FROM LONDON TO SINGAPORE
Recycled numbers are common in Singapore
One of the first things you do when moving to a new country is buy a SIM card, you need a local number to integrate, to sign up to things and communicate with those on the ground without the extra charges.
Having a phone number is important, it’s how you stay in touch with family and friends, communicate with service providers and employers; the main means of communication for people to reach out to you etc.
However, here in Singapore, a phone number is a little more than that.
Your phone number seems to become part of your identity here, at least this is how I currently see it.
At retail stores to sign up I had to provide a mobile number, that’s how they track your points every-time you shop, as there’s no online customer account; then to complete and activate your visa/ passes to live and work in the country you have to obtain a phone number; everywhere you go and everything you sign up to they start by confirming your phone number. Not your home address or e-mail.
And yes, the city-state uses Whatsapp…
