absolutelyBangkok archive · Bangkok Sirens
Originally published June 11, 2011
Without a doubt, the internet and mobile phones have completely changed the world as we know it. Everything and everyone seem so much closer than before, with almost every country on the planet offering these exponentially growing technologies. Developing countries around the world, including Thailand, already have established mobile phone and internet infrastructure that continues to expand. Using a mobile phone or the internet when you are traveling is a great way to stay with friends and family back home.
For today’s traveler, this is very exciting news. After educating yourself with up-to-date information related to telecommunications in Thailand you may end up dramatically changing your travel plans. For example, if you were to travel to a third-world country ten years ago, you would be surprised to find internet access outside of Bangkok. Now, with internet access available in most areas of Thailand, even the occasional user can easily modify travel arrangements and connect with travel buddies.
Book and Journal Type Traveler
If you are the more book and journal type who doesn’t see oneself depressed without a mobile phone or internet connection during your trip, it’s still a good idea to know what’s available in case you change your mind.
Throughout Bangkok and other major cities and tourist areas in Thailand, there are internet cafes, coffee houses, hostels, and hotels that offer very affordable internet access. Backpackers especially appreciate these hotspots, not having to lug around the extra weight of a laptop. However, you may still consider light-weight mobile devices like Apple’s iPhone. These devices offer valuable apps to the traveler like Skype to Go, which allows one to place free and low-cost calls to anywhere in the world.
You may also want to consider carrying a mobile phone. Most are familiar with the international roaming plans that almost all provider in the world offer. These add-on plans make sense if you only need access to a mobile phone in case of emergency. However, these plans tend to be very expensive, so consider getting pre-paid service through a Thai mobile phone provider.
There are three major mobile phone providers which offer prepay minutes (no contracts) in Thailand: True More, DTAC, and AIS. Prepaid cards are found near the cashier at mini-markets like 7-11 or Family Mart. In order to utilize these services, you will need an unlocked* GSM international cell phone that uses 900 or 1800 MHz frequencies.
Your best bet is to choose a quad band GSM phone that usually works with 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz frequencies. You can wait and buy your unlocked phone at one of the many Thai phone shops scattered throughout Thailand or you can buy one online prior to departure. By purchasing a GSM unlocked phone, you are able to purchase different SIM cards to access providers in the countries you intend to travel to. This is especially beneficial to travelers who plan on traveling from Bangkok to other neighboring countries. Typical prices for a basic mobile phone start at around 1,000 Bht and these can be purchased on arrival at Bangkok Airport.
Almost all mobile phones supplied to the U.S. and Japan are locked cell phones, as both countries do not use the GSM standard protocol. To unlock, you can look for instructions online or ask your provider for instructions.
Nomadic or Working Type Traveler
If you plan to travel from Bangkok to more rural areas of Thailand or plan to work remotely, the best available options are the GPRS or GPRS EDGE services. These services allow you to have your own internet WiFi Access Point almost anywhere in the country.
GPRS, or General Packet Radio Service, is billed on a “per kilobyte of data transferred” scale, rather than per second. This means that the user is only charged for the data transfer itself, not the actual time of reading the downloaded information. The GPRS EDGE service, or Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution, is an enhancement to the existing GPRS networks, which means faster connections. Though most newer cell phones support GPRS, not all support the GPRS EDGE service which is must faster connection. Two providers that do support the GPRS EDGE service are DTAC and AIS (1 2 Call). The best choice would be to get an unlimited package with one of the big providers, cost would be approx. 500-1000 Bht per month.
From the absolutelyBangkok archive. Back to all stories