Internet and Connectivity in Thailand
📶 Internet and Mobile in Thailand: Better Than You Think
For a country that often (unfairly) gets lumped into the “third world” category, Thailand punches well above its weight when it comes to internet and mobile services. In fact, there are many things the West could learn from how it's done here.
Free Wi-Fi, Everywhere
Cafés, bars, restaurants, hair salons, beauty spas — even your local massage place — almost all offer free Wi-Fi. And not the flaky, “wait 30 seconds for an email to load” type either. It’s fast, stable, and no hassle. The only thing you need to be aware of is vulnerability of security when connecting to other wifi networks. We have never had a problem and we have not heard of anyone who has but it is still something to be aware of.
That Time Spark Got Me Good...
On our first trip here, I turned off roaming on my NZ mobile and relied solely on Wi-Fi, using Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp for calls. Oddly, I could still send texts to Jane and receive calls — but only when connected to Wi-Fi.
Little did I know, Spark (Telecom NZ) was quietly running something called Wi-Fi roaming in the background. When I got back to NZ, I was slapped with a bill for multiple hundreds — despite having roaming turned off - Not impressed. I challenged them and did get most of it reversed but it is definitely a trap to be aware of.
Lesson? Just turning roaming off doesn’t mean you’re safe from sneaky charges from those unethical Corporates back home.
A Better Way: Pay-As-You-Go
When we moved here we both converted our NZ mobile numbers to prepay. That way, we keep our numbers active for when we go home, but they can’t charge us for roaming or data. We keep our NZ SIM cards in the phone alongside our Thai SIM, and still get the occasional missed call or text. No idea why it works, but it does — and it’s handy.
Getting Set Up Locally (It’s Dead Simple)
When we arrived back in Thailand this time, we headed to a mobile shop in Bangkok and grabbed local SIMs from AIS, one of the major Thai providers.
What did it cost?
฿900 (~USD $30) for 6 months!!
100GB of data per month
Free calls to other AIS users
It’s works flawlessly to the extent that I don’t bother with the free wifi anymore — from coast to coast and up and down the country — no dead spots, no dramas.
International Calls? Try Talk360
For calling landlines and mobile numbers back home, we use an app called Talk360. It’s:
Super cheap
Reliable
Pay-as-you-go
Can even call 0800 numbers in NZ and other countries
The only downside? Your calls come through as Thai numbers, which means some people might not pick up. And no, it doesn’t do SMS. But for voice calls, it’s solid.
WhatsApp & Line — Thailand's Favourite Chat Apps
Most locals won’t ask for your phone number — they’ll ask for your Line or WhatsApp. Line, in particular, is huge in Thailand. If you’re staying here for any length of time, download both.
They're free, simple to use, and help you blend right in — whether you're dealing with landlords, agents, or that great Thai friend you met at the noodle shop.
In Summary:
Internet in Thailand? It is excellent and very low cost.
Avoid roaming traps — go prepay before you leave home.
Grab a local SIM (we recommend AIS).
Download Talk360 for international calls.
Install Line and WhatsApp — and you’re good to go.
