When tourists come on vacation or spend the winter in another country, they first of all solve the issue of communication with their homeland. Calling or writing using Russian SIM cards while roaming is not a cheap pleasure. What remains? Don’t worry, you don’t have to sit in the Wi-Fi zone and wait for messages from relatives via Viber or WhatsApp. To be able to constantly stay in touch, it is enough to purchase a Thai SIM card.
Previously, tourists were given a card free of charge when leaving the plane. There was some money on it, which was basically enough to make a few calls. Now this is very rare.
Cellular operators in Thailand
There are three GSM mobile operators in Thailand: AIS (brand 1-2-call), DTAC (brand Happy) and True Mobile.
Rumors (and I) give the championship in the quality of cellular communications and mobile Internet to DTAC (Happy). Although now there is no longer the difference between operators that there was before. Therefore, you can safely choose any operator from these three.
(published: 2011. last updated: 2019)
Communication costs in Thailand are approximately the same as in Russia. Tariffs are constantly changing (for the better). Let's see where to find them faster.
Which Thai operator to choose
There are 3 main operators in Thailand:
- TrueMove;
- AIS;
- DTAC.
For tourists coming for two weeks, there are no big differences in the quality and price of cellular communications and the Internet between them. For those staying for the winter, the difference is in promotions, discounts and additional bonuses.
Coverage area is the entire country, with the exception of some remote places such as lakes and mountains.
There is no concept of roaming in Thailand. A card purchased in Bangkok will work at the same rates in Pattaya, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
The cost of a minute of call within the country is about 1 baht (0.03 USD). If you are going to live in the kingdom for a long time and you have many friends, you can connect to a package for conversations within the network.
How to buy a SIM card in Thailand, what tariff to choose
The easiest way to purchase a SIM card from any operator is at the airport upon arrival with a ready-made tariff suitable for you! Nowadays they sell quite normal fares at airports.
You can also get a little confused and buy a separate SIM card at the nearest 7-Eleven or Family Mart store and independently connect to it the Internet package selected on the operator’s website using a code. You can choose a tariff in advance, before arriving in Bangkok, and write down which code is needed to activate the tariff (links to tariffs are just below↓).
Keep in mind that in order to change the tariff (if the Internet package runs out and the month has not yet passed and you need to connect a new one), you will need to call the operator and speak with him in English.
It is not necessary to register a SIM card, but you can if you wish. Registration makes it possible to restore a lost number, and if you have a permit to work in Thailand, you can connect to an inexpensive unlimited tariff plan. You can register a SIM card at the nearest operator’s office (bring your passport with you).
When leaving, a registered SIM card can be extended for a year using codes (codes are listed below↓) and you can use one SIM card each time you arrive in Thailand. For me personally, this is very convenient.
If the SIM card is not renewed, then after a couple of months of inactivity the number will go to another user.
Offers from Russian operators
If the conditions of Thai telecom operators in the field of calls and SMS to Russia are not satisfactory, you can take a closer look at the offers of Russian companies. Some of them have special conditions for those traveling to Thailand.
Call costs
You can clearly evaluate the prices of different mobile operators in the following table:
| Operator | Calls | SMS | Internet |
| Megaphone | 129 r/min | 25 rub. | 50 MB/350 rub. |
| MTS | 115 r/min | 19 rub. | No |
| Beeline | Only as part of an additional option package | ||
| Tele 2 | 35 r/min | 12 rub. | 50 RUR/MB |
| Tinkoff Mobile | Only as part of an additional option package | ||
| SberMobile | 65 r/min | 15 rub. | 25 RUR/MB |
Megaphone
To save on roaming fees for this mobile operator, it is recommended to activate the “Whole World” option. Its cost is 59 rubles/day. For this money, the subscriber is given 40 minutes to make calls for a day. It will also be useful with incoming and outgoing calls for 19 r/min. Options can be activated in the office, mobile application or by command *105*708#.
MTS
This mobile operator offers the “Zero without Borders” option, within which the first 10 minutes of incoming calls per day will be free, and outgoing ones cost 25 rubles/min. To connect, you can use the help of a communication salon employee, a mobile application, a personal account, or the command *419*1233#. For using the service, a subscription fee of 95 rubles/day is charged.
Tele 2
Tele2 has more profitable roaming compared to other operators. Among the cost-saving services, the company only offers free Internet abroad. It only works on the Premium plan. In other cases you will have to pay 350 r/day. Activation takes place on the website, mobile application or in the office.
Beeline
This company offers the “Best Roaming” option. Within its framework, every day the user is given 20 minutes to make calls and 40 MB of traffic. The cost is 200 rubles/day. The service is activated automatically when crossing the border.
Tinkoff Mobile
This operator offers the following services in Thailand:
- Unlimited messengers – 49 RUR/day.
- Without fear around the world (100 MB of Internet and 19.9 r/min for calls) – 299 r/day.
Options are available on the website and in the mobile application.
How to top up your account
From Thailand. The easiest way to top up your account is with payment cards (refill cards). They can be purchased in the same place as a SIM card - at points of sale of cell phones, in the 7-Eleven and Family Mart chain stores. You can also top up your account at payment counters (in some stores) or in mobile phone stores - you need to give the phone number to the seller, who will top up your account through his phone.
When you top up your account with an amount of 60 baht or more, the validity of the SIM card is extended for a short period. After the SIM card expires, if you do not top up your account or renew the SIM card, then your number goes to another owner. Therefore, in Thailand, the numbers are constantly changing and some strange people may call you and ask for a long time in Thai where the former owner of the SIM card went.
Place money on a Thai SIM card online (from any country). You can top up your account online by paying with a card on some operator websites. Today I can tell you where to top up your DTAC account: my.dtac.co.th/esv/en/myRefill
For other operators this function can be found on their websites.
DTac
Wire network in Thailand
The mobile operator DTac has a Happy Tourist package for travelers with several SIM card options:
- 49 baht ($1.61) – a basic SIM card, suitable for replenishing any Happy Tourist package (that is, you buy a SIM, and then select the package conditions that you like and top it up with the required amount);
- 199 baht ($6.53) – unlimited Internet for a week with a maximum speed of up to 500 MB;
- 299 baht ($9.82) – unlimited 8 days with speeds up to 3 GB;
- 599 baht ($19.67) – unlimited for 15 days with speeds up to 6 GB.
More information about DTac Happy Tourist packages and other tariff plans can be found by following this link.
In 2021, DTac
has revised its unlimited offerings to include free on-net calling. You can view them here . For video calls and watching YouTube, it is better to give preference to tariffs with a speed of 4 megabits/s.
→Codes and tariffs for connecting to mobile Internet yourself
I bought my DTAC SIM card many years ago at a 7-11 store and then registered it in my name (with a passport) at the DTAC office. When leaving Thailand for a long time I simply extend it. And every time I connect the Internet packages that I need here and now.
I receive the current connection codes in an SMS notification, or I look on the website:
DTAC tariffs on the DTAC website: here >> or tourist tariffs here >>
TRUE Move tariffs on the operator’s website here >>
1-2Call: on the operator’s website here >>
Internet in Phuket
The conditions here are the same as in Pattaya. You can purchase a SIM card at Phuket airport or at a local communication store.
Representatives of mobile operators are waiting for passengers in the baggage claim area. Sellers speak English or Russian. The resort is in demand among compatriots.
Please note that the cost of cards is higher. It's better to wait until the nearest stores. They sell SIM cards at the checkout counters.
If a tourist ordered a SIM card online, he will be met at the airport (if agreed upon) by a person with a sign with the name of the customer written on it. Come, pick it up and use it.
Hotels and restaurants have access to Wi-Fi. In some places the services are provided free of charge, while in others you will have to pay to gain access.
When booking a room or apartment, find out if there is internet and what the prices are.
If you are staying in Phuket for a long time, go to a provider who works in the zone and sign an agreement. Don't forget to take your passport, rental or purchase agreement.
You can go online in Phuket by purchasing a modem. Then the mobile Internet will be available on any equipment.
To use wired Internet in Phuket, you will have to visit a representative of the operators and sign an agreement. A suitable option for those who come for a long time.
Useful functions: how to renew a SIM card, check your balance, etc.
DTAC (Happy). www.happy.co.th/home_en.php Check your balance - *101*9# Find out your number - *102*9# Top up your account with a prepaid card - *100*CardSerialNo. CardIDNo.# Check if there is a promotion - *103*9# "Call me back" service - *114*10_call_number*9#
Extend the validity of a SIM card (only for DTAC) : For 30 days - *113*30# will be charged 2 baht For 90 days - *113*90# will be charged 6 baht For 180 days - *113*180# will be charged 12 baht Possible immediately extend for a year - twice 180. Extend for more than a year is not possible.
AIS (One-2-Call). www.ais.co.th/12call/en Check your balance - *139# Find out your number - *545# Activate a new SIM card - 900120 Top up your account from a prepaid card -*120*Top-up code# Disable GPRS - * 129*1# Enable GPRS — *129*2# GPRS service status — *129#
TRUE Move Top up balance: *123*number from top up card# Check balance: #123# Find out your number: *833#
Extend your TrueMove SIM card: For 30 days: * 934 * 30 # - costs 2 baht. For 90 days: * 934 * 90 # - cost 6 baht. For 180 days: * 934 * 180 # - cost 12 baht.
True Move
True Corporation Public Company is one of the youngest mobile operators in the country. This is probably why True Move employees give out free SIM cards at airports.
Most of our compatriots complain about this operator: they say that the Internet is expensive and unstable. Perhaps this is true for places remote from cities. In the megacities themselves, the reception is confident.
The company often changes its tariff policy and carries out promotional connections:
- Unlimited 3G Internet for one day + 3 hours Wi-Fi is sold for 49 baht (guaranteed speed not specified).
- 50 megabytes of 3G per day without Wi-Fi costs 50 baht.
- 200 MB per month + 5 hours Wi-Fi – 129 baht.
- 1.25 Gb per month + 10 hours Wi-Fi – 399 baht.
- 3.5 Gb per month, unlimited, without Wi-Fi – 699 baht.
- The “7 hours of unlimited 3G internet per day” package costs 50 baht.
- 25 hours per month 3G costs 99 baht; 70 hours – 199 and 150 hours – 349 baht.
Given the company's constantly changing pricing policy and a site where half the content is in Thai, it's hard to argue that the prices listed above are relevant today.
Connection via AIS and True Move SIM cards is carried out as in Dtac. The sequence of numbers and symbols for activating packages are placed in envelopes with SIM cards or given separately. There is English in the description, Russian is not found everywhere.
Some tips:
- When buying a SIM card, do not chase super-cheap promotional offers. If you plan to vacation in Thailand every year, purchase a regular card at the standard rate. Then, already at the first replenishment of the account, its validity period will automatically be extended for a year.
- If the card's validity period is not extended (an SMS informs about the renewal), it is first blocked and then sold again with the same number. Therefore, do not be surprised if, when you call last year’s number of a Russian friend in Thailand, you hear the rude voice of a foreigner on the phone.
How to call cheaper from Thailand to Russia and other countries
You can call Russia by dialing a direct number, for example +7 913 ***-**-** (not through eight (!), but through +7) - number 8 913-***-**-** not will work). But such a call will cost you 30 baht per minute. Why spend so much if you can do it cheaper.
In Thailand there is a great thing - Internet telephony. To use it, you can simply type the following code instead of “+”:
Code 008 Communication is carried out via the Internet (VoIP), so sometimes the sound quality is not very good. Communications are carried out in 150 countries.
The cost of a conversation with Russia is 7 baht/minute. Tariffing is flat - that is, the first minute is counted as a whole, then from 31 seconds it is rounded up to the next minute.
Code 009 Operator AIS (1-2-call) and TrueMove. VoIP connection from CAT Telecom, provides connection to 152 countries. The quality may not be very high. Sometimes not available (“network busy” message). Works for cell phones and wired phones. Cost - 6.50 baht/minute
Code 004 The cheapest option for DTAC is its own code: 004 (works only for DTAC!) Prices for calls to 14 countries (including Russia) - 4 baht/min (+7% VAT)
Code 006 TrueMove Operator . The cost of 1 minute of conversation is 5 baht/min. TrueMove now has special international sim cards from which you can call Russia for literally 3 rubles per minute.
That is, when calling via IP telephony, you need to dial the number not like this: +7 913 ***-**-**, but like this: 004-7 913 ***-**-** or like this: 009 -7 913 ***-**-**
And enjoy conversations with family and friends.
AIS
The mobile operator AIS has a Traveler plan for tourists:
- for 49 baht – basic SIM card (similar to Happy Tourist);
- for 299 baht – unlimited for 8 days with speed up to 3 GB;
- for 599 baht – 15 days of unlimited internet with speeds up to 6 GB.
To learn more about Traveler AIS packages, here is a link to their page on the official website of the mobile operator.
Mobile operators in Thailand
Phone numbers, area and international codes in Thailand
Thailand code: 66.
A mobile number in Thailand may begin with the number “0” (for example, 099-xxx-xx-xx) - in this case, you can only call it from a local Thai number. If you need to call a Thai number from abroad or a SIM card from another country, then instead of “0” we put the international code of Thailand +66. As a result, we dial a number like +66-99-xxx-xx-xx
Landline telephones are one digit shorter. Thailand city codes: Bangkok - 02, Pattaya - 038, Phuket - 076, Samui - 077, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son - 052, 053, Chon Buri, Rayong: 038, Trat - 039, etc.
To call Thailand from a landline number from another country, first dial “8”, wait for the long tone, dial “10”, the numbers of the international code “66” and the phone number. For example:
8-10-66-38-123-456 (Pattaya phone number).
Thailand mobile operator codes
In addition to city codes, there are codes for cellular operators. There are many of them, here are some of them:
061, 062, 087, 090-1, 092, 093-1, 098, 099 — AIS 080-3, 086, 088, 090-9, 099, 099-5 — True Move 080-4 — 080-5, 081 -3 — 081-6, 085, 089, 090, 091, — DTAC
And so on, the rest can be viewed on the Wiki website: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_Thailand
5G in Thailand today
As of today, there is no 5G Internet in Thailand yet. In March 2019 The Digital Cambodia 2021 conference was held in Cambodia, during which there was talk about 5G Internet.
Currently, the United States and China are competing on a global scale. To set a new standard for high-speed 5G Internet network services, which is 100 times faster than the currently used 4G network
Believing that the winner of this game will not only dominate the 5G network market, but will also be able to continue the Internet strategy to achieve the 6G network in the future.
Because many countries in Europe and Asia began to agree to cooperate with Hua Wei to build a network to support 5G Internet in these countries, including Thailand, Italy, Germany and France.
There are rumors that the Thai Ministry of Communications and Telecommunications is preparing to launch a 5G network soon.
About the Internet in the Kingdom
As I wrote above, Thailand keeps up with the times, so all new technologies do not bypass it. It has both 3G and 4G, and some operators have started testing 5G networks.
Internet speed in Thailand
- Home Internet speed from 1 to 300 Mbit/s.
- Mobile Internet speed from 128 kbit/s to 300 Mbit/s.
Internet price in Thailand
- Internet cafe - from 20 baht/hour.
- Unlimited home Internet – from 699 baht/month.
- Mobile Internet – from 299 baht/month.
Due to the terrain, not all operators are equally good, since the network coverage area is different for everyone. From my experience of traveling in Thailand, I can say for sure that TrueMove is the best in this regard, then AIS and only then Dtac . Therefore, if you plan to spend a lot of time in the mountains and on various islands, choose from the first two.
If you are lucky, you can get a SIM card from one of the operators for free right away at the airport; sometimes they are given out as part of various promotions. To obtain it, it is enough to have a foreign passport or a photocopy of it.
Let's now look at each separately and look at the proposed mobile Internet tariffs.
How to book a hotel with free internet
Paid Internet in a hotel or lack of Internet in the room is almost always unpleasant. It’s easy to avoid this - when booking a hotel on booking.com or agoda.com, set the “Free Wi-Fi” filter and choose among hotels that provide their guests with free Internet .
How to choose hotels with free Internet via Wi-Fi on booking.com
