Getting online in Phuket is cheap, fast and easy. Here's what to pick for your phone and your home in 2026.
Julian Nevin3 June 2026Updated 2 July 20266 min read
This guide was updated on 2 July 2026 to improve structure, related links and on-page clarity.
Fast, cheap data is one of the easy wins of living here.
This is one of the genuinely easy parts of moving here. Thai mobile data is fast and cheap, and home internet is quick to set up. Here's how to sort both without overthinking it.
There are three names you'll see: AIS, True and dtac. dtac and True merged a couple of years ago, so dtac now sits under True, which makes True the biggest operator. In practice AIS often has the fastest 5G, but all three are good. Coverage is strong nationwide and very good in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, so pick on price and plan rather than agonising over the network.
Your phone: SIM or eSIM
For most people arriving, the simplest move is a tourist SIM. You can grab one at the airport arrivals hall, AIS, True and dtac all have counters at Phuket and the Bangkok airports, at any 7-Eleven, or at a network shop. AIS tourist plans run from around 49 THB (about USD 1.5, £1.11, and €1.29) for a small short plan up to about 1,599 THB (about USD 49, £36.38, and €42.09) for a big one, with options from a week to a month.
If you'd rather land already connected, get an eSIM before you fly, either from a network or a service like Airalo or Holafly. It's usually a little more expensive than a local SIM, but you're online the moment you step off the plane. If your phone supports eSIM, it's the smoothest option for arrival.
Staying longer
If you're here for months, not weeks, move onto a local monthly or prepaid plan once you've settled. You'll get cheap, often unlimited, data, and you can top up at any 7-Eleven. You'll also need a Thai number to open a bank account, so sort the SIM early.
Home internet
Home fibre is fast and cheap. The main providers are True, AIS and 3BB, and a solid connection runs roughly 500 to 1,000 THB (about USD 15.32 to 30.64, £11.38 to 22.75, and €13.16 to 26.32) a month depending on speed. If you're renting, a lot of condos and houses already have a line you can take over, ask the landlord before you arrange your own. For remote work, fibre at home plus 5G on your phone as a backup is all you need.
Working from cafes too?
You're not tied to your desk. Phuket has a deep bench of coworking spaces and laptop-friendly cafes, I covered the best ones in the cafes and coworking guide.
Modern Expat
Get the next one first
One useful email a week on building a life abroad. No spam.
FAQ
What's the best SIM card in Thailand?
AIS, True and dtac (now part of True) are the three networks, and all are good. AIS often has the fastest 5G. For a short stay, a tourist SIM from the airport or a 7-Eleven is easiest; AIS tourist plans run from about 49 to 1,599 THB (about USD 1.5 to 49, £1.11 to 36.38, and €1.29 to 42.09). For a longer stay, switch to a local monthly prepaid plan.
Can I get an eSIM for Thailand?
Yes. You can buy an eSIM before you travel from a network or a service like Airalo or Holafly, so you're connected the moment you land. It's usually a little pricier than a local SIM but more convenient on arrival.
How much is home internet in Thailand?
A fast home fibre connection runs roughly 500 to 1,000 THB (about USD 15.32 to 30.64, £11.38 to 22.75, and €13.16 to 26.32) a month, from providers like True, AIS or 3BB. Many rentals already have a line you can take over, so ask the landlord first.
Julian Nevin is the founder and editor of Modern Expat Magazine and the SocialGryd app. He writes from Phuket about expat life, remote work and the realities of building a life in Thailand.
