How to get your cell phone connected in Thailand: eSIMs, wi-fi and mobile networks

28.11.2024 - 09:57 / lonelyplanet.com

Nov 27, 2024 • 8 min read

Over 30 million visitors flock to Thailand every year, lured by its beaches, temples, food, markets and the desire to “get away from it all”. But there is escaping the drudgery of day-to-day life, and there is being completely isolated and out of reach. If you would like to travel throughout the Land of Smiles without 1) paying through the nose or 2) relying on the connection in Starbucks or a large hotel lobby to stay abreast of what’s happening at home, here’s what you need to know when it comes to cell phones, wi-fi, eSIMs and staying connected.

If you do decide to just go with the flow and use your domestic plan, those roaming charges will kick in the moment you turn your phone on. This means that every time you make or take a call or text message, or use your data to check out your next destination or to write an email, you will be charged. How much? If you’re on Verizon, that’s US$2.05 per megabyte (MB), or US$1.79 per minute; on T-Mobile, it’s US$5 a day on 512MB data.

This can quickly add up, especially if you are streaming a YouTube video on where to eat next or using a map to get to your hotel. One gigabyte (GB) of data gives you a mere half hour of web browsing or checking emails, or an hour of streaming video. You would be surprised how often you use your phone without realizing it, and that surprise can put a significant dent in your travel budget.

Thailand is very well-connected with 3G to 5G coverage in 95% of the country. This comes via one of four major providers: AIS, True, DTAC or TOT Mobile, with AIS and True holding the vast majority of market share. As a result, both AIS and True can field customer service questions in English and offer a variety of packages for travelers.

Most major malls in big cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket will house both an AIS and True shop, or you can get started data shopping immediately once you land at the airport. Deals include 119B (US$3.43) for the AIS One-2-Call plan, giving you 30 days of 900 minutes of calls (limited to 30 minutes/day), and 300B (US$8.66) for the True data plan which provides 30GB of 5G data capped at a speed of 5 megabits per second (Mbps).

You can purchase a local SIM card just about anywhere, from kiosks at the airport, where AIS, True and DTAC all maintain a presence, to the aforementioned malls, to the nearest convenience store, or even online. This makes calls, texts and general internet browsing vastly more affordable, enabling users to avoid international roaming charges. The most reasonable place to buy your SIM is arguably at 7 Eleven, which will not be hard to find (there are over 14,000 of them in Thailand). You will need your passport to purchase one, and if you use your credit card,