M1’s insane 10TB mobile data plan

Put another way, 10TB is approximately 333GB a day over a 30-day cycle. That is a lot of room for streaming, downloads and hotspot use, even if most of us will never get close to filling it. M1’s 10TB tier is also the only monthly mobile plan of that size I could find among Singapore’s telcos.

Of course, “unlimited” plans already exist here. StarHub offers its Unlimited+ plans, while Singtel markets unlimited data on its 5G+ plans. Some plans still come with fair-use terms: StarHub says its Unlimited+ plans are subject to a fair-use policy, and Singtel’s prepaid plans state specific usage thresholds for some of its unlimited-data options.

But a fixed number like 10TB has a different effect. “Unlimited” is a familiar promise, and you have to check what the terms mean in practice. In the most common circumstances, after a certain cap limit is hit, users on such plans will see their mobile data speed throttled until the next calendar month.

10 terabytes is easier to get your head around. It is a huge allowance, and M1 is smartly putting that figure front and centre.

There is a caveat when comparing it with other plans. Giga, for instance, offers a 6TB 5G plan billed every six months, with unused data rolling over to a maximum balance of 12TB. That allowance can be used across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, but it is spread over six months rather than offered as 10TB for one monthly cycle.

For me, that is what makes M1’s plan interesting. It is not necessarily a sensible choice for most people, and $79.95 monthly fee isn’t exactly small change. But telco plans are usually presented as a list of prices, data bundles and roaming perks. A 10TB option stands out because it’s a great hook to catch your eyes with.

It reminds me of ViewQwest’s 100Gbps home broadband plan, which is going for a mind-boggling $588 per month. Most people will not need that kind of speed either, but it does make you want to challenge yourself and see how far you can go with a home connection – albeit a very expensive one.

Look, I may never use 10TB in a month, and I suspect plenty of other subscribers will say the same. Still, in a market where “unlimited” as a selling point comes with fine prints (and you know it’s there), M1’s 10TB plan truly makes a data allowance feel excessive and I can’t wait for the other telcos to follow suit with a similar plan of their own.