Hmmm .... 2nd sim to make calls with little data ?

Celcom coverage mvno
1. Altel - 2x topup validity, 1year validity, data with extended validity
2. OneXOX - subsidiary of XOX (mvno on mvno), 28months validity
3. Merchantrade - still kicking
4. Tunetalk - 1 year validity, cheap data, rm30 topup free 1gb data
5. ToneExcel - not recommended, expensive across the board (MLM)
6. TonePlus - another toneexcel spinoff
7. XOX - a little extra offering than oneXOX, 28months validity etc

U coverage mvno
1. Friendi - 60days validity extension on any standard usage
2. BuzzMe - another mvno showcase by EA
3. Best Mobile - not recommended, not competitive enough (MLM)

DiGi coverage mvno
1. Tron - still alive
2. SpeakOut - 7-11 brand, shrinking base

Maxis coverage mvno
1. All thrown to the dogs

I don't include U here as U is actually a full telco with aims of joining the big three but is not quite there yet.

So, choose what you like:
- If you'd like one with reasonably good customer service then Altel, Tunetalk, Friendi.
- If you want coverage then its any Celcom mvno.
- If you want it (arguably) real cheap for both calls and data then I'd say Tunetalk.
- If you like long data validity or fast download anytime of the day then its Altel.
- If you like extra long account validity then OneXOX or XOX = 28months
- If you like a bit of everything then I'd say Friendi

And finally, if you just want to park a number with 1 year validity then its Altel or Tunetalk as they both have solid backing and will be around for quite a long time. Celcom have a 38% stake in Tunetalk and a long term spectrum sharing agreement with Altel (Altel is actually a full telco licensee with celcom mvno rollout).

As far as I know (as of today), the highest calling rate (of a newly registered prepaid) would be DiGi Smart prepaid at 30sen/min (non-Buddyz). OneXOX MA call rates is the same as #hotlink (24sen/min) while the DA call rates of 18sen/min is the same as Friendi (all are off-net rates). AFAIK, oneXOX users are seldom charged under MA rates.

Yes, U power gives the lowest 5sen/30secs calling rates at the moment but any bottomline depends on an individual's needs/requirements/preferences. Sometimes its the physical/technological limitation(s) that becomes a concern (ex. coverage).


Edited: One sentence added; a typo corrected.




This post has been edited by UN1T3D: Sep 6 2015, 09:21 PM

Haha, there's a little history to that matter. As of June 2015, Telenor holds 49%, EPF holds 13.9%, PNB holds about 6% of DiGi. (Trivia: Vincent Tan have said previously on record how he regretted selling his DiGi shares.)

Historically, Merchantrade was the first to focus on the migrant worker segment by offering cheap calls to bangladesh (orginally 16sen/min). No one wants to talk to Merchantrade initially except Celcom (bcoz celcom xpax was not attractive to migant workers). So Celcom have Merchantrade as mvno and Merchantrade carried HUGE amount of traffic to Bangladesh.

Then the other telcos saw the HUGE amount of money to be made from bangla traffic and cut prices to attract the crowd. Now you see DiGi offering very very cheap IDD rates.

One should be asking can DiGi sustain those rates when they're actually below costs ? If they are sustaining those rates at present to near future (even below costs) then why ?

I did mentioned Tunetalk in point -3 on choosing what you like above ...

Yes, TuneTalk does have interesting plans. The Data plans are enticing. I calculated the RM2 weekly plan as a very cost effective option for the moderate whatsapp/wechat users (hint: topup of rm50 + rm100 and figure out how it can make your whatsapp comfy for the next 1.5 year). Yet, the bottomline still depends on one's requirement.