Dear all,

I'm aware that this forum is principally focused on visas, residency and work permits, so I hope I'm posting in the right place. Apologies if not.

I've recently entered Thailand on a Non-O marriage visa and have been trying to sort out some of the practicalities of daily life, one of which is getting a mobile phone contract.

Interestingly, whilst opening a bank account, the member of staff helping me told me that I should definitely sign up with AIS rather than DTAC because the service was much more reliable and comprehensive. It struck me as slightly odd advice to receive from someone working in a bank, but there we are.

I'm based in Phuket, so I thought I'd ask whether there really is a significant difference between AIS and DTAC in terms of coverage and reliability.

The other point of confusion is the documentation required.

I visited an AIS shop and was told that I needed a passport, visa and work permit. When I explained that I don't have a work permit, they told me I couldn't take out a contract.

Later the same day, I visited another AIS shop. They gave the same initial answer, but when I explained that I didn't have a work permit, they told me that a Thai driving licence could be used instead.

In between those two visits, I called into a DTAC shop and was told that all I needed was my passport and a copy of my visa.

Does this sound like I've been given sensible advice, or is this simply one of those situations where different branches make up different rules as they go along?

Any guidance from those who have been through this recently would be greatly appreciated. If there is a straightforward route that avoids me spending another couple of days wandering between mobile phone shops getting increasingly confused, I'd be delighted to hear it!

Many thanks in advance,

Paul

Moving to the Mobile Devices and Apps forum.

Post paid, need wp, passport, visa
pre paid, Passport/visa

I have had AIS for over 20 years, no problems, they have replaced the sim twice for me for free

and every time u top up u get a month extension on validity of the sim up to 1 year
I'm in Phuket

go to a Main AIS , like in central mall in town

Appreciate the advice, thanks

3 minutes ago, metisdead said:

Moving to the Mobile Devices and Apps forum.

Thank you and sorry!

7 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

Post paid, need wp, passport, visa
pre paid, Passport/visa

I have had AIS for over 20 years, no problems, they have replaced the sim twice for me for free

and every time u top up u get a month extension on validity of the sim up to 1 year
I'm in Phuket

go to a Main AIS , like in central mall in town

Not true at all, I have opened recent a new one as well for friends over the past 12 months, both from True postpaid sim cards to post paid wifi often after a first year upfront. They never cared about the visa. I and many others use that specifically for address proof too, as you not even get a proper water or electric bill here in your own name, while needing that a lot for business / banking.

For actual data and usage I would recommend to not use a Thai provider or sim card at all, I am using esim cards since over a year, they can't track you either and I have 2-3X the speed on the very same AIS and TRUE networks, for less money, using mobimatter/revolut etc.

Thai cellphone networks still use a very unsecure old one, which basically means, you can ping any number and have it's location direct. This is not a infrastructure or money reason, it is something that many countries do where freedom of speech is limited. That's why your average Thai detective just charges 3-5K baht per time for it (and how they magically catch people so fast).

Edited June 1Jun 1 by Spider5511

6 minutes ago, Spider5511 said:

Not true at all, I have opened recent a new one as well for friends over the past 12 months, both from True postpaid sim cards to post paid wifi often after a first year upfront. They never cared about the visa. I and many others use that specifically for address proof too, as you not even get a proper water or electric bill here in your own name, while needing that a lot for business / banking.

For actual data and usage I would recommend to not use a Thai provider or sim card at all, I am using esim cards since over a year, they can't track you either and I have 2-3X the speed on the very same AIS and TRUE networks, for less money, using mobimatter/revolut etc.

Thai cellphone networks still use a very unsecure old one, which basically means, you can ping any number and have it's location direct. This is not a infrastructure or money reason, it is something that many countries do where freedom of speech is limited. That's why your average Thai detective just charges 3-5K baht per time for it (and how they magically catch people so fast).

Thanks for this. Interesting. I'm on an eSIM now with Airalo - the monthly cost is much higher than a local SIM. Do you mind me asking who you use for your eSIM?

I have two phones, one mainly used as a hotspot for my computer at home.That uses AIS and for my phone for carrying around and calling I use DTAC. Both require just a passport and an unlocked phone, with a Thai sim card.

You can come to this forum for anything Thai living related, along with political and world news.

8 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I have two phones, one mainly used as a hotspot for my computer at home.That uses AIS and for my phone for carrying around and calling I use DTAC. Both require just a passport and an unlocked phone, with a Thai sim card.

You can come to this forum for anything Thai living related, along with political and world news.

Why use a phone to connect your PC to the Internet, when, for Bht 749, there are cheaper options, you can get AIS 1Gb/s wired internet. Unless of course, it is not practical to have a cable fitted. I live 'in the jungle' and the optic fibre comes directly to my router, through the trees.

18 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Why use a phone to connect your PC to the Internet, when, for Bht 749, there are cheaper options, you can get AIS 1Gb/s wired internet. Unless of course, it is not practical to have a cable fitted. I live 'in the jungle' and the optic fibre comes directly to my router, through the trees.

I'm less than 1/4 kilo further than AIS or DTAC will go. People that distance away have it. I asked both businesses but they won't go to my house with a cable.My AIS is good for 250 Baht a month. Internet speed is fine. The only problem I have out here is PEA cutting off all the time.

Edited June 1Jun 1 by fredwiggy

28 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I'm less than 1/4 kilo further than AIS or DTAC will go.

I guess you meant TRUE.

7 minutes ago, FigLeaf said:

I guess you meant TRUE.

Same, they merged a couple of years ago. The names are separate in kiosks, with their own Sim cards and plans.

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Same, they merged a couple of years ago. The names are separate in kiosks, with their own Sim cards and plans.

You were referring to Fibre, no? DTAC doesn't run Fibre cables. That would be TRUE. DTAC is a mobile communications company that has merged with TRUE.

3 minutes ago, FigLeaf said:

You were referring to Fibre, no? DTAC doesn't run Fibre cables. That would be TRUE. DTAC is a mobile communications company that has merged with TRUE.

DTAC has wireless to homes, while AIS has fibre cables. True and 3BB also have fibre, but none will come to my house for anything, which is why I and a few past my house use a hotspot. I can possibly get wireless with DTAC as I've recently asked them, but the hotspot is fine and cheaper anyway.

Edited June 1Jun 1 by fredwiggy

8 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

DTAC has wireless to homes

That is mobile broadband, using a SIM.

https://www.dtac.co.th/en/dtac-athome-plus

https://www.true.th/blog/en/dtac-at-home/

Basically what you are doing now.

What both AIS and DTAC/TRUE have is FWA(Fixed Wireless Access) for business, using their 5G networks. The cost being prohibitive for the average home user. 9000 baht for the 5G router and 1800 baht per month under a 24 month contract.

AIS and 3BB are the same company. So you mean AIS/3BB or TRUE for when it comes to Fibre.

Edited June 1Jun 1 by FigLeaf

4 minutes ago, FigLeaf said:

That is mobile broadband, using a SIM.

https://www.dtac.co.th/en/dtac-athome-plus

https://www.true.th/blog/en/dtac-at-home/

Basically what you are doing now.

What both AIS and DTAC/TRUE have is FWA(Fixed Wireless Access) for business, using their 5G networks. The cost being prohibitive for the average home user. 9000 baht for the 5G router and 1800 baht per month under a 24 month contract.

AIS and 3BB are the same company. So you mean AIS/3BB or TRUE for when it comes to Fibre.

DTAC has wireless using a router. I was thinking of using it but stayed with my AIS hotspot as it's cheaper. The router wireless way would cost me 600 Baht a month, though some get it at 399 Baht a month, while the hotspot costs 250 and it still fast enough for my computer.

Yes, you use a DTAC sim card for the router. I've used a hotspot all the time I've lived here with no problems, including using my TV with the hotspot also. I asked 3BB before they joined AIS and AIS also, but neither would bring a cable to my home, so I just used the hotspot.

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

DTAC has wireless using a router. I was thinking of using it but stayed with my AIS hotspot as it's cheaper. The router wireless way would cost me 600 Baht a month, though some get it at 399 Baht a month, while the hotspot costs 250 and it still fast enough for my computer.

Yes, you use a DTAC sim card for the router. I've used a hotspot all the time I've lived here with no problems, including using my TV with the hotspot also. I asked 3BB before they joined AIS and AIS also, but neither would bring a cable to my home, so I just used the hotspot.

Looked at these options for myself at one time.

600 baht per month (plus VAT) on a one year contract, gets you 200 GB per month. 300 baht plus VAT per extra 100GB.

You can get an unlimited data Prepaid SIM card from TRUE for 4000 baht. If you need top speed, the only reasonably priced Prepaid option with AIS offers only 100GB per month for 399 baht. They also have the 100GB Marathon SIM for 2750 baht(233 baht per month).

Edited June 1Jun 1 by FigLeaf

On 6/1/2026 at 8:15 AM, wil iam not said:

Why use a phone to connect your PC to the Internet, when, for Bht 749, there are cheaper options, you can get AIS 1Gb/s wired internet. Unless of course, it is not practical to have a cable fitted. I live 'in the jungle' and the optic fibre comes directly to my router, through the trees.

My land lord does not want any drilling or things mounted hotspot works just fine and does not cost me another line.

2 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

My land lord does not want any drilling or things mounted hotspot works just fine and does not cost me another line.

Hotspot = 15Mb/s, cable = 1000 Mb/s. The hole for the cable must be at least 5mm diameter.

On 6/1/2026 at 7:47 AM, zzzzz said:

Post paid, need wp, passport, visa
pre paid, Passport/visa

I have had AIS for over 20 years, no problems, they have replaced the sim twice for me for free

and every time u top up u get a month extension on validity of the sim up to 1 year
I'm in Phuket

go to a Main AIS , like in central mall in town

I've just changed my AIS pre paid to past paid. Passport and driving license was all that was asked for. This was at an official AIS store in a central mall. Work permit has never been mentioned.

On 6/1/2026 at 7:35 AM, PaulBoing said:

I'm aware that this forum is principally focused on visas, residency and work permits, so I hope I'm posting in the right place....

Paul

Paul, welcome to Thailand. No apologies were needed. I read just a couple of responses and the advice was good. IMHO

I am only responding to assure you that you came to a great place for your query. The forum is meant to be a helpful place for foreigners (long term and short term) and also for Thais. There are a number of actual experts to be found on here. You just have to weed through some of the wise crackers to get to those folks. For instance, if you have a medical issue, Sheryl will be giving great advice, but others may have had or have the same exact issue as you. If you need electrical advice, you need to look for Crossy, but there are others here to help. There are also some good computer folks on here, too.

Many of my friends don't like using this forum (refuse to read anything) because there are many negative commenters, especially on news articles. Anyway, enough said. Have a great life here and where ever.

5 hours ago, wil iam not said:

Hotspot = 15Mb/s, cable = 1000 Mb/s. The hole for the cable must be at least 5mm diameter.

More of your disinformation?

I was just running some tests with a 5G iPhone and an AIS SIM. At one location, 400+Mbps download was indicated. Not with the speed test of my choice, but in this case; nPerf.

Your claims of 15 Mbps are wildly inaccurate.

On 6/8/2026 at 5:34 PM, AgMech Cowboy said:

Paul, welcome to Thailand. No apologies were needed. I read just a couple of responses and the advice was good. IMHO

I am only responding to assure you that you came to a great place for your query. The forum is meant to be a helpful place for foreigners (long term and short term) and also for Thais. There are a number of actual experts to be found on here. You just have to weed through some of the wise crackers to get to those folks. For instance, if you have a medical issue, Sheryl will be giving great advice, but others may have had or have the same exact issue as you. If you need electrical advice, you need to look for Crossy, but there are others here to help. There are also some good computer folks on here, too.

Many of my friends don't like using this forum (refuse to read anything) because there are many negative commenters, especially on news articles. Anyway, enough said. Have a great life here and where ever.

Really appreciate the welcome and the sentiments - thanks so much.