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Thailand
SIM cards and top-ups are available widely in Thailand from the major carriers (DTAC, True and AIS) as well as a number of smaller 'boutique' provides that lease government bandwidth and equipment. Purchase of a new sim card/number is easy, and can be done at any 7-11 as well as at many airport kiosks. In the Southern regions, registration and the production of ID (such as passport for non-Thais) may be required.
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dtac (Prepaid brand: Happy)
Edit
Default data rate
- approx ฿ 1.00 / minute, 0.25 / minute for Happy Internet
- approx 25 Kbps no data limit
Data feature packs Edit
- unlimited data at ฿ 845 / month (7% VAT included)
- There are many different packages, mostly data volume based (some time based still available). Eg. 3GB for ฿650, 250MB for ฿99, etc.
AvailabilityEdit
Can be purchased from DTAC Shops which are located in most major shopping malls and city centers across the country.
SIM sizes Edit
- SIM available as "Happy Internet"
- MicroSIM available as "Happy MicroSIM" but with the same plan. (Unlisted on the website)
It is possible to exchange existing Dtac SIM with MicroSIM.
Tethering Edit
Available. Carrier Update may required for iPhone users.
Other information Edit
EDGE coverage is pretty much countrywide. DTAC now has 3G in major cities and coverage is rapidly expanding.
True MoveEdit
Default data rate
899 Baht for 3gb of data per month. They call it a post pay account but you can cancel whenever you want. The only catch is that you have to cancel in person and you can't cancel over the phone. This plan also includes unlimited wifi access at over 15,000 plus locations.
699 baht for a data and voice combo package. The data limit needs to be verified and wifi access isn't included. They also include 300 minutes along with a number of SMS.
AvailabilityEdit
Standard size SIM cards are available at all 7 Eleven stores and also True Shops and True Move corporate stores. The Micro SIM is only available at the True Move Corporate stores. Make sure you purchase a 3G SIM card, as the international calling SIMs do not seem to be upgradable to include a data plan.
SIM sizes Edit
Standard SIM and Micro SIM available.
Tethering Edit
Available. Carrier Update may required for iPhone users.
Other information Edit
True has EDGE coverage in most larger cities of Thailand. True's 3G (HSPA) operates on 850MHz frequency and is available in Greater Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya. Check 3G coverage map for more information.
AIS (Prepaid brand: 1-2-Call)Edit
Default data rate Edit
- approx ฿ 1.00 / minute
- approx 25 Kbps no data limit .
Timed data packages Edit
- EDGE+ Speeds (384Kbps) for post-paid subscribers
- 30 Baht a month for 3 hours of use (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 31 # )
- 50 Baht a month for 6 hours of use (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 32 # )
- 100 Baht a month for 20 hours of use (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 33 # )
- 200 Baht a month for 50 hours of use (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 36 # )
- 350 Baht a month for 100 hours of use (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 34 # )
- 550 Baht a month for 250 hours of use (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 59 # ). Also comes with unlimited AIS Wi-Fi access.
- EDGE+ Speeds (384Kbps) for pre-paid subscribers (1-2-Call)
- 20 Baht for 1 hour of use (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 55 # )
- 30 Baht for 2 hours of use (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 56 # )
- 50 Baht for 5 hours of use (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 57 # )
Volume-based packages (post-paid subscribers only) - all in 3G speeds (21 Mbps)
- 150 Baht for 150 MB of data to be used in a month (to subscribe, dial: * 133 * 21 # )
- 350 Baht for 1GB of data to be used in a month (to subscribe, dial: * 133 * 22 # )
- 550 Baht for 2GB of data to be used in a month (to subscribe, dial: * 133 * 23 # ). Also comes with unlimited AIS Wi-Fi access.
- All of these volume-based packages are add-on packages that need to be paid on top of normal minute charges. The cheapest base phone call minute package is 200 Baht for 200 minutes of call.
Unlimited data rate Edit
- Unlimited day access (on EDGE+ Speeds): 49 Baht. (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 49 # )
- Unlimited monthly access (on 3G speeds): 799 Baht (to subscribe, dial: * 138 * 24 # ). Also comes with unlimited AIS Wi-Fi access. Fair-use policy: after the first 3GB, the speed will be trottled to EDGE+ Speeds at 384Kbps.
AvailabilityEdit
Can be purchased from many small mobile shops, in most towns. However many mobile shops only offer top up or talk-only services, not data - you may need to try several shops before you find one selling NetSim packages. Purchasing a Sim usually comes with some data included (something between ฿50 - 150 for Sim plus nominal balance. Sometimes bonus balance is included as hours pre-set, other times you need to send a code to make sure your bonus balance is credited as a timed data package or you'll be using the default rate and that disappears VERY quickly!
Suggestion: go to official AIS shops (Telewiz) and tell them that you need data access for this number of days that you will spend on your trip in the country. They will find the cheapest pre-paid option for you. You can even ask them to get Micro-SIM in case you are an iPhone 4 or an iPad user. As long as you stick with pre-paid options, then you won't lose more money than what you pay right in front of them.
SIM sizes Edit
- Standard SIM and Micro SIM available (exchangable at any AIS Telewiz shops)
Tethering Edit
Available. Carrier Update may required for iPhone users.
Turning GPRS (mobile data) onEdit
Sometimes, after a period of not using your SIM, GPRS (mobile data) is turned off automatically. Without GPRS you won't be able to access any data, no matter how much credit you have.
- To check the status of your GPRS dial: * 129 #
- To turn GPRS on if it has been deactivated, dial: * 129 * 2 #. You'll receive an SMS confirmation within a few minutes, once received turn your phone off then on again to activate.
Other information Edit
AIS has the best EDGE coverage in the kingdom. AIS's 3G (HSPA) network is available in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Phuket, Hua-Hin and Nakhon Ratchasrima and is operating on 900MHz frequency at 21Mbps.
For more information, please check AIS Mobile Internet website
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