Tourists arriving in Thailand would like to keep in touch with the home front, use Whatsapp and/or use the internet. Fortunately, the 4G reception is almost perfect everywhere in Thailand. The cheapest thing is to buy a Thai SIM card and put it in your phone. You have to make sure that your phone is simlock free.
If you want to make calls and use the internet in Thailand, there are a few options:
- Use your own mobile phone and SIM card: If you plan to stay in Thailand for a short time, consider using your own mobile phone and SIM card. Before you leave, make sure that your mobile operator has enabled international roaming and that you have checked roaming rates. Keep in mind that roaming charges are often high, so this can be an expensive option.
- Buy a local SIM card in Thailand: Another option is to buy a local SIM card upon arrival in Thailand. There are several mobile providers in Thailand, including AIS, DTAC and TrueMove. You can buy a prepaid SIM card at one of the many outlets in the country, including at the airport. Make sure you choose a SIM card with a plan that suits your needs, for example a plan with unlimited internet or a plan with many calling minutes. This can be an economical option if you are staying in Thailand for a while.
- Use a mobile hotspot or Wi-Fi: If you mainly need the internet, you can also consider using a mobile hotspot or WiFi. Many hotels, restaurants and cafes offer free Wi-Fi. If you do need more internet, consider buying or renting a mobile hotspot from a local provider.
Regardless of the option you choose, it is always wise to compare the costs and conditions of the different options so that you can choose the best option for your situation.
What is a SIM lock?
A SIM lock is a security feature applied to some mobile phones to prevent the phone from being used with a SIM card from another mobile operator. In other words, if a phone is SIM-locked, it can only be used with the SIM card of the specific mobile carrier that the phone originally came with.
The SIM lock is usually applied by mobile carriers as a way of encouraging customers to stay with them and continue to use their services. If a customer wants to use the phone with another mobile provider, he or she must have the SIM unlocked.
The process to get a SIM removed can vary depending on the phone type and mobile operator, but in most cases it can be done by contacting the original mobile operator or using a third party specialist is in removing simlocks.
5 steps to install a Thai SIM card
Here are the five easy steps you can take to get a Thai SIM card and mobile data plan ready.
Step 1: Unlock any SIM lock
The first step is to possibly unlock your phone (simlock) with your service provider before you travel. In some cases, a small fee may be charged for the service. Once your phone is unlocked you can use a Thai SIM card which comes in different sizes depending on your phone.
Step 2: Buy a SIM card at the airport or from service providers
If you're staying in Thailand for less than a week, it's probably best and most convenient to get a mobile data plan at the airport. However, tourists who stay longer are advised to sign up for a mobile data plan with one of the service providers. These providers have stores in local malls. Here you get a more flexible range of options that better suit your needs and at a lower price. A passport is required to purchase a SIM card in Thailand, as the carriers must register the SIM card in the user's name and passport number.
Step 3: Choose the carrier and mobile data plan
There are three main mobile service providers in Thailand: AIS, DTAC and TrueMove H. These providers offer various 'pay as you go' deals with 3G/4G/5G support for both short term and long term availability ranging from daily, weekly to monthly . I myself use DTAC and pay 1.400 baht for 3 months in Thailand. The connection is stable and fast, I can even watch TV on my mobile.
Step 4: Upgrade
Adding or "topping up" your cell phone credit is an easy task that can be accomplished quickly at 7-Eleven, service provider stores and through Boonterm machines across the country.
Step 5: Activate
Activating your SIM card can differ depending on the device and carrier you use. Prepaid SIM cards for tourists usually offer a validity of 30 days after each top-up. You can check your mobile balance and validity through these USSD codes:
- AIS: *121#
- DTAC: 1019#
- TrueMove H: #123#
Wi-Fi connection
Hotels, restaurants and cafes in Thailand offer free Wi-Fi internet access to their guests and customers.
Free Wi-Fi is available at Suvarnabhumi Airport for up to 2 hours per day through the network “@AirportTrueFreeWiFi”.
There are 126 free hotspots available at the airport. Each user can access the Internet for 15 minutes at a time. After the period has expired, those who wish to continue using the service can log in again. Internet access is also available 24 hours a day at CAT Telecom Internet Cafés behind the check-in desks (row W) and at the G-aero bridge on the 2nd floor.
We have 2 dual sim phones.
Bought 1 in the Netherlands and 1 in Thailand.
The telephone purchased in Thailand has the Thai keyboard as standard, which is useful for the Thai wife. One can easily erase from Thai to Western keyboard on this phone.
The telephone purchased in the Netherlands does not have Thai keyboard options.
We do use software that checks whether the WiFi connection used is safe.
Turns out to be no unnecessary luxury after my facebook account was taken over by an African.
In fact, we rarely use WiFi connections anymore, but always buy and use a SIM card that allows you to use the internet.
The Sim cards have a limit on the use of Mbytes depending on what you buy and with a lot of use you will have no internet on a certain day.
If you have GBoard on your phone as an app, it can type and correct in almost all languages of the world. With 1 press of the space bar, the language of the keyboard changes to the language of your choice.
Most phones also have the option of inserting an e-Sim instead of a physical SIM. This is just an activation code with phone number and internet usage. Very handy this way you don't have to change the SIMs.
Tip for free unlimited fast internet at the airport; Stand/sit near an Airline Lounge and log in to the WiFi of the Lounge. These wifi passwords are everywhere on the internet. The WiFi password for the KLM Lounge at BKK is: THAILAND
This also applies to all airports in the world with Airline Lounges.
If your phone accepts an e-SIM you can also choose airalo.com. Here you buy data subscriptions via the e-sim service from DTAC (airalo is available in more than 190 countries), so you only need 1 phone. Easy to use, affordable data bundle prices. An always 4 or 5 G network. For Thailand, the data bundle is unlimited. Also included is a Thai phone number. Install at home in NL and at Suvarnabhumi Airport immediately data + telephone number after landing. Top.
Esimthailand.com does the same. Offer double right now.
“Most phones also have the option to place an e-Sim instead of a physical SIM”.
Most phones do not yet have this eSim option, currently only a few new models have it. Although it will gradually become more and more. Just like that “most” phones do not yet have 5G.