3G Prepaid sim card in Thailand: which one to get for best coverage ?

O'Ren · May 27, 2011

Hi,

I'm looking for more information about Thai 3G sim card and prepaid plans.
The idea is to get a prepaid 3G sim card that I can top-up during my stay in Thailand hopefully easily along the way.

- Can anyone please recommend a few to me please ?
- How is the coverage ? Should I expect to loose reception if I'm too far away from bigger cities ?
- Where can I find top-up options , do gas stations or hotel/guesthouses sell them ?

The idea is to use the 3G data to provide an internet connection either by using the iPhone (unlocked) and turning it into a wifi spot, or by putting the sim card in an USB modem and plug it to the laptop during the trip.

I hope this is the right place to post this, I picked the first Thailand regional sub forums not knowing where to post, and also because I'll be entering Thailand from the South so that's where I'll be looking to purchase the sim card.

Pascal Laigle · May 27, 2011

Hi

3G Thailand do not have 3G yet I have an IPhone and you can use it with any pre-paid sim card 1-2 call and you can refill it at any 7/11

daewoo · May 29, 2011

Thailand still doesn't officially have 3G. That is, the governement hasn't released the licences to allow operators to deploy UMTS - which is what the rest of the world calls 3G...

Thailand has 2 networks that the operators call 3G. One is the GSM network, with EDGE technology - GSM is a 2G Technology, with EDGE it just breaks the data speed barrier to call itself 3G, but it is really 2G+ .

The other 3G is the various trial networks that have been deployed with 3G technology (i.e. UMTS)... Since the government won't allow for 3G, lots of operators are trialing 3G, which just happens to have paying customers on it... but I think this is really aimed at mobile broadband customers, not handphones...

I don't need data in country, so I always get a DTAC 'Happy SIM' for 99baht including 30baht of calls...

You can use a 2G SIM in any 3G phone on a 2G network, you can't use a 2G phone on a 3G network... careful if you are from the US, as most of your networks are CDMA (2G), which is different to the Thailand GSM (2G) network...

Cheers,
Darryl

R1000 · May 29, 2011

I bought a DTAC Happy SIM for data via Google Map and that worked OK on the places I visited; Surat, Phuket, Ching Mai and remote sites in Northern Thailand. I was not able to use it for web surfing though but I think this was due to the settings in my phone since my DTAC SIM worked for surfing in Thai phones at the store. I only needed the GPS data so it was just fine to me.

jjpeter11 · Jan 12, 2012

International SIM Cards reduce your cost of roaming by as much as 90% depending on the provider you use. These cards also allow you to receive free incoming calls in many countries. Several providers also provide enhanced features like voicemail, data services and more. Holiday phone sim cards are greater coverage than any other sim. My Friend recommended that for me. They are providing world class best and cheaper service for their international SIM card.
SIM Card for Thailand

monsterman · Jan 15, 2012

I carry 3 sims True, AIS and Dtac ,, True is cheapest but coverage is not so good outside major cities . AIS has most coverage but relibility of calls is poor .

TonyBKK · Jan 15, 2012

daewoo;268489 wrote: Thailand still doesn't officially have 3G. That is, the governement hasn't released the licences to allow operators to deploy UMTS - which is what the rest of the world calls 3G...

Thailand has 2 networks that the operators call 3G. One is the GSM network, with EDGE technology - GSM is a 2G Technology, with EDGE it just breaks the data speed barrier to call itself 3G, but it is really 2G+ .

The other 3G is the various trial networks that have been deployed with 3G technology (i.e. UMTS)... Since the government won't allow for 3G, lots of operators are trialing 3G, which just happens to have paying customers on it... but I think this is really aimed at mobile broadband customers, not handphones...

I don't need data in country, so I always get a DTAC 'Happy SIM' for 99baht including 30baht of calls...

You can use a 2G SIM in any 3G phone on a 2G network, you can't use a 2G phone on a 3G network... careful if you are from the US, as most of your networks are CDMA (2G), which is different to the Thailand GSM (2G) network...

Cheers,
Darryl

FYI, DTAC has been offering 3G in Bangkok and a few other big cities for some time now. Speeds vary greatly depending on where you are and drop to EDGE GPRS once you are away from 3G enabled areas.

thaicbr · Jan 15, 2012

monsterman;275260 wrote: I carry 3 sims True, AIS and Dtac ,, True is cheapest but coverage is not so good outside major cities . AIS has most coverage but relibility of calls is poor .

Monsterman ... you may want to get the true sim transferred to 3H as you may know it's a True company but it operates independently from True move 3H is in conjunction with CAT and seems to have the best coverage of all the Thai operators.