Wireless Internet around Thailand
Enlighten others!
Thailand takes first place for being internet enabled.
Many of us who are addicted to traveling have actually pursued jobs or education that enables us to work or study remotely. Because many TravelMonks are these types of people, it makes sense that we help spread the knowledge of how to make this easier.
Different countries around South East Asia have different options for getting online. Thailand is by far the easiest in the area for those who wish to work off of a laptop, or make a home base studying in this interesting part of Asia. For those in Thailand, you have many options. There are many very inexpensive internet café’s scattered around almost every corner of the country, so if you really only want to log in while on your travels that is an easy option. If you’re going to be staying around for a while, or are traveling with a laptop computer, there are many free internet hotspots to be found all over Bangkok which come in very handy if you are just passing through. There are many coffee shops and cafés which offer free WIFI in other parts of the country as well, but it is harder to keep up to date with them as they change frequently.
Thailand now has a pretty solid GPRS network, and the coverage around the country is pretty impressive. If you need your internet, signing up with a plan that fits your needs is really the most logical decision. Getting singed up is inexpensive and normally only takes an hour or so. The prices, promotions and plans change, but for the convenience it is well worth what you pay. At the time of this writing, True and DTAC seemed to have the most stable EDGE / GPRS networks. Many people will often get signed up for both, just in case you find yourself in an area where one company has a stronger signal than the other.
Below are some of the more common questions that people have when trying to figure out how to get signed up in Thailand:
How do I get signed up for EDGE / GPRS in Thailand?
The easiest and quickest way to get signed up is to go to a True shop in Bangkok. Most of these stores have pretty good customer service, speak enough English to get you set up, and have computer support people who set up your computer so you really don’t need to know anything. When you leave the store, you’re ready to get online. The easiest True shop in Bangkok to find, and the one that we recommend that you go to is in Siam Center Soi 2, directly across from Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon. If you exit the BTS at the Siam station, it is on the opposite side of the mall, right on the corner. If you exit this station and ask anyone they can point you in the right direction. The store has a number of prepaid and postpaid options, and also sells USB devices which allow you to connect in case your laptop doesn’t have one built in. There is also a DTAC store near by which will be happy to sell you a SIM card so that you can be registered on their network as well, which makes for a great backup.
Does Thailand have 3G?
At the moment there is no 3G service in Thailand, although building a 3G network is currently underway. As soon as it is available, True and DTAC will be some of the first companies to offer it. The sale of the 3G iphone has really put consumer pressure on the telecommunications companies, and hopefully will be available soon.
What is the best wireless internet provider in Thailand?
The best EDGE / GPRS provider really depends where you are, and what options you want. We have tried both True and DTAC, and both of them work very well. The True network seems to occasionally be a little more congested, and during peak times may be a little slower than DTAC. Both networks have great coverage, but there might be one that has better coverage in a certain area of the country than the other. One of the advantages that the True network has over DTAC is that when you sign up for True EDGE / GPRS, you can also use all of the True WIFI hotspots that are located nearly everywhere. True hotspots are available in almost every shopping mall in the country, in every Starbucks, and most of the payphones in the city center have been outfitted to serve as a wireless access point, allowing you to connect to the internet over the WIFI which is much faster than using EDGE or GPRS. You can check the True website for a list of hotspot locations by city to find the internet access points closest to you. True also has many True Cafes which you can find in most shopping malls and popular areas and make for great places to work from. At a True Café, you can have your coffee and grab a place on a couch or at a desk and log onto their fast wireless connection. Many of these cafes also offer a small conference room which you may use if it is unoccupied.
Do I need a special visa or working permit for the contract?
No. Both companies offer a prepaid option, allowing anyone with a passport to sign up.
How much does the prepaid EDGE / GPRS package cost?
The cost of setting up an account will vary depending on which company you go with, how much you choose to use it, and if you also want any of the other features which may be included in a package, such as the wireless hotspots from True. In general, you should expect to pay between 250 and 600 Thai Baht per month (about $6 – $15 USD), depending on the plan that you select. Some promotions will include a SIM card for free, others will charge an extra 50 Baht. If you don’t have a laptop which will accept a SIM card, you will need to buy a USB adapter, which will cost an additional 1300 – 3000 Baht.
What are my internet options like in the surrounding countries?
Unfortunately, your options are pretty limited. Internet access in the countries surrounding Thailand are not nearly as good as those offered inside the Kingdom. You can often find prepaid cards, which will give you a login to a wireless network in some of the tourist areas. Along the riverside in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is an example of this. It is possible to find internet cafes and hotels which offer wireless internet, but because the country is not as “connected” to the outside world as Thailand is, the connections are often slow, and sometimes not usable.
Where can I find free WIFI in Bangkok?
There are a number of cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and bars which offer free wireless internet for customers. We have a pretty extensive list of free wireless internet hotspots that we do our best to maintain, which you can find below:
Free WIFI in Bangkok
Free WIFI in Pattaya
Which areas of Thailand have the best internet coverage?
All of the areas where tourists normally end up have pretty good internet coverage. True and DTAC both have great coverage in areas such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya just to name a few. Odds are, if the city is big enough to have a shopping mall, it most likely has a True shop, and it most likely has coverage in that area. If you aren’t sure if the area that you will be in has adequate internet coverage, you can check the DTAC or True websites.
How stable are the EDGE / GPRS networks in Thailand?
It really depends where you are, how strong of a signal you have there, and whether it is peak time. We at TravelMonks have had pretty good success, and haven’t had any issues with pages taking forever to load, not being able to access a companies VPN, or maintaining an SSH or telnet connection. This type of internet connection would be a little bit slow if your intentions are to do lots of downloading, but for surfing the web, or getting work done, it has worked just fine for us. If you sign up for the True wireless hotspots, the internet is significantly faster, and you will have no problems with larger downloads.
How fast is EDGE / GPRS in Thailand?
If you have a good signal, you can expect to surf at speeds that are about 4 or 5 times as fast as a dial-up connection.
How is internet access in Laos?
While traveling in Laos, your options are limited. If you are in the capital of Vientiane, or around Luam Prabang, you can find a few internet cafes here and there. Don’t expect them to be quick, or stable, but it is enough to get online and check your email. As for the rest of the country, it’s probably a safe bet to plan on going without.
How is internet access in Cambodia?
There are plenty of internet cafes in Phnom Pehn, and plenty of hotels which offer WIFI to guests. The problem that you will run into is the speed. Just because the hotel offers internet, doesn’t mean that a page will load before your night there is finished. There are a few places on the riverside which sell prepaid cards, which are considerably faster than anything else you will find. As for the rest of the country, plan on going without.
How is internet access in Vietnam?
Vietnam is about half way between Thailand and Laos. They do have surprisingly good connectivity in the major areas, and there are more hotels, cafes, and restaurants which offer free wireless internet than you would expect. In many parts of the country, you can sign up for GPRS, although the coverage is not as good as that in Thailand.
Related
Enlighten others!
