Mobile carrier for non-local student in HK

[hjgk]

Hi, I will be studying in HK for two semesters for masters course.
This is my first time to live in HK, so I appreciate HK experts' help!

Which mobile carrier offer the best service for a non-local student who will be studying in HK for two semester? Unlimited data plan will be terrific, but if it's impossible, it's not a big problem. I don't use SMS service or phone call a lot. I need the data for WhatsApp or SNS service (e.g.Twitter for project).

Thanks a lot!

[nickelodeon1997]

China Mobile 2G is $30 odd per month.. very good for whatsapp, etc. but sucks for voice and video calls obviously. Net is so so, lags most of the time.

I used 2G before switching to 3G (for about a month) then upgraded to 4G (which is clocked at $30 every 10 days = so $90 a month).

[MandM!]

Those $78 plans are limited to 384kbps so they are slow. Good enough for whatsapp.

[PKS_2000]

There are different plans available from different companies. Check out Smartone, Three, PCCW, 1010, China Mobile etc. More or less plans are similar but still you can compare.
There is no unlimited data plan as far as I know but you can have upto 10GB plan per month which is virtually same as unlimited.
Before going for any telecom company and/or plan, first check the connectivity at your residence. Normally plans have 1 / 2 years lock in so you would like to make 100% sure that you have selected best plan for you.

Normally you would find shops near MTR station near your residence where you can go and enquire about different plan. You should have stores near your college also giving details. There are 3G/4G plans available with all companies around HKD 100 with decent data usage. Some plans have cheaper international calls which you need to find based on where you may call.

[pin]

You want unlimited data. Do you mind it being capped? Or do you need the fastest 4G speeds? Note, all networks now cap their 4g speeds. Unlimited is only available on slower speeds.

[bdw]

China mobile unlimited data $78 per month

I think the China mobile $78 plan has $18 admin fee so actually $96 per month. Its slightly better to get the prepaid card which is $30 for 10 days, so $90 per month and it only has a $2 admin fee, so total $92 per month.

[bdw]

Those $78 plans are limited to 384kbps so they are slow. Good enough for whatsapp.

In my experience, the Sun mobile unlimited $78 plan ($96 total with admin fee) is actually quite good and it is 4G LTE which allows tethering laptop etc. Their website claims that speeds are capped at 384kbps, but I can consistently get around 800kbps down and 1mbps up. When I say consistently, I mean I have had this service for about 3 years now, and they upgraded it from 3G to 4G LTE maybe a year ago and I have always been getting these nice speeds for the last year. Even when it was 3G, I was still getting around 400-500kbps, always consistently higher than their website claims. For me, these speeds are good enough for streaming music from my synology NAS at home, skype video calls, youtube, etc. So really no complaints with Sun mobile. I know that China mobile and three have similar offerings but they are 3G (not 4G), dont allow tethering, and I've heard more complaints about them.

[Claire ex-ax]

Are all these plans proposed available month to month? I have the Sun $96 one and had to sign a one-year contract.

[bdw]

Are all these plans proposed available month to month? I have the Sun $96 one and had to sign a one-year contract.

The China mobile $30/10 days (total $92 per month) is prepaid and available month to month. You are right, the Sun mobile plan is a 12 month commitment.