is automatically deducted, however you get 50MB of data with that.  You can then use the card with daily data caps of HK$28 and total monthly cap of HK$168 (subject to a fair usage policy).  So, in effect you get a month’s unlimited data for HK$186.  The sim also comes with free wifi with Y5Zone.Issues with tablets and other mobile devicesAll the various data sims can generally be used in mobile phones, tablets, mifi devices and usb sticks.  However a major downside comes when you need to activate the sim and also check balances and top ups.  Most of the sims require you to either input a USSD code or send an SMS, which is fine if you are using a mobile phone.  However sending the USSD code or an SMS isn’t always possible with the other devices, therefore you properly use these data sims, you may need to pop it into a mobile phone.

Updates with Handy

I had previously mentioned the Handy service where you are able to rent a mobile device from HK airport for HK$68 a month.  Handy now offer a new tariff, for HK$48 a day.  This cheaper tariff, however is data only, i.e. free calls are not included in this price.  They are also presently running a promotion, that if you reserve the service in advance they will either give you a free day’s service, or send the device to your hotel for free.

Final thoughts

Based on the above, PCCW Mobile's offering does seem to offer better value than the other prepaid options with data, especially as you get access to PCCW's extensive wifi network.  However, for anyone staying around 30 days, 3HK does offer quite a competitive package.