Pre-Paid SIM Cards in Thailand
Mobile phones are a huge business in Thailand. Everyone has one. Mobile phone etiquette is poor, with people talking loudly in cinemas and restaurants etc.
The two big networks are AIS and DTAC. In recent years, there is little to distinguish between them in terms of coverage and call quality. However, DTAC seems to be more foreigner friendly with a good English language customer call centre.
Pre-paid SIM cards are available everywhere, including 7-Elevens and are very cheap to purchase. However, pre-paid customers often suffer from excessive SMS spam from the network operators.
Post-Paid SIM cards
If you're staying in Thailand long term, it will probably benefit you to get a post-paid account and it's relatively easy to set one up, even as a foreigner. For example, walk into any DTAC shop with your passport and credit card as security and you can walk out 20 minutes later with an activated account and SIM card. Various promotions are always available, often with free minutes. Study them carefully before choosing.
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Be very careful with roaming charges. DTAC have some very unfair charging policies for roaming, including charging for the inbound call as soon as your phone starts to ring, regardless of whether or not you answer the call! Furthermore, Thais are very good at dialling wrong numbers, so accidental calls from strangers are common and the last thing you want if you're roaming.
Post-paid customers tend to get less SMS spam.
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