Can I use a Canadian cell phone in Thailand?
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at
5:27 am
I’m in Canada right now and will be going to Bangkok soon. I have a Samsung cell phone and was wondering if I can bring it and use it in Thailand like I do here. I know that I have to get a new Thai SIM card. But do they have the same cell phone system (e.g. GSM, CDMA, etc.)? I think Canada uses the GSM system – what about Thailand?
Filed under: Business Phone Systems
It seems that you have a pretty good chance that your phone will work in Thailand based on the frequencies they use, and the frequencies Canada uses. Thailand uses 1900 and 900 frequencies whereas Canada uses mainly 850 and 1900 (some 2100) depending on what carrier you have. Check the link below to see what your carrier uses. Remember that you’re going to be roaming in another country, so your phone calls will cost you an arm an a leg, so I recommend you use it sparingly if at all.
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_ca.shtml
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_th.shtml
you can do anything you put your mind to
I didn’t know any cell phones were made in canada
You should call you the company that gives your network and they will fix it up for you. but im surre it will workk you can call your network company to make sure thou
i like canadain bacon
GSM
Depends on which band your phone uses.
You can maybe sim -unlock the phone and it,perhaps will still not work.
It should only really cost around 400-500 bht for a regular Samsung ,so its not great loss if things dont work out.
Sometimes phones don’t work in Thailand that have been bought in America,but Canada i`m unsure of.Uk mobiles always seem to work no problem.
Otherwise just buy a cheapy handset from Tescos or something.Prices start around the 1000bht mark.
You can find out about call costs and different packages from all the providers here:
http://www.thailandpinboard.com/#/thailand-mobile-phones/4533504191
Thailand uses mostly GSM network phones, there is one CDMA service provider (Hutch), but most CDMA phones from N. America will not work on their network. If you have a GSM quad-band phone, you’ll have no problem using the phone in Thailand with a Thai sim card, some tri-band phones will also work. The two largest mobile service providers here use a 900MHz network (1 2 Call/AIS) and a 1800MHz network (Happy/Dtac), if your GSM phone supports those frequencies, you’re good to go as long as your phone is unlocked. If your phone is locked, you can have it unlocked here in Thailand for around 300 Baht at places like the MBK Mall. You can buy sim cards for as low as 50 Baht and top up cards are available everywhere including all 7/11′s.