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Getting connected in Phuket — internet, SIM and home fibre in 2026

Phuket Community · 4 October 2026

Getting connected in Phuket is one of the first practical problems every new resident solves. It is also one of the areas where the advice in the Facebook groups is reliably out of date, because the Thai telecom market changed significantly in the last two years and most guides covering it have not kept up.

Here is what the market actually looks like in 2026, what to buy, and what catches people out.

The market: two mergers, four brands

The Thai mobile market consolidated hard over 2023 to 2024. AIS acquired 3BB’s fixed-line business. True and DTAC completed their merger to form True Corporation. In practice the market is now two groups, AIS and True, each still operating under their original brand names.

For residents, the practical impact is fewer real competitors on home fibre, more consolidated loyalty programmes, and some pricing that has moved upward as the competition thinned. It is still reasonably competitive by regional standards. It is not the four-way race it was three years ago.

Mobile SIM

For mobile data, the main options are AIS, True Move H, DTAC (which is now a True Corporation sub-brand), and NT (National Telecom, which is niche and not recommended for new arrivals). The practical choice is between AIS and True.

AIS has the broadest 4G and 5G coverage in Phuket, including in areas True Move H still handles poorly. If you spend time in northern Phuket, central markets, or the less-developed parts of the island, AIS is the more reliable signal.

True Move H is competitive in the main urban and tourist corridors and typically runs slightly cheaper promotional rates, undercutting AIS by ฿50 to ฿100 on monthly unlimited packages. If you are based in Bang Tao, Cherng Talay, Phuket Town or Patong, True Move H is fine.

Prices for monthly unlimited plans in 2026:

  • Entry unlimited, throttled to 1 Mbps after data cap: from ฿299/month
  • Standard unlimited, throttled to 5 Mbps after cap: ฿399 to ฿499/month
  • Premium unlimited, no throttling, 5G where available: ฿599 to ฿699/month

Getting a SIM. Walk in to any AIS or True shop at any mall, Big C, or the provider’s standalone stores. Bring your passport. Registration takes ten minutes.

Do not buy the tourist SIM at the airport. It is a worse deal, locks you into a short-term plan, and you will end up buying a proper one within a week anyway. Go to the nearest mall on day one or two.

On the “unlimited” claim. Every Thai operator advertises unlimited data. Every current plan includes fair-use throttling after a data cap. At 5 Mbps throttled, video streaming still works. At 1 Mbps it is borderline. Read the fair-use policy on whatever plan you sign for.

Home fibre

Home fibre is the right solution for anyone working remotely or with more than one device in the household. Hotspotting off a SIM degrades badly under load and is not a substitute for a fixed line if you are on video calls.

AIS Fibre (which now includes the former 3BB fibre routes):

  • 500 Mbps: ฿599/month
  • 1 Gbps: ฿799/month
  • Symmetric upload and download on the 1 Gbps plan
  • Installation: typically ฿500 to ฿1,000 depending on distance from the nearest junction
  • Contract: 12 or 24 months, with monthly options available at a premium

True Online:

  • Comparable pricing to AIS; check both before signing
  • Coverage varies by area, and in some Phuket zones True Online’s infrastructure is thinner than AIS

Coverage first. Before choosing a provider, check whether fibre actually reaches your property. Both AIS and True have coverage checkers on their websites. If neither reaches, you will be on 4G fixed wireless, which works but adds latency and is typically capped at lower speeds than fibre.

The Thai phone number requirement

Several things in Thailand require a Thai mobile number: banking, Line OA accounts, some government registration processes. Landlords also expect to reach you on Line. Get a Thai SIM on arrival. It is not optional if you are staying beyond a week.

Practical setup order

  1. Airport or hotel WiFi for the first 24 hours
  2. Buy a SIM at the nearest AIS or True shop, passport in hand
  3. Set up a Line account with your new Thai number (essential for daily communication in Thailand)
  4. Once you have a fixed address, arrange home fibre with AIS or True Online
  5. If your condo or villa has an existing provider contract, check whether you can add a separate line or whether you are locked into what the building supplies

If you are in a managed building

Many condo developments and serviced villas in Phuket include WiFi in the monthly service fee. Check what is actually provided. “WiFi included” can mean anything from a shared building connection of 200 Mbps (fine for light use) to a dedicated 1 Gbps line into your unit. If you are working remotely and the building’s WiFi is a shared line, run a speed test in your unit during business hours. Contention ratios matter, especially in the larger condo blocks where several hundred units share the same pipe.

Prices correct as of September 2026. Thai telecom promotions change frequently. Verify current rates at the provider’s website or in-store before signing.