Wi-Fi in Thailand: What to expect and how to get the best connection?

Are you a digital nomad wanting to work remotely in Thailand? Perhaps, you’re a person, who is planning to move there long-term, or a tourist going to Thailand for a week or two. If you’re reading this post, then you are wondering about wi-fi in Thailand – am I right? In this article I’ll tell you about the connection and what to expect from it when you travel to the Land of Smiles.

Wi-fi in Thailand has improved in the last years, especially in the bigger cities. It continues to get better. I’ve been travelling and living both long-term and short-term in the Kingdom and I experienced the improvement first hand. Yes, the country still has some work to do, but it’s impressive how quickly and swiftly they are working on their internet connections.

I know that you are travelling there and would like to have the best wi-fi there is. Read on and find out more about the internet and wi-fi connection in Thailand.

Is wi-fi in Thailand any good?

The answer to this question is one that a lot of people hate – it depends.

In bigger cities, like Chiang Mai and Bangkok, wi-fi is really good. Nearly everywhere you’ll find a good connection. You can work from nice cafés, or coworking spaces and you will not be disappointed.

In condominiums it might vary. Sometimes the routers are shared by many apartments and your connection might go down if everyone’s at home.
In more expensive places, where you have less people, wi-fi is really good.

If you want to rent an apartment in Thailand, it’s good to check it when you go and see the flat.

Wi-fi is worse on the islands. The smaller the island and the further it is from the land, the worse the connection.
I had some problems on Koh Chang and Koh Phangan, but I managed to do my work anyway. But, on Koh Tao it was a total disaster. The hotel where I stayed didn’t have wi-fi in the rooms and I had to work from the reception area, where I was almost eaten by mosquitos.

How to get the best wi-fi connection in Thailand?

If you’re in Thailand for a shorter amount of time, you will need to rely on the connection of the place where you’re staying.
It won’t be such a problem if you’re there for holiday. You can always go to a coffee place, or the reception to use wi-fi. There is a wide variety of SIM cards, which you can buy at the airports. Some of them give you unlimited data.
However, digital nomads will not be happy with this solution. In this case, rent something where wi-fi is good, or sign up to a coworking place.

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Expats have an easier task as they can subscribe to one of the internet providers and get their own connection. I’ve done that before and I think that’s the best option.

Let’s have a look at the easiest and most popular options.

SIM cards in Thailand

When you arrive at the airpot, at the luggage pick up, you’ll have quite a few SIM card providers. They offer different options, depending on how long you’re staying.

Here are the most popular companies. All of them provide weekly and monthly unlimited internet as well as plans for tourists and monthly plans for those staying long-term. You can top it up through their apps or at 7-11.

• AIS
• TrueMove
• DTAC

Find out more about SIM cards in Thailand.

Internet providers for your home

In Thailand you can install wi-fi at your place of living if you work, study or have a long-term visa.

On Google Maps find the nearest place, where you can register and order the installation. Take your passport, visa and work permit (if you have one) and go there personally. They will take your details and after choosing the right plan, they will set up a date of the installation.

The cost of a fibre internet is around 1,200 – 2,000 BHT per month, depending on the speed.

Here are the companies that are the most popular:

• AIS
• TrueMove
• TOT Fibreinternet
• DTAC
• CAT Telecom

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Further information

• In most places the internet is fast enough to watch Netflix or have Zoom calls.
• Remember that the islands have worse connection than the places on the land.
• The same comes to the size and the position of the city. A village in the mountains might not have any connection at all unless it’s popular among tourists.
• Use this website to check the speed of the internet.
• Some websites in Thailand are blocked. It’s worth buying VPN. Check out my advice on using VPN in Thailand. I recommend NordVPN.

Wi-fi in Thailand is generally good, but this depends on the location. Remember that if you go somewhere far away from the land, or to a little village hidden in the mountains, you might not get any internet at all.
If you need it for work, stay in Chiang Mai or Bangkok – these are the best places in Thailand for remote work.