BANGKOK, THAILAND – Travellers relied increasingly on local SIM and eSIM offers in Thailand as cheap, fast mobile internet undercut European roaming tariffs.
Strong networks and a shrinking field of operators
Thailand had a very strong mobile network infrastructure, with coverage in many rural areas often better than in parts of Europe. Three major operators shared the market: AIS, True Corporation and DTAC. Since the 2023 merger of True and DTAC, the market effectively became a duopoly between AIS and the new True Corporation.
Tourist SIM cards: pricing and airport sales
All three operators sold dedicated tourist SIM cards at airports, official shops and convenience stores such as 7‑Eleven. These products were designed for stays of 8 to 30 days, with prices ranging from 299 to 1,199 baht (about 8 to 34 euros) depending on data and duration. AIS offered unlimited-data tourist packages for 8, 15 or 30 days from around 699 baht for 15 days, with fair-use caps of about 2.5 gigabytes per day before throttling.
Competing data offers from AIS, True and DTAC
The Happy Tourist SIM from True and DTAC was available in an Infinite version with unlimited data for 8, 15 or 30 days, priced between 449 and 1,199 baht. Alternative bundles included fixed data volumes, such as 50 gigabytes for 10 days at around 299 baht. The Happy Tourist SIM included a Thai phone number and free calls within the DTAC network.
New registration rules and limits on multiple SIMs
Since August 2025, all SIM cards in Thailand had to be registered with a valid ID to curb SIM‑swapping fraud. At airports or shops, passports were copied and the process took about 10 to 30 minutes. Foreigners could register up to five SIM cards per operator, and after 60 days they had to confirm their identity again via SMS to number 4444161 or in an AIS shop to avoid blocking.
eSIMs from Thai operators: skipping the airport queue
A eSIM was a digital SIM activated via QR code, eliminating the need for a physical card. Installation could be carried out before or during the trip in the smartphone settings and allowed more flexibility in tariff selection. All three Thai operators offered eSIM options, with AIS and DTAC selling them directly and through third parties, usually at the same prices as physical SIM cards and with the advantage of being online immediately after landing.
International eSIM brands target visitors
Alongside local providers, international eSIM services aimed specifically at travellers and were typically purchased in Europe before departure. Key players included Holafly, Airalo, Saily, Nomad and Ubigi. Holafly offered unlimited data for Thailand for 1 to 90 days, from about 19 US dollars for 5 days to 96 dollars for 50 days, used the True network and provided 24/7 support, but supplied data‑only eSIMs without phone numbers.
Airalo, Saily, Nomad and Ubigi in comparison
Airalo used the DTAC network, with packages from 1 gigabyte for 3 days at 4 US dollars to 50 gigabytes for 30 days at 27.50 dollars, and some plans included a Thai phone number plus call and SMS functions. Airalo also sold regional Asia packages. Saily, operated by the NordVPN team, used AIS and DTAC and started at about 6 US dollars for 3 gigabytes over 30 days, with 24/7 chat support.
Short-stay data options from Nomad and Ubigi
Nomad focused on short-term travellers with 1‑ to 50‑gigabyte packages, such as 1 gigabyte over 7 days for around 5 US dollars, based on AIS and DTAC networks and offering the option to pause and resume data. Ubigi, part of the NTT group, started at 5 US dollars for 1 gigabyte over 7 days and also offered unlimited options. Ubigi supported 5G in Thailand as part of coverage in 40 countries worldwide.
Where tourists bought physical SIM cards
The easiest purchase point was the airport, where kiosks from AIS, True and DTAC were present at all international gateways and staff generally spoke English and assisted with setup. Prices at airports were typically 20 to 30 percent higher than in the city. Official operator shops in larger cities, often in malls, provided more detailed advice and sometimes cheaper deals, while convenience stores had limited selection and often only basic English skills among staff.
Actual costs for short and longer stays
For an 8‑day stay, a DTAC Happy Tourist SIM with unlimited data cost about 449 baht (around 13 euros), while a comparable AIS package cost about 699 baht (20 euros. For 30 days, prices at all operators clustered around 1,199 baht, or roughly 34 euros, including unlimited data under fair-use rules or fixed data between 50 and 100 gigabytes. International eSIMs were usually more expensive, with Holafly charging about 62 US dollars for 30 days of unlimited data, while Airalo asked 27.50 dollars for 50 gigabytes over 30 days.
What “unlimited” meant under fair-use policies
Almost all unlimited-data offers were subject to fair-use limits, with a fixed volume available daily at full speed. At AIS, this was typically 2.5 gigabytes per day, after which speed was throttled to about 1 megabit per second. Users who regularly exceeded such daily limits were better off with fixed‑volume packages, which often had no daily caps and more consistent speeds.
Device compatibility and locked phones
Not all smartphones supported eSIM, although most newer iPhones from the XS model and many Android devices from Samsung and Google Pixel were compatible. Devices needed to be unlocked and not tied to a single operator, as locked contract phones often did not work with foreign eSIMs. Compatibility could be checked in the mobile data settings of the phone, where an option to add a data plan indicated eSIM support.
How eSIM installation and activation worked
After purchase, travellers received a QR code by email and scanned it with the smartphone camera. In the settings, they added a new data plan and could assign a name such as “Thailand holiday”, after which the eSIM activated automatically once inside the provider’s coverage area. A WLAN connection during installation was important, and dual‑SIM phones could keep the home SIM for calls while using the eSIM for data.
Coverage, 5G rollout and rural reception
Thailand ranked among the countries with very good mobile coverage, with average mobile speeds of about 101 megabits per second and over 200 megabits per second common in Bangkok and major cities. AIS offered the best coverage in rural areas and on islands, while True and DTAC delivered the highest peak speeds in urban areas. 5G was available in all major cities, with AIS covering around 95 percent of the population and True about 93 percent, though national parks could still see weaker signals.
Using dual-SIM to avoid roaming fees
Modern smartphones allowed simultaneous use of a physical SIM and an eSIM, enabling users to keep their home number active for calls and SMS while relying on a Thai eSIM for data. In the settings, users could assign which SIM handled data, calls and texts to reduce roaming charges while remaining reachable. This was particularly useful for business travellers, as messaging apps such as WhatsApp worked over the data eSIM without extra costs.
Top-ups and in-app discounts for long stays
Travellers who stayed beyond their original validity period could top up SIM cards through the myAIS, True and DTAC apps, often at lower rates than airport offers and payable by international credit card. Top‑up vouchers were also sold in 7‑Eleven and other shops, with credit loaded against a phone number and then converted into data packages inside the app. App‑based data bundles were significantly cheaper than tourist SIMs, with 50 gigabytes at DTAC costing about 168 baht (around 4.80 euros) for longer stays.
VPNs to access European streaming services
Many European streaming platforms were restricted in Thailand for licensing reasons, so VPNs were widely used to access German libraries and services. Using a VPN typically reduced speeds by about 20 to 40 percent, turning a 10‑megabit connection into roughly 5 to 6 megabits per second, usually sufficient for HD but not always for 4K streaming. Well‑known VPN providers such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark reportedly functioned reliably in Thailand, though latency could increase and cause minor delays in video calls.
Hotspot limits and sharing data between devices
Most tourist SIMs from Thai operators allowed hotspot use, turning smartphones into mobile routers for laptops and tablets. Some international eSIMs imposed hotspot limits, with Holafly permitting around 500 megabytes per day for tethering, which was enough for occasional use but not for full‑time remote work. Smartphones tended to heat up and drain batteries faster in hotspot mode, making a charging cable advisable for extended sharing.
Prepaid and postpaid choices for long-term stays
For stays beyond 30 days, regular prepaid tariffs were cheaper than repeated tourist SIMs, with AIS offering about 30 gigabytes for 30 days at 599 baht and 50 gigabytes at 799 baht. Postpaid contracts started at around 699 baht per month with roughly 40 gigabytes plus unlimited calls, but generally required a Thai address and sometimes a work permit. These contracts were cancellable monthly, and the operators’ apps simplified management and credit top‑ups.
4G and 5G routers as a home broadband alternative
For holiday apartments or extended stays, 4G and 5G routers with SIM slots provided an alternative to fixed-line connections. Such routers cost between 1,500 and 3,000 baht (about 43 to 86 euros) and offered better antennas and Wi‑Fi range than smartphones, provided they supported Thai frequency bands such as 1, 3, 8 and 40. Connection quality depended heavily on location, but in well-covered urban areas these routers were a low-cost substitute for fibre, with higher latency but adequate performance for regular browsing and streaming.
Which provider suited which type of traveller
For 8‑ to 15‑day trips, the DTAC Happy Tourist SIM offered the best balance of price and performance, starting at 449 baht with unlimited data and good urban coverage. Travellers spending more time in rural regions or on remote islands were better served by AIS, whose broader coverage justified a higher price. For those wanting to be online immediately on arrival, an Airalo eSIM based on DTAC networks was recommended in the source, with some packages including Thai phone numbers and convenient at‑home installation.
Overall assessment and practical advice
Thailand provided visitors and long-stay residents with excellent mobile internet options, combining strong coverage, low prices and high speeds, with tourist SIMs for 30 days costing around 34 euros for unlimited data. eSIMs simplified setup, and international providers such as Holafly, Airalo and Saily offered viable alternatives to local operators. The choice between AIS, True and DTAC depended largely on travel plans, with AIS favoured for nationwide coverage and True and DTAC often cheaper in cities, making a local SIM or eSIM the most practical solution for most users.
Editorial note on data and exchange rates
The underlying research for these offers and prices dated from January 2026, with an exchange rate of roughly 1 euro to 35 baht. Readers were advised to check current deals on operator websites or international eSIM platforms before making binding bookings. Prices, tariffs and conditions could change over time.