Hi guys,

which prepaid 3G provider would you recommend for BKK + North (Chiang Rai/Chiang Mai) + Rayong/Samet ?

I will be buying a Samsung Galaxy Nexus which supports 850/900/1900/2100 MHz WCDMA.

I would like reliable phone as well as somewhat reliable data service, would that be possible at all?

Cheers, Farrol

Are you splitting your time equally between those three or four locations?

Do you have any budget constraints?

I might buy SIMs from all three providers, they are ~ 50 - 100 each, then experiment, maybe with daily plans, 49 baht/day, until you find an acceptable provider?

If you want to start out with just one then TrueMove H might offer the broadest 3G coverage.

Yes I will spend about 3 weeks in each location and also rural surroundings.

If possible I'd like to pick the best overall prepaid provider in order to be always reachable under the same phone number.

Do you reckon that would be TrueMove H?

In the past I have often used DTAC for phone service and GPRS/EDGE, how would DTAC compare to TrueMove H?

Thanks, Farrol

It can be extremely challenging to come up with a single, best recommendation - I hope you can understand that.

People tend to be very emotional, "your's sucks, mine's the best" - both love and hate, about service providers here, as they are in many other countries.

Without seeming like I'm waffling too much I might rank TrueMove H "1A" and DTAC/Happy "1B", so suggest your try TrueMove H first. TrueMove H has slightly broader 3G coverage currently, but maybe poorer voice performance and custoemr service.

The decision for me was easy. It is the only service in this area.

As of today, TrueMove H have ~ 5,000 base-stations with 3G (CAT has 7,000 installed but licenses only granted to 5,000). TrueMove H seems to have addressed the phone number shortage.

DTAC has ~ 3,500 base-stations with 3G operational today, and is planning on installing another 1,700 over the next 3 - 6 months, probably as 2100 MHz.

AIS has ~ 3,500 - 4,000 base-stations operational today on 900 MHz.

TOT currently has between 3,500 and 5,230 3G base-stations (2100 MHz installed today). AIS and TOT have a limited roaming agreement.

Longer term, assuming no impediments, AIS will further extend its "partnership" with TOT and TrueMove do the same with CAT.

CAT owns DTAC's concession, which expires in 2018.

Thanks lomatopo, that was very useful information.