When living in Thailand you will find that it is fairly easy to get broadband internet services if you are in one of the cities or larger towns, although services are very limited in rural areas. Statistics prove that in many areas, dial-up internet is the most common source of internet services. In order to access these services you can purchase a dial-up prepaid pack, which can be found at many outlets including supermarkets or you have the option of using your standard telephone line to dial a number provided by the telecoms company. The prepaid pack gives you a number to dial for services, a PIN code and the amount of time that you are able to use the service for.

Most broadband users have ADSL lines, although there are some with cable modems. The speed of service will vary according to the provider and the area. High speed broadband is available in some larger cities such as Bangkok.

In order to provide internet services a telecommunications company needs to have a licence given by the National Telecommunications Council. Internet access is not controlled by the government. The main companies which provide services are TOT and TT&T.

For a customer to get a broadband connection and contract they must first contact the local provider to see if a connection is possible in their area. It is necessary to be within around 3km of the nearest telephone exchange for a connection to work properly. A certain amount of documentation is required for the company if you are an expat including your passport, a valid visa document and a copy of your work permit. If you do not have a work permit then you are required to present a letter of residence issued by your embassy or a certificate of residence issued by the Thai Immigration authorities. All documentation needs to be in Thai.

In urban areas it is now common for coffee shops and fast food restaurants to offer free Wi-Fi access for those who have a laptop. Some stores charge a small fee for this although generally it is free if you are purchasing goods there.

Useful Resources

TOT
www.tot.co.th
Tel: 1100 (from Thailand)

TT&T
www.ttt.co.th
Tel: 1103 (from Thailand)
Email: icare@ttt.co.th