During this trip, the director came to Thailand for a month-long stay. There were many preparations to handle——children’s school, apartment location, etc. They almost forgot about the local internet issue. It had been since before the pandemic since the last visit to Bangkok, and it really has changed a lot! Fortunately, this time there was still our site’s internet card friend JOYTEL providing us with ample internet usage, and after comparing the strengths of the carriers, we can provide everyone with different options and suggestions.
Convenience Comparison of Overseas Internet Cards: Physical Card? e-SIM?
There are many common ways to obtain internet access overseas. The more mainstream option now is eSIM, which is very convenient. In the past, there were physical SIM cards, mobile WiFi devices, and enabling roaming.
| Network Access Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| eSIM | No need to swap cards | Not supported by some phones
Less popular among seniors |
| Physical Internet Card | Lower prices
More plan options | Need to swap cards |
| Mobile WiFi Device | Multiple users can use simultaneously
Less battery drain on phone
Also serves as power bank | Extra device to carry around |
| Roaming | No need to swap cards
Works in Taiwan
Can make calls and send/receive SMS | Higher price if no plan |
Since e-SIM is so convenient, why consider physical cards? Based on the director’s personal experience, swapping SIM cards is still more friendly for groups whose phones don’t support eSIM. Additionally, physical cards have more plan options, and some prices are really attractive, which still has certain appeal for budget travelers.
This time we used all three carriers——AIS TrueMove DTAC, and all were maxed out with the highest data limits! The actual test results are at the bottom for your reference!
Introduction to Thailand’s Network Infrastructure
Bangkok is an international city, and its network infrastructure is basically on par with others. It’s true that 4G/5G signals have never dropped in the downtown area, and it was smooth all the way from the airport. Moreover, basic internet card plans can all be upgraded to 5G. During our trip, we also went to the more southern Bangsean beach area, and it worked just as well!
All three Thai carrier physical cards provided by JOYTEL this time can use 5G!
Comparison of Thai Carriers: AIS TrueMove DTAC
Image｜2021 Three Major Carriers Market Share, Source https://www.yozzo.com/Below is a comprehensive review of the three carriers for your reference!
AIS (Advanced Info Service)
- Network Coverage: AIS has the widest coverage, especially in remote areas where it still shows full signal.
- Network Speed: Excellent 4G and 5G speeds.
- Price and Value for Money: Higher prices, but excellent value for money.
TrueMove H
- Network Coverage: Wide coverage, but some remote areas are slightly inferior to AIS.
- Network Speed: Fast in urban areas, but slightly slower in some areas compared to AIS.
- Plan Price and Value for Money: Moderate prices, high value for money.
DTAC (Total Access Communication)
- Network Coverage: Wide coverage, but some remote areas are average, though the speed is not slow.
- Network Speed: Fast 4G speed, 5G still needs improvement.
- Plan Price and Value for Money: Relatively lower prices, high value for money.
Carrier Notes
Each carrier’s plans have some local data policies. For example, some products offer unlimited data, while others offer per-day data limits. Read carefully so you won’t encounter sudden inability to use or slow speeds later.
Additionally, it is strongly recommended to purchase a plan with phone number service in Thailand, which will be very useful for using transportation apps like Grab and Bolt, or for booking restaurants and bars!
Services Provided by JOYTEL
From the shipping speed of orders, product descriptions, and usage instructions, everything is clearly written. If you really get stuck, there is also online customer service to assist. In the past, there have been many cases of premature eSIM activation errors, which can really be nerve-wracking when abroad.
Although online customer service still has rest hours, they have extended service hours until late at night in Taiwan time. Now, being without internet abroad would be very alarming, and customer service will handle it as quickly as possible!
Image｜Each internet card comes with independent packaging, SIM ejector tool, and storage, all very professional and thoughtfulLocal Network Speed Test
This test can serve as a reference for the urban speeds of these three carriers, and we also tried to separate them by 4G/5G for your reference. After all, 5G can achieve speeds over 300Mbps, but it also drains the phone battery quickly.
AIS —— Stable Speed
Suitable for travelers planning to go to places far from the city, such as Khao Yai National Park, because of stable signal and high coverage rate
True —— Occasional Good Performance in the City, But Slower in Crowded Areas
Suitable for average usage users. Sharing stories on social media is still okay.
DTAC —— Average With Occasional Good Performance, But Unlimited Data is Very Practical
Suitable for those who don’t pursue high speed but often send large amounts of video content to social media and LINE
JOYTEL Plan Options
JOYTEL offers not just one plan option, but options from multiple carriers, which can meet most travel usage needs and are definitely sufficient. They also have plans for “Southeast Asian countries” and “Multiple Asian countries”, which are very friendly to our digital nomad group. But once you use eSIM, there’s really no going back!
This time, due to work needs, I leaned toward purchasing plans with large data or no throttling for more security, especially since I needed to use VPN to watch the Olympics live and cheer for the Taiwanese team. The data usage was really significant. If you’re a tourist staying for five to seven days, 1~2GB per day is actually sufficient, so you can choose a more cost-effective plan based on the number of days!
