Getting a Phone Line
If you do not already have a phone line installed then getting one can be a complicated process. For this reason it makes life much easier if your place of residence has a pre-existing phone line.

To be eligible for a phone line, if you are a Thai National you will need the registered documents for the house. If you are a foreigner, you will need your passport and either a work permit or company registration documents.

The two providers of fixed line services in Phuket are TT&T and TOT. The only real consideration when choosing between the two is availability. There can sometimes be a long waiting list to get a line installed.

The line rental charge is normally around 100 baht a month and local calls are charged at 3 baht a minute. The bill can be paid at 7-Eleven stores provided you pay before the due date. You should be aware that, unless you are making a local call, it will not necessarily be cheaper than using a mobile phone.

Internet Access
Guide to the different possibilities for using the internet in Phuket.

• Internet Cafés
  

The most straightforward means of accessing the internet is through one of the many internet cafés on the island. Prices generally vary from 30 to 60 baht per hour.

For most people it will be more convenient to have round the clock access to the internet at home and for this there a variety of alternatives on offer.

• Wireless

If you can’t get a phone line or if you want to be able to take your Internet connection with you, wireless broadband is the way to go.

Free wireless internet is available at many locations around the island, using plain old-fashioned and very effective Wi-Fi connections. Most modern laptops have Wi-Fi built-in and many people find taking their laptop to a Wi-Fi hotspot is much easier and cheaper than setting up their own wireless connection.

These are the different kinds of wireless connections most commonly used in Phuket:

GPRS uses old mobile phone internet access technology and runs at about 40 - 50Kbps, but it works everywhere. To use GPRS, you have to have a mobile phone that supports GPRS (most modern ones do), a cable or Bluetooth adapter that connects your mobile phone to your computer (one probably came with the phone) and an account with the phone company that includes GPRS. All the main mobile phone operators provide GPRS as an additional package to your monthly subscription.

There are a variety of alternative wireless options which involve buying cards for your computer rather than using your mobile phone.

The EDGE service is identical to GPRS, except it uses a marginally faster and more expensive card instead of your current mobile phone. EDGE works everywhere where your mobile phone works and you can buy EDGE cards at most computer outlets. The card costs upwards of 8,000 baht. EDGE download speeds rarely go over 120Kbps.

An alternative is EVDO, also known as the “Air Card”. It is available only from CAT, and runs at about 400 - 600 Kbps, although signal strength varies. If you go to one of the three CAT offices (Phuket Town on Phang Nga Road or in Patong on the “Third Road” just after the pavement ends near Simon Cabaret) and take your laptop, they’ll set it all up. The CCU-680 card costs 10,900 baht plus about 800 baht per month.

• Dial Up

For dial up you will need to have a phone line installed. You can then purchase a dial up kit from either a computer shop or a convenience store. Dial-up kits will usually either allow you a certain number of hours online, or an unlimited number of hours within a specified timeframe, such as two weeks or one month. Prices vary but dial up typically costs around 400 baht for 40 hours.

• ADSL

There are currently three companies that provide ADSL services in Phuket: CAT, TOT and TT&T. CAT’s service is called HiNet and prices start from 490 baht per month. CAT does not use existing telephone lines so to get CAT’s ADSL you will need to get them to run a new line to your house. The line is just like a telephone line, except that it only serves ADSL. Unfortunately this service is currently only available in certain areas in Phuket.

TT&T and TOT do provide telephone services in Phuket so if you already have a telephone number, it maybe possible just to add ADSL to your monthly bill.

Still confused? Most of the information for this article came from computer expert Woody Leonhard who hosts a free weekly computer clinic for those struggling to get to grips with computers or the internet. The clinic takes place on Sundays from 10am to 12pm, at various Sandwich Shops. For more information visit: www. khunwoody.com.

Useful numbers

• TT&T Koh Keaw Branch - +66 (0)76 272800-14
  Patong Branch - +66 (0)76 296009-10
• TOT Chalong Branch - +66 (0)76 367200,
  +66 (0)76 367238,
  Patong Branch - +66 (0)76 340199
• CAT Phuket Town - Centre Branch
  +66 (0)76 216861, +66 (0)76 216879
  Patong Branch +66 (0)76 341102-3