Hi, could anyone tell me who they think the best Mobile Network Provider is in Thailand? I don't need internet service, I just need to make calls and send text.

Many Thanks.

Though, provider signal coverage may vary considerably depending on infrastructure (towers) deployed in the districts you'll operate out of.

This is one of the reasons multiple SIM phone are so popular.

The quickest method, of course, is to ask around in the actual area you expect signal coverage.

Note: The 2G switch off is creating new coverage issue that will take another six months to resolve as all the major mobile providers deploy new 3G/4G(LTE) infrastructure.

True has the best coverage, you can check the different providers coverage map by googling

In my experience in Bangkok,. Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, AIS is the best for coverage.

In my experience in Bangkok,. Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, AIS is the best for coverage.

I would have agreed with this, as AIS also has the most subscribers.

But with the latest spectrum change up, AIS is losing towers due to the ending TOT concession (and TOT apparently not wanting to play with them anymore).

According to Yozzo slide:

AIS 41,950,800 subscribers Q1 2015

6,000 2100MHz Towers

13,690 900/1800 Towers leased under concession from TOT (going, going, gone)

DTAC 28,426,000 subscribers Q1 2015

1,500 2100MHz Towers

11,000 850/1800 Towers leased under concession from CAT till 2018

TRUE 21,507,000 subscribers Q1 2015

11,846 850/2100MHz Towers (Wholesale/Resell of CAT on 850)

6,000 1800MHz Towers leased under concession from CAT (but they have a JV in the works with CAT for continuing access)

So, AIS losing access to 13,690 towers can't be a good thing for their continued nation-wide coverage.

In my experience in Bangkok,. Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, AIS is the best for coverage.

I would have agreed with this, as AIS also has the most subscribers.

But with the latest spectrum change up, AIS is losing towers due to the ending TOT concession (and TOT apparently not wanting to play with them anymore).

According to Yozzo slide:

AIS 41,950,800 subscribers Q1 2015

6,000 2100MHz Towers

13,690 900/1800 Towers leased under concession from TOT (going, going, gone)

DTAC 28,426,000 subscribers Q1 2015

1,500 2100MHz Towers

11,000 850/1800 Towers leased under concession from CAT till 2018

TRUE 21,507,000 subscribers Q1 2015

11,846 850/2100MHz Towers (Wholesale/Resell of CAT on 850)

6,000 1800MHz Towers leased under concession from CAT (but they have a JV in the works with CAT for continuing access)

So, AIS losing access to 13,690 towers can't be a good thing for their continued nation-wide coverage.

Has that happened? I thought they'd sorted it out.

TOT, AIS reach tentative deal on towers

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation November 6, 2015 1:00 am

TOT and Advanced Info Service have tentatively agreed for the company to lease telecommunications towers from the state enterprise to provide a cellular service, TOT's acting president said.

Has that happened? I thought they'd sorted it out.

TOT, AIS reach tentative deal on towers

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation November 6, 2015 1:00 am

TOT and Advanced Info Service have tentatively agreed for the company to lease telecommunications towers from the state enterprise to provide a cellular service, TOT's acting president said.

The article you referenced is confusing.

AIS had proposed a joint venture to manage the towers, but TOT insisted on AIS transferring these assets to the state telecom agency and leasing them back from it.

Montchai Noosong, acting president of TOT, said on Wednesday that AIS had consented in principle to TOT's proposal and that he hoped both sides could reach a conclusion on the matter this year.

Then AIS will have to hand over the disputed towers to TOT and withdraw the dispute from arbitration, he said in an update on the overall situation at a staff meeting this week.

An AIS source said the proposed network rent is just a short term solution to the dispute.

Are these statements 'background' info leading up to the new tentative agreement, or part of the tentative agreement yet to be resolved?

Then there's this November 16 article about a 10 year agreement:

TOT chooses AIS as strategic mobile broadband partner

telegeography.com

Thailand

State-owned Thai telco TOT has chosen the country’s cellular market leader Advanced Info Service (AIS) as its strategic partner to provide wireless broadband services over TOT’s infrastructure, following a selection process that lasted almost a year, the Bangkok Post reports.

TOT board director Djitt Laowattana said the deal was approved on Friday, and a ten-year agreement is expected to be signed next month, under which AIS and TOT will jointly develop the mobile business using the latter’s 2×15MHz of 2100MHz bandwidth until 2025. Mr Djitt also indicated that ‘AIS alone’ would invest to expand mobile network infrastructure for TOT, while AIS would be allowed to rent up to 80% of TOT’s 2100MHz network capacity, with the remainder potentially rented to other companies (with Loxley Wireless named as a likely candidate).

TOT has 5,320 existing 3G 2100MHz base stations. Last month, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) ruled TOT could also provide 4G services using existing 2300MHz-2400MHz spectrum until 2025, potentially in partnership with AIS.

Ah ha ha ha... This 2013 story is almost word for word the same to the 2015 November 16 agreement writeup (just change the principals involved):

AIS And TOT Working On 4G Partnership Details

theTelcomist.com | November 26, 2013

too funny.

How many times can they pitch and tentatively agree to the same proposal?