Get a Local SIM card in Thailand – Things to Know

Thailand is now one of the top tourist destinations in world.  Every year infinite tourists travel to Thailand for its magnificent beaches and wild night life. For people who have traveled for one or more times are quite sorted in matters of communication and mobile phones but forst timers have questions like

Where to get a Local SIM in Thailand?

What’s the Best Plan to Choose?

Which is the Best Network?

Here are answers to all your questions. By the end of this article you will be up and going,

1. Locked/Unlocked Phone

Before you trip to Thailand, the most important thing you can do is find out if your phone is locked or unlocked.   If your phone is locked, you won’t be able to use a Thai SIM card in your phone.  If your phone is unlocked then you’ll be fine.

If your phone is locked, One option is to buy a cheap unlocked phone before you come.   The other option is a pocket wifi or mifi device.  This gives your smartphone an internet connection to use all features except voice and SMS.

2.  Phone with SIM or No SIM

All Thailand phone networks use SIM cards.  Does your phone use them too?  Check if your phone uses a SIM card or not.  If not, you won’t be able to get a local Thai number.  You may, however be able to use roaming if your network has a roaming agreement.

3.  Ask your Telecom about Roaming

International Roaming means you use your home number and roaming usually must turned on before you leave your home country.  Call the call center and ask them to turn International Roaming on, and also ask about their charges for data and voice roaming in Thailand, as well their preferred partner network.  Data roaming can be as cheap as Rs100 a day, on the right network.  In other cases roaming charges can be grossly expensive.   

4.  Getting a Sim before your trip

If you have planned ahead, You can buy a Thai SIM card online before you come, on places like Amazon or EBAY.  Keep in mind Thai SIMs now require registration, and unless the SIM is pre-registered, you may need to do that after you land.

5.  Getting SIM Card when you get off the plane

The first thing you’ll want to do is get connected.  When you switch on your phone you’ll either be given the option to connect to one of 3 main networks in Thailand: AIS, DTAC or True.  When you connect locally, keep in mind you will be on roaming.  This means you’re paying roaming prices, which can quickly add up.  Even without a phone call you may also be on data roaming as your smartphone’s data may start in the background.

A.  Getting a Thai Phone Number at the Airport

In Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK),  there are several places to buy a Thai SIM card.  The main spot are the Network’s kiosks after you exit customs, right outside of the International gates where people hold up signs. There are kiosks for Thailand’s main mobile operators – DTAC (blue), AIS (Green ) and True Move (Red).  If there is no line, anyone of these is fine.   Jump in line and wait your turn, and the staff should get you hooked right up.

Tip: Remember you’ll need to store your home SIM somewhere safe.  Use tape to stick the SIM to the inside your wallet.

B.  SIM Registration

NBTC is now enforcing that all SIMs are registered to a user.  To do this the staff will take a photo of your passport and upload it to the NBTC servers from inside their smartphone app.

C.  Tourist SIM Cards

All three networks sell Tourist or Traveler SIM cards.  The base model is a is unlimited internet for 7 Days and 100 Baht of calling and SMS credit.  There are also other flavors like 15 and 30 day packages.  You might also see cards with “Unlimited Whatsapp or WeChat” as additional benefits.  DTAC was the first company to offer the Tourist SIM cards and the prepaid 299 Baht DTAC Tourist SIM is a good choice.  It’s tri cut – works in iPhone and it comes with credit already, so you don’t need to load any on right away and it’s designed for tourists with both data and voice packages.

6.  Which network to choose?

Which network to choose?  Don’t worry too much, as all are comparable in 4G data speeds. All have similar coverage in any major city. Here’s our expert opinion:

·       DTAC – Best customer service, first to offer tourist SIM

·       AIS – Largest operator and best coverage

·       True Move – Best value for money

Other places in the airport to get a SIM

The BKK airport has a couple Family Mart‘s in the airport who usually sell SIM cards as well as Top Up Credit codes. Several telecom shops have popped up near the train to the city, so you can also look there.

7.  Buying a SIM outside the airport

If you’re not able to get a SIM card in the airport, no problem.  Every 7-11 in the country carries SIM cards and Top Up Credit.  There are over  7,000 7-11 stores in Thailand.   Also any mall is will have SIMs for sale as well there are official DTAC, AIS and True Move retailers too.

8.  How to get Mobile Data working

If you got yourself a Tourist / Traveler SIM, the data starts working right after activation If not, grab a staff member and hold on to them till they fix it for you.

Recharging and adding data

If you finish the 7 day unlimited period plan or finish any data package, you’ll need to add more funds. In Thailand it’s called top up. It can be done easily at any 7-11 store or any SIM retailer.

9.  Data Speeds

Every cell towers in Thailand now have 4G at speeds good enough for video calls. Currently AIS is the fastest.

10.  Getting help from call centers

They can help you subscribe a package and tell you where to find a shop where you can go in and get help.  They all have an English speaking option too. But getting till there is a task

Overall Getting and using a local SIM in Thailand is very simple and convenient. You can be stress-free and rest assured for that.

Travel through amazing Thailand and do stay in touch.