How to Get Online in Thailand: Airport AIS and True Tourist SIMs, eSIM, Taiwan Carrier Roaming, and Pocket WiFi (2026)

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Getting online in Thailand is simpler than in Japan or Korea. The two major carriers, AIS and True (which merged with dtac in 2023 and uses the True dtac name in stores and online), both sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs. Airport counters are open 24 hours, 7-Eleven stores are everywhere for top-ups, and 5G is widespread in Bangkok. You only need to decide three things: whether to arrange service before landing (eSIM or roaming from a Taiwan carrier) or buy a physical SIM at the airport, how many people will share the connection, and how long you will stay.

This guide turns the plans and prices found on AIS, True, Chunghwa Telecom, and Taiwan Mobile websites on September 13, 2026 into a comparison table and decision chart. It also explains Thailand's NBTC SIM-registration rules, tightened in 2025 and amended again in May 2026. Prices change often, so figures are included only when they were visible on the official site; otherwise the guide says to check the official site. See the linked Japan connectivity guide at the end for eSIM support and dual-SIM setup.

Choose with three questions

Start with the table, then use the decision chart. If your unlocked phone supports eSIM, buy a tourist eSIM. For a trip of no more than five days, roaming from a Taiwan mobile carrier is the simplest option. For three or more people, or if you need a hotspot for another device, rent a pocket WiFi. If you are staying eight days or longer and want a Thai number for calls, buy a physical tourist SIM at an airport counter.

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Three questions. Question 1: Does your unlocked phone support eSIM, and do you want to call Grab as soon as you land? If yes, buy a tourist eSIM: AIS eSIM starts at THB 399; check official sites for True and third-party prices. Scan the QR code and install it before departure, then enable data roaming after landing. If no, question 2: Are you staying no more than 5 days, using little data, and need verification texts on a Taiwan phone number? If yes, use roaming from a Taiwan carrier: Taiwan Mobile's Southeast Asia plan starts at TWD 129 per day, and Chunghwa Telecom's Southeast Asia volume plan starts at TWD 149 for 1 GB over 15 days. Keep your Taiwan number and do not change the SIM. If no, question 3: Are 3 or more people traveling together, or do you need to tether a laptop? If yes, rent a pocket WiFi for collection and return at Taoyuan Airport and pay by the day, or share one unlimited SIM as a hotspot. If no, buy a physical tourist SIM at an airport counter: True costs THB 449 for 8 days; AIS offers 5, 8, 15, 30, and 60 days. Counters are open 24 hours, and the passport holder must register in person. NBTC notes: the passport holder must appear in person, each carrier allows up to 3 SIMs, a tourist SIM is valid for at most 60 days and cannot be extended by topping up, and online eSIM purchases also require a passport upload. Data estimates: maps and messaging use a few hundred MB per day, social media and photo uploads about 1 GB per day, and video or hotspot use 3 GB or more per day, so choose unlimited data. Prices were checked on official websites on September 13, 2026.

Buying a SIM at the airport: where AIS and True counters are and what to bring

Arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) are on Level 2 of the main terminal. AOT lists service counters for both domestic and international arrivals on Level 2. After immigration and baggage claim, you will find AIS and True dtac tourist-SIM counters in the arrivals hall. True says its airport counters are open 24 hours, including for overnight flights. At Don Mueang Airport (DMK), international flights use Terminal 1, where both carriers also have counters in the arrivals hall. Check carrier websites for Chiang Mai, Phuket, and other airports. Bring a valid passport and an unlocked phone, tell the staff how many days you need, and they will register the SIM, insert it, and configure it in a few minutes. See the linked Bangkok airport-to-city guide for the next leg.

True dtac tourist SIM: THB 449 for 8 days; check official prices for 15 and 30 days

True's September 2026 website calls its tourist product the Thailand Tourist INFINITE SIM. It comes in 8-, 15-, and 30-day versions, all with unlimited full-speed 5G and 4G, free calls to Thai networks (up to 15 minutes per call), and a small international-call allowance. The FAQ lists the 8-day version at THB 449 and recommends it for trips of 5 to 7 days. The 15- and 30-day prices appear only in images, so use the price shown on the official site or at the counter. A separate 10-day Data-Only Tourist SIM provides data and incoming calls but cannot make outgoing calls. After the package expires, data is billed separately; to continue, top up THB 20, 50, 100, or 300 at 7-Eleven or a True shop and buy another data package. Dial *123# for balance and validity; customer service is 1242. A tourist SIM is valid for at most 60 days. Topping up cannot extend it beyond expiry; you must register a new SIM.

AIS tourist SIM and eSIM: five durations, with prices on the official site

AIS's September 2026 Tourist SIM page lists five durations: 5, 8, 15, 30, and 60 days. Each includes unlimited Max Speed 5G and 4G, free on-net AIS calls, THB 100 of call credit, and zero-rated data for selected social apps. There is also a short 1-day, 1 GB plan capped at 10 Mbps. Prices load dynamically on the page, so this guide does not copy figures from third-party sites; check the official site or airport counter. AIS sells tourist eSIMs on a separate official page, where Thailand-only plans start at THB 399. After payment, you receive a QR code for self-installation.

eSIM: buy before departure and call a ride as soon as you land

An eSIM gives you data as soon as you switch on your phone after landing, so you can check the Airport Rail Link or call Grab while waiting at immigration. Local choices include AIS tourist eSIMs from THB 399 on the official site. True has a separate tourist-eSIM page and also sells through partners such as Airalo and eTravelSim. Third-party travel eSIMs also use AIS or True networks, are usually data-only, and often do not include a Thai number. Online purchases require you to upload your passport and complete the carrier's verification process under NBTC rules. Install the eSIM by scanning its QR code while you have WiFi, but do not enable its data roaming while still in Taiwan. Most plans start counting when they first connect to a Thai network.

SIM registration: passport holder in person, up to 3 per carrier, and a 60-day maximum for tourist SIMs

Thailand's NBTC (National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) published its Measures for Telecommunications Operators to Prevent Technology Crime in the Government Gazette in August 2025. Foreign nationals must present a valid passport to register a SIM, may register no more than 3 SIMs with each carrier, and tourist SIMs have a maximum validity of 60 days that cannot be extended by topping up. An amendment published on May 15, 2026 and effective May 16 added that non-Thai users register with a passport in person at a carrier shop or authorized dealer and must activate the SIM within 60 days of registration; if they do not, they must complete in-person identity verification again. For travelers, bring your own passport to buy a physical SIM at the counter and avoid street sellers claiming that registration is unnecessary. Do not register more than 3 SIMs from the same carrier for a whole family under one person's passport. For an online tourist eSIM, follow the carrier website or app's passport-verification process and visit a shop if instructed. Current NBTC and carrier notices control.

• 7-Eleven: True lists it as a top-up location for THB 20, 50, 100, or 300. Some stores sell prepaid SIMs, which still require passport registration. Staff may not speak English, so buying the first SIM at an airport counter is easier.
• City shops: AIS Shop and True Shop locations are in major malls. Bring your passport to buy a tourist SIM, switch to eSIM, or troubleshoot service.
• Whether you need a Thai number: whether Grab currently accepts registration with a Taiwan number depends on the app; LINE does not require a local number. Local services such as Thai banking apps and PromptPay require a Thai number, but ordinary visitors do not need them. Choose a tourist SIM with calls if you want to phone restaurants.

Roaming from Taiwan's three carriers: keep your Taiwan number and simplify trips of up to 5 days

Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and Far EasTone all offer data roaming that works in Thailand. You keep the same SIM and Taiwan number, service starts after landing, and verification texts still arrive. The trade-off is that data costs more than a local SIM, and the gap grows on longer trips. Apply in the carrier app before departure, choose the activation date, and enable data roaming in Thailand. A volume-based plan stops or slows after the allowance is used. This works best for trips of up to 5 days with mostly maps and messaging. For 8 days or longer with daily photo uploads or video, a local SIM is much cheaper.

Pocket WiFi, data estimates, and coverage outside Bangkok

Collect and return a pocket WiFi at a rental counter in Taoyuan Airport. It is charged by the day and connects phones, tablets, and laptops, but it must be charged and returned, and anyone separated from the group loses service. It is cost-effective mainly for groups of 3 or more or travelers working on a laptop. An alternative is to use one unlimited True or AIS SIM as a hotspot for companions, but that phone will drain quickly, so carry a power bank.

• Data estimate (experience-based, not an official allowance): maps and messaging use a few hundred MB per day; social media and photo uploads about 1 GB per day; hotspot use or all-day video uses 3 GB or more per day, so choose unlimited data.
• 5G: AIS and True tourist plans advertise 5G. Where 5G is unavailable, the phone falls back to 4G, which is adequate for maps and ride-hailing.
• Outside Bangkok: central Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui, and other tourist areas generally have service. Signals weaken in mountains, national parks, at sea, and on remote islands. Each carrier has stronger and weaker areas; travelers who split up can use one AIS SIM and one True SIM for redundancy.

For transport and where to stay after landing in Phuket, see Phuket Airport to Patong, Karon, Kata, and Old Town: Smart Bus, airport bus, Grab, and taxi compared.

For airport transport and where to stay after landing in Krabi, see Krabi Airport to Ao Nang, Krabi Town, and Railay: Grab pickup points, boat-only Railay, and where first-time visitors should stay.

Bangkok airports to the city: Airport Rail Link, Don Mueang A1 bus, Grab, or taxi

How to get online in Japan: eSIM support, carrier locks, and dual-SIM setup

How to get online in Korea: eSIM, airport SIM, or pocket WiFi

Three days and two nights in Chiang Mai: Old City, Doi Suthep, and an elephant sanctuary

Plan a Bangkok trip: sights, transport, and itineraries

Plan a Chiang Mai trip: sights, transport, and itineraries

• Before you go
• Staying online