Providing yourself with the Internet and calls is one of the primary tasks of the modern traveler. There will be no problems with this. If you want to implement everything “as simply as possible and for any money”, connect roaming. If you want a profitable, stable connection during your vacation, buy a local SIM card. Well, for those who literally live on suitcases and travel not only to Thailand, but also to other countries, a travel SIM card will be the best choice. Next, we will consider all the options in detail.
Won calls and Internet access with a Thai SIM card will cost less than roaming, and using local services is not difficult. It is optimal to take one of the tourist SIM cards with a connected tariff and a short validity period (from five days to a month). You only need to choose a SIM card with the optimal amount of data, depending on whether you are going to actively surf or just use instant messengers. Alternatively, you can rummage through non-tourist offers of operators and choose the most profitable and convenient package (relevant primarily for those planning to stay in the country for more than a month).
Popular telecom operators in Thailand :
AIS / One-2-Call , mobile operators in Thailand. Now there are three options for a travel SIM card with a connected tariff: 2GB for 5 days for 160 baht*/$5, 3GB for 8 days for 299 baht/$10 and 6 GB for 15 days for 599 baht/$19. The last two cards include 100 baht for calls. Other internet packages.
truemove. The 4G Tourist SIM comes in three versions: 3GB+100 baht for 8 days for 299 baht/$10, 8GB+50 baht for 15 days for 599 baht/$19 and a card for 49 baht/$1.5 from 15 baht on balance.
DTAC. The tourist card is called Happy Tourist SIM and is sold in four versions: for 49 baht/$1.5 for 35 days (includes only 15 baht on the balance), for 199 baht/$6 with 500 MB for 7 days, for 299 baht/$10 with 3 GB and 100 baht on the account for 8 days; for THB599/$19 with 6GB and THB100 credit for 15 days. All prices are excluding VAT (7%).
The quality of communication in 3G and 4G standards is about the same coverage for everyone. Mobile Internet in Thailand operates at an average speed of 8-11 Mbps. Usually a bonus is given to customers – a large number of Wi-Fi points throughout the country (access is included in the package or bought for a small fee).
Pay attention . When you run out of packet megabytes, you will still have access to the network, but at a very slow speed (128-384 Kbps). You pay not for megabytes, but for speed, most packages position themselves as packages with unlimited internet. Having exhausted the limit, buy (enter a special code) an additional package with gigabytes.
Where to buy a sim?
- At airports in Thailand (in Suvarnabhumi – the arrivals area after customs). As a rule, kiosks of all three operators are presented. The range mainly includes packages for tourists. Don’t forget to change dollars/euro to baht to pay at the kiosk. Sometimes promotions are held at the airport and SIM cards are distributed for free, but you will need to immediately replenish your account for baht.
- Offices of mobile operators and branded kiosks in shopping centers. Packages with any tariff plans are presented. Sellers will help you choose, activate a SIM card and advise on any issue.
- While shopping in Thailand at 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Tesco Lotus supermarkets. You may not be given enough time to select a tariff, but they can help with activation.
How to buy, activate, replenish?
When purchasing a SIM card, a passport is required (according to the law, the card will be registered and linked to your name). It is extremely rare (mainly in remote provinces) that an identity card is not required.
Ask the seller to activate the SIM card and connect the desired tariff (if the card is without it). You can also change or select a tariff plan through the mobile operator’s application or by calling technical support. If necessary, at the points of sale, you can cut the SIM card to micro or nano-sim.
Important! The country is gradually shutting down 2G networks. So make sure your phone supports 3G and 4G (makes a difference even for calls).
You can top up your account at the points of sale of the card. To replenish, you need to dictate your number and the amount to be deposited into the account. You can replenish your account through branded terminals or using a recharge card with a nominal value of 100 baht or more.
The validity of most SIM cards is from 30 days to one year from the date of the last recharge. If you used a Thai SIM card more than a year ago, do not plan to take it on your next trip – most likely it will turn out to be “dead”.
How to save traffic?
- Turn off automatic app updates in the App Store\Google Play settings.
- Manually set up applications to access the Internet. Turn off access to those programs that you will not need on the trip.
- Do not forget to turn off the Internet in Thailand in places where there is access to Wi-Fi.
- Download offline maps (Maps.me, Google.Maps) before your trip as online navigation uses too much traffic.
Many travelers buy SIM cards only for data transfer, which is quite reasonable, because today most of the communication can be transferred to instant messengers and not spend money on calls. If you still need to make a call, this can be done without a mobile phone. You can call within the city from a pay phone on the street or from a phone in a hotel. But international calls should not be made from the hotel – it will be very expensive. It is better to look for a special phone for international calls – there is one in many Internet cafes, travel agency offices and just on the street (pay phone). Focus on the inscription Oversea Call. The cost of calls in this case will be approximately the same as with a local SIM card. To use the phone, you need to purchase a special Oversea Call Card (sold in supermarkets).