TELEPHONE TIPS
Mobile Phones: Various providers have offices in
Pattaya: D-tac office in Big C South Pattaya,
Carrefour supermarket and Tesco Lotus. -- AIS
(1-2-call) Telewiz in IT City (TukCom) & Carrefour
supermarket. -- Orange telephone, internet and cable
tv services are now owned by True, and all business
is two floors up in Royal Garden Plaza.
Call from Overseas to a mobile number in Thailand:
Since 2006, the domestic access code of Thailand
mobile numbering has changed from 0 to 08. Overseas
calls to Thailand mobile numbers have to be dialled
as follows:
Example of OLD dialling format + 66 1234 5678
Example of NEW dialling format + 66 8 1234 5678
The mark "+" above stands for the international
access code needed in the country you are calling
FROM,
e.g. 001 (Singapore), 0011 (Australia), 011 (USA),
00 (UK).
New dialling format to mobile numbers in Thailand
are made without the initial "0". Examples are shown
here:
If you wish to call a Thailand mobile number 08 1234
5678, please dial, e.g.:-
Call from Singapore: 001 66 8 1234 5678
Call from Australia: 0011 66 8 1264 5678
Call from USA: 011 66 8 1264 5678
Call from UK: 00 66 8 1264 5678
Dialling with old format, you will get an
announcement "To call to Thailand mobile, please add
8 after country code 66. Try again please."
For access to Thai fixed line, dialling method has
NOT changed.
General Information and Telephone Numbering Plan of
Thailand.
1. Local Time: UTC (GMT) + 7 hours
2. Thailand Country Code: 66
3. National Significant Number
Fixed line: 8 digits
Mobile phone: 9 digits
4. Dialing Format
Domestic Call
- Fixed: 0 + area code + subscriber number, e.g. 0
2123 4567
- Mobile: 08 + subscriber number, e.g. 08 1234 5678
International Call
- Fixed : 66 + area code + subscriber number, e.g.
66 2123 4567
- Mobile : 66 + 8 + subscriber number, e.g. 66 8
1234 5678
5. Numbering Format
5.1. Fixed Line:
5.1.1. Bangkok Metropolitan: 2xxx xxxx (where x is
0, 1, 2, .... 9)
5.1.2. Provincial Area: Abxx xxxx (where Ab is 32,
34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 42, 43, 44, 45, 53, 54, 55,
56, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
5.2. Mobile : 8 xxxx xxxx
MOBILE PHONES - Domestic - since 2006, 10 digit
dialling exists for all Thailand mobile phone
numbers. Your Thai mobile phone automatically
acquired the ability to respond to your new 10-digit
number. However, your internal 'phone-book memory'
did not change. It is necessary for you to add the
new 'digit' to all your saved/stored mobile numbers.
The change is the addition of a digit - an 8. Thus
the changes are: an OLD number 01 2345678, has
become 081 2345678, and 09 2345678 became 089
2345678. If you are called from outside Thailand you
need to inform your contacts that they need to add
this new 8 to their numbers, e.g. Old number 66 1
2345678, has become 66 81 2345678, and 66 9 2345678
became 66 89 2345678. Please note: landline (house
phone) numbers have NOT changed.
Do not forget to change your 'address/phone book'
numbers to allow correct 'auto-dialling'.
Your system provider can give more information.
How do you distinguish between mobile phone numbers
and house phone numbers, now that there are so many
mobile prefixes? For a full list of all Mobile Phone
prefixes go to:
http://www.thailand-uk.com/phones/10digitmobile.php
D-tac have a very cheap promotion that costs less
than 20 baht per hr, anywhere in Thailand to another
D-tac number (0.25baht per min + 2 baht for the
first min) (2 baht per minute to non-D-tac numbers).
Another promotion costs .5 baht per minute to all
phones. Another promotion allows 365 days use for
any amount of 'top-up'. D-tac has a good website -
see below.
House Phones: ToT current charges for a new
installation are 3700 baht + a Deposit against
non-payment of Bills. (+ 100 baht line rental per
month)
Pattaya telephone numbers starting 0382xxxxx or
0384xxxxx are TOT lines. Those starting 0383xxxxx or
0387xxxxx are TT&T lines.
Save money on Domestic calls in Thailand, from a
'fixed-line' (house phone), using either ToT or TT&T
lines.
When dialling within Thailand, but OUTSIDE your own
'local' area, dial 1234 first, then the area code
and number you are calling, to ANY phone - ANYWHERE
IN THAILAND (both fixed line AND mobile), you will
get a substantial discount (since 13 October 2000).
The discount varies slightly with the carrier (ToT
or TT&T). I live in Pattaya, I've used this system
for years. A call to my wife's 'home' village, to a
mobile phone, is normally 12 baht/min (ToT). Using
this '1234' system the cost is reduced to 2 baht/min
every time, 24hrs a day (random promotions sometimes
offer 1.5 baht/min). The SAME pre-dial code is used
for both ToT & TT&T lines. This works FROM any
fixed-line phone TO both fixed and mobile.
[Currently my mobile phone promotion (D-tac) is even
cheaper than this! - see above]
Example of dial sequence: 1234-053-43xxxx (for
Chiang Mai area number)
Many people find a problem when they first acquire
Internet access in their home. The phone number used
to connect to your choice of ISP (Internet Service
Provider) may NOT be a 'local call'. A 'local call'
will cost you only 3 baht to make the call, no
matter how long you are on line. An 'out of local
area call' will be charged per/minute. Pattaya area
phone code is 038, as is the whole of Chon Buri,
Rayong, & Chachoengsao. To call Chachoengsao would
NOT be a 'local call', you would be charged
per/minute. Make sure the number you call is local.
0382xxxxx, 0383xxxxx, 0384xxxxx, 0387xxxxx are
'local numbers' for Pattaya area.
If you have to call outside your area use the '1234
system' (listed above). At least it will be cheaper
than a direct call.
The only time you can use a 'national' number and
get a local charge is if the complete number is a 4
digit number (e.g. 1222, similar to the 0800
system). For example ToT has a national Internet
access number 1288. You can use these numbers from
anywhere in Thailand for a 'local' charge.
Domestic - Thailand Mobile Discount
D-Tac. 25 Satang/min (.25 baht) after the first
minute (2 baht or 5 baht for the first minute,
depending on the promotion) to other D-tac numbers.
If you have D-Tac, or Dprompt, or Happy sim, dial
*1003 and follow the instructions, or go to one of
the D-Tac outlets in the big supermarkets. I did,
they did it for me. It's also handy to top-up your
prepaid time with this carrier from an ATM, or via
internet-banking. Again a promotion exists - 900
baht of time for 800 baht cost. It's getting better!
Dtac also has a dedicated website to view details of
your own personal number. e.g. account balance,
promotion type, changing promotion, detailed call
statement. You are asked for a username & password,
and gain access to your own account details. Very
useful!
To set-up Dtac's happy web interface for extra
services - see URL:
http://sonic2.dtac.co.th:8005/bp3/bin/DpromptIndex?lang=E
You may wish to change your Network Supplier used
with your mobile-phone (different SIM), but find
that a SIM from a different Network will be blocked
due to the phone being 'locked' to one network. This
can be overcome by Unlocking your phone. Pattaya
prices for this service are around 300 baht from a
phone shop, or from an Internet company for slightly
cheaper. Unlocking involves keying a specific code
into your phone - every phone is a different code.
This code relates to your IMEI number (unique to
each phone), the Network to which it is locked and
the make & model of the phone. I recently obtained
my unlock code from a UK company via the Internet
for a payment of £2.99 - it worked! I can now choose
a Network and promotion. (Note: D-tac company name
is actually - Total Access Worldphone.
One more tip. SMS (this is the text messaging
service, available on most mobile phones) charges
are around 5 baht per message (a fixed charge,
depending on provider) to anywhere in the world.
D-Prompt Baby Sim has now reduced this charge to 3
baht per message. D-Tac/Happy charge 5 baht per
message international, and 3 baht domestic.
The internet is still the cheapest world-wide
telephone service (Skype, for example), but it
requires computer equipment. However, if you are one
of those lucky ones on a good fast connection (or
better still Broadband) you could try 'DialPad'
(http://www.dialpad.com), they have 3 monthly plans
and 2 prepaid. Particularly good for US access (from
member Dave - thanks!)
Most Thai mobiles these days will call
International, including pre-paid card phones.
CALLING INTERNATIONAL FROM THAILAND
There are now two 'official' companies offering
International Telephone Services here in Thailand.
CAT - offers 'International' connections via the
prefix 001 & 009 (different prices), and is
available for almost all phones (both fixed line &
mobile).
ToT - offers 'International' connections via the
prefix 007 & 008 (different prices), and is
available for all phones.
001. Is the original International Access code for
use FROM Thailand. All phones will connect if prefix
001 is used. The quality is excellent, BUT this is
the most expensive method. In most cases it will NOT
be necessary to use 001 - try some others first.
This is current December 2007:
Pressing + or 001 will get you through to the high
quality service offered by CAT. The sound quality is
clear, making it suitable for business calls to over
230 countries across the world. The minimum call
duration is one minute, and any remaining part
minute is billed in six-second blocks. For instance,
a call to the USA will cost Bt9 per minute and Bt0.9
for each additional six-second block.
Pressing 007 will get you through to the high
quality service offered by TOT. The sound quality is
clear, making it suitable for business calls to over
210 countries across the world. The minimum call
duration is 1 minute, and remaining periods of less
than 30 seconds duration are billed per half minute.
Remaining part-minutes in excess of 30 seconds are
rounded up to one minute. Call charge is currently 9
baht/min.
Pressing 008 will get you through to the economy
service offered by TOT, which uses voice over
internet protocol (VoIP) to help you save money on
international calls to over 150 countries across the
world. The minimum call duration is 1 minute, and
remaining time is billed per six-second block. For
instance, a call to the USA is charged at Bt5 per
minute, with each remaining six-second block charged
at 50 satang. (January 2008 - from Thai mobile to UK
landline was 7.5 baht/min.)
Pressing 009 or eFONE will get you through to the
economy service offered by CAT, which uses Voice
over internet protocol (VoIP) to help you save money
on international calls to over 150 countries across
the world. The minimum call duration is 1 minute,
and remaining time is billed per six-second block.
For instance, a call to the USA is charged at Bt5
per minute, with each remaining six-second block
charged at 50 satang.
A 'Phone Net' card obtainable from CAT (and many
small mini-marts) cost 300 or 500 baht. These allow
International calls to various destinations for as
low as 4 baht-min (when you use the 009 prefix).
Prices vary for different destinations. A survey at
our Sunday meeting found 4 people who used it &
loved it, and 1 had no success at all. Cards are
valid for 1-year from initial use. Prices can be
found in English at: http://web1.cattelecom.co.th/
(Thanks Jay)
An addition to 'cheap' international access FROM
Thailand is DeeDial. This is both a 'direct call'
system (cheap), and a call-back' system (cheaper).
You have to pre-charge your account (no expiry
date), then call using one of the systems above.
Examples: from a Thai landline - to a UK landline,
using 'callback', is 1.5 baht/min. From a Thai
mobile - to a UK landline, using callback, is 7
baht/min. Account is very easy to set up. If you use
the 'call direct' method you have to add the Thai
charges for your phone use. (http://www.deedial.com)
David in Udon wrote: When I travel to USA, I take
along the US 800- tollfree number printed on CAT's
Phone Net enclosure, along with the card's code.
That way, I pay only 6 baht/min with instant access
to the familiar CAT-girl's voice menu. Ideal for
US-based farang wishing to call their 'tee-rak':
have your honey buy a CAT card locally, then email
the code to you. (good one David, thanks. BM)
Many questions come up relating to International
Telephone Calls to Thailand. The following is a very
basic explanation:
Four sets of numbers are required to successfully
call Internationally - FROM anywhere.
1. The International Exchange access number in the
country you are calling FROM.
2. The country ID-code number you are calling TO.
3. The 'area-code' in the country you are calling
TO.
4. The actual subscriber phone number in the country
you are calling TO.
1. To access the International Exchange if you are
in USA: 011
1. To access the International Exchange if you are
in UK: 00
1. To access the International Exchange if you are
in Thailand: 001, 009, 008, 007 (different rates -
see above).
2. The Country ID-code for Thailand is: 66 (USA is:
1, UK is: 44, Australia is: 61)
3. The 'area-code' for Pattaya is: 38 (Bangkok is:
2, Chiang Mai is: 53)
3. The 'area-code' for all mobiles now starts with
an 8 since the change of all mobile numbers (see
above)
4. Here's where the problem usually occurs!
Thai numbers are listed as (e.g) 038xxxxxx or
02xxxxxxx for fixed line phone (always 9 digits) or
maybe 08xxxxxxxx for a mobile (always 10 digits),
but this only applies when dialling from WITHIN
Thailand. When calling International TO Thailand the
first '0' is always omitted (leaving 8 or 9 digits).
So when calling a Thai house-phone from UK, the full
dial could be 00 66 38xxxxxx (12 digits). When
calling a Thai mobile from UK, the full dial could
be 00 66 87xxxxxxx (13 digits).
00 is the international access code within UK.
66 is Thailand's international ID code.
38xxxxxx - the actual house-phone number of the
subscriber in Thailand. 87xxxxxxx - the actual
mobile-phone number of the subscriber in Thailand.
And a 'house-phone' in Pattaya from USA would be 011
66 38xxxxxx (13 digits).
011 is the international access code within USA.
66 is Thailand's international ID code.
38xxxxxx - the actual fixed-line telephone number of
the subscriber in Thailand.
As you can see, how many digits you dial depends on
WHERE you are calling FROM, and where you are
calling TO.
CALLING TO THAILAND FROM YOUR HOME COUNTRY
If you are calling from the UK there are a number of
'cheaper-rate' companies to choose from. In each
case you are required to dial a UK number BEFORE
dialling international. (The access numbers change
periodically, so keep checking the websites).
Look here for an index of cheap phone call operators
in UK (many at 1p per min): http://niftylist.co.uk/calls/
EXAMPLE. If calling a Thai 'House-phone' or 'mobile'
from the UK, you would dial the UK phone number
first - pause briefly (maybe hearing a short
announcement telling you the cost per minute) - then
ALL of the 'normal international' number (mentioned
above)
e.g. (everything you need to dial) 08444621919 -
wait for announcement, then 006638xxxxxx - that's it
for a house-phone! (00668xxxxxxxx for a
mobile-phone)
(Beware, non BT line providers may charge extra for
this service)
UK mobiles can call Thailand using the above
systems. To find out the cost of calling from a UK
mobile, or a non BT landline, you should confirm the
rates directly with your service provider as these
may vary. Here is a short list of the information
access numbers to a few popular UK mobile providers:
Orange - (07973 100 150)
Vodafone - (07836 191 191)
mmO2 - (08705 214 000)
One 2 One / T-Mobile - (08454 125000)
Virgin - (0845 6000 789)
NTL - (0800 052 2000)
Telewest - (0845 142 00 00)
BT - (0800 800 150)
One.Tel - (0800 957 0700).
Check the rates before you call. They do vary a lot,
but some are VERY cheap!
A reader from Belgium uses www.thaitel.com - Always
very good access and good sound quality. To verify
the credit card you have to give your telephone
number and they call you to ask for the 3 digit
control number from your credit card. This procedure
happens only once during the opening of your
account. Good now for 15 months. (Thanks to Guido &
Phai January 2006)
A reader sent this recommendation for 'reduced cost'
calls to Thailand (and to many other destinations).
Visit http://www.sawasdeetalk.com/ for further
information. (Thanks Nick)
To call Thailand from Australia - March 2006 - I've
been using a prepaid calling card called "Click"
that can be purchased in Australia at many tobacco
shops, convenience stores, some petrol stations. Not
every shop would have it, ask around. This card may
not be the cheapest, according to the advertised
rate, but this was the best deal I could find - in
total cost and experience. After you bought the card
(in 10, 20, 50 dollar denominations) you can
recharge it by calling customer service 1300 300 356
and paying any amount you want by credit card.
Current rate is 5 cents a minute (Bangkok & Chiang
Mai) and 12.5 cents a minute rest of Thailand &
mobile. Website: (www.c2comms.net) - Thank you
Andrei.
Please tell us of cheap-rate access to Thailand from
other countries, especially USA & Australia (email
info@pattayaexpatsclub.com). Expats helping Expats!
ToT service center - dial 1100 (Thai language)
ToT faults - dial 1177 followed by (for Pattaya)
0382xx or 0384xx (where 2xx or 4xx is the first 3
digits of your own phone number). This should take
you direct to the engineering depot for your
location.
http://www.cattelecom.com
CAT Contact Center 1322 (24/7)
http://www.totweb.net/eng/default.aspx
http://www.tot.co.th
http://www.happy.co.th/en/index2.php
http://www.ttt.co.th/home/home.php
http://www.dtac.co.th/en/default.aspx
http://www.one-2-call.com/One2Call/otc/e/index.jsp
(http://www.deedial.com) DeeDial (International
calling from Thailand)
If you're still having problems, email -
(info@pattayaexpatsclub.com) or (webhits2000@yahoo.com)
If you discover errors in the above, please send
corrections to - (info@pattayaexpatsclub.com) or
(webhits2000@yahoo.com)
