Mobile Access for Seniors: S$5.10 plan and phones from S$20

Mobile Access for Seniors gives lower-income Singaporeans aged 60 and above a two-year mobile plan at S$5.10 a month and a smartphone from S$20, through IMDA. IMDA's current line-up, effective 9 October 2026, pairs SIMBA's plan with 500GB of data and Singtel's with 5GB, with six phones to choose from at S$20 to S$110 including GST. To qualify, a senior must be on ComCare assistance or HDB's Public Rental Scheme and must first attend IMDA's Seniors Go Digital programme in person.

If you are helping a parent or grandparent go digital, this guide sets out who qualifies, what each option includes, what two years will cost, and what to weigh between the two telcos beyond the data allowance.

Who qualifies for Mobile Access for Seniors?

IMDA lists four conditions, and a senior must meet all of them:

1. Age: 60 or above, based on birth year.
2. Citizenship: Singapore citizen.
3. Assistance: currently receiving ComCare Long Term Assistance, ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance, or living under HDB's Public Rental Scheme.
4. Not already helped: not an existing beneficiary of IMDA's Home Access scheme who has received a smartphone.

On top of that, the senior must have attended the Seniors Go Digital programme and picked up at least one basic digital skill at an SG Digital community hub. IMDA gives examples such as basic digital communication, using government digital services or paying by e-payment, and says online learning modes do not count. After that, the senior approaches a Digital Ambassador at a hub, located at selected Community Clubs and public libraries. Only one registration per senior is needed, and IMDA says the hubs close on public holidays.

What do the plans and phones include?

Both plans run for two years at S$5.10 a month and, IMDA says, come with free SIM card registration, free caller ID, unlimited incoming local calls and continued mobile data with no excess data charges.

SIMBA plan: 500GB of data, 400 minutes and unlimited SMS. IMDA's footnote adds unlimited free calls to Singapore mobile numbers, unlimited free SMS to SIMBA numbers and free voice roaming. Phones offered with it:

• Vivo Y05e: S$20
• Samsung Galaxy A08: S$108
• HONOR X6e: S$109

Singtel plan: 5GB of data, 350 minutes and 50 SMS. Phones offered with it:

• Xiaomi Redmi A3: S$20
• OPPO A6c 4G: S$49
• Samsung Galaxy A08 4G: S$110

IMDA says phone choice depends on stock at the time of redemption, that redemption is subject to the scheme's and the telcos' terms, and that phones may come with the maker's app store pre-installed. These are the scheme's own figures; we have not tested any of the phones.

How much does it cost over two years?

Simple arithmetic from IMDA's prices, before any charges the telcos' own terms may add:

• 24 months at S$5.10 is S$122.40.
• With a S$20 phone, the two-year total is S$142.40.
• With the dearest phone on the list, the Samsung Galaxy A08 4G at S$110, it is S$232.40.

The phones at S$20 are the Vivo Y05e on SIMBA and the Xiaomi Redmi A3 on Singtel, so the cheapest route costs the same on either telco. The choice is about the plan and the service, not the up-front price.

SIMBA or Singtel: what else should I weigh?

Data is the obvious difference: 500GB against 5GB. For a senior who mainly uses WhatsApp calls and messages, both may be enough; for one who watches videos on the go, the larger allowance matters more. Two things are easy to miss.

• Calls and messages. SIMBA's plan lists unlimited SMS and free calls to Singapore mobiles; Singtel's lists 350 minutes and 50 SMS. A senior who still phones and texts a lot should count their usage first.
• Customer service. IMDA's statistics on telcos' handling of complaints for April to June 2026 show an average mobile hotline wait of 4 to 5 minutes for SIMBA and 0.15 to 0.40 minutes for Singtel. IMDA notes that SIMBA's helpline is for its Seniors' Plan customers only. Our telco complaints guide has the full figures.

Before the senior signs, ask the Digital Ambassador or telco what happens at the end of the two years, and what the early termination charge is if circumstances change. Our guide to early termination charges explains how those must shrink over a contract.

How do I help a parent apply?

A practical order of steps:

1. Check the four eligibility conditions above, including the ComCare or public rental condition.
2. Find the nearest SG Digital community hub through the Digital for Life portal or 6377 3800, and check its opening hours.
3. Go with the senior to a Seniors Go Digital session and make sure they learn at least one skill there in person.
4. Ask the Digital Ambassador to register them, and choose the telco and phone together.
5. On the day the phone is set up, show them the emergency alert settings, which our guide to SG Alert and 2G-off rules explains.

IMDA's free Digital for Life Festival, on 24 and 25 October at VivoCity and 31 October and 1 November at Heartbeat@Bedok, includes activities for seniors such as booking a ride by voice assistant. We could not confirm whether festival activities count towards the Seniors Go Digital requirement, so ask at a hub.

For more side-by-side choices, see the comparing topic.

Common questions