Many people have probably never heard of Sabah, and may not even know where it is or which country it belongs to. Sabah is part of Malaysia — but it is not in Peninsular Malaysia, where Kuala Lumpur and Penang are; it sits across the South China Sea in East Malaysia, and is the largest city in that region, known for water sports, water villages, and stunning natural scenery.

In this article, we compare Sabah's internet options, including recommended Sabah data SIMs, pocket Wi-Fi routers, and roaming through your Taiwanese carrier — to help you pick the right option faster. Let's take a look!

Comparing Sabah internet options: SIM card, pocket Wi-Fi, or carrier roaming

If you are planning a trip to Sabah, Malaysia, getting online is absolutely one of the essentials to sort out beforehand. But what are the common options for staying connected in Sabah? Here is a table breaking down the differences:

OptionSabah SIM cardPocket Wi-Fi routerHome carrier roaming
How it worksBuy a physical Sabah SIM and swap it in once thereRent a Wi-Fi router from a provider; connect to it once turned onActivate roaming through your home carrier
Calls/texts included?Depends on the planNoYes
Highlights• Affordable, and works with your own phone
• Wide range of plans to choose from		• Priced by day, no speed cap
• One device shared among a group, better value overall		• No SIM swap or rental device needed
• Still able to send/receive calls and texts to your home number while abroad
Best forHeavy data users, independent travellers, backpackersGroups travelling togetherShort trips/business travel, light data users

How do you choose a Sabah SIM card?

As shown in the table above, there are three main ways to get online in Sabah, and we recommend a physical SIM card above all — it is generally more affordable, and more importantly, offers a wide range of plans, including genuinely unlimited data.

With so many providers selling Sabah SIMs, how do you decide? Here are 3 things to keep in mind:

1. Which Malaysian carrier is it on?

Malaysia has four main carriers: Digi, Maxis, Celcom, and U Mobile.

Digi is the largest and best known, and also the partner behind many Sabah SIM cards, offering solid coverage and reliable speeds. If you come across a Sabah SIM running on another carrier, it is worth double-checking online reviews first.

2. How much data do you need in Sabah?

Data allowance tends to be travellers' top concern, since many Taiwanese are used to unlimited plans at home and naturally worry about running short abroad, often leaning toward a Sabah unlimited data plan.

In reality, we recommend just getting enough data for your needs, since most trips are short — many people only spend four or five days in Sabah, mostly enjoying activities and food. Surely no one is travelling all the way to Sabah just to lie in a hotel room watching videos?

If you are genuinely used to unlimited data but do not want to spend too much on it, consider a daily-capped unlimited plan instead — such as 1GB per day or 2GB per day unlimited — where your speed just throttles after the daily cap rather than cutting off entirely.

3. Does it support calls and texts?

With how widely used social apps are today, most people message and call through LINE, Facebook, Instagram and the like, so fewer people dial an actual phone number or send a text these days.

That said, some situations abroad still call for a phone number — booking a restaurant, arranging a driver, or an emergency where you get separated from your group with no signal.

If any of this concerns you, be sure to check whether your Sabah SIM card includes calling and texting before you buy.

Where can you buy a Sabah SIM card?

1. Dedicated SIM retailers

Not everyone realises there are companies dedicated to selling travel SIM cards. These companies generally have relevant telecom expertise and their own dedicated infrastructure connected directly to Malaysian carriers, giving you a stronger guarantee of quality.

Take DJB's Malaysia data SIM as an example — the range of plans is genuinely varied, including the daily-capped unlimited and full Sabah unlimited options mentioned above; and if your trip covers several Southeast Asian countries at once, there are multi-country Southeast Asia SIMs to suit that too.

2. Shopee

Searching Shopee for a Sabah data SIM turns up all kinds of sellers and plans, usually at low prices — which can make it hard to know where to even start.

The upside of Shopee's Sabah SIMs is the low price, but the downside is that it is harder to trace where the SIM actually comes from. We recommend comparing a few sellers and checking other buyers' reviews before purchasing, or you risk unstable signal, no signal at all, or an expired number!

3. Travel service platforms

Well-known travel platforms like Klook and KKday also sell Sabah SIM cards. Buying through these platforms tends to mean more consistent quality, with the option to have it shipped ahead of time or pick it up directly at Kota Kinabalu Airport in Sabah.

The downside is that they are essentially agents — if you run into any issues once abroad, their support may not be able to respond quickly to technical questions.

4. At Kota Kinabalu Airport

Finally, you can also buy a Sabah data SIM directly in the arrivals hall once you land in Sabah. The upside is a staff member sets it up for you on the spot, so there is no risk of a SIM that will not work; the downside is that if you are on a tight schedule, setting aside about 30 minutes to buy a Sabah SIM could feel like wasted time.

Further reading:
>> eSIM vs. physical SIM: what is the real difference? eSIM has few downsides and is genuinely easy for anyone, tech-savvy or not
>> 2024 guide to travel inconvenience and travel accident insurance, for anyone worried about flight delays
>> When is the best time to travel abroad? It varies by continent — pick the right season for the best trip