A I S /One-2-Call 3G Pre-paid SIM on 2100 MHz 3G: A Review

[lomatopo]

AIS/One-2-Call 3G Pre-paid SIM on 2100 MHz 3G: A review

For a visiting colleague I set up a new AIS/One-2-Call 2100 MHz/3G pre-paid SIM. The purchase, adding of value, subscribing to a mobile data plan was quite easy and straightforward. The performance is impressive.

The SIM was a Freedom 3G Smartphone Micro-SIM (comes as a standard-sized SIM, with a snap-out uSIM), it cost 50 baht, and the activate-by date on the SIM package was June 30, 2014 so good for a year. When activated it seems to have 30 days expiry and comes with some complimentary voice (15 baht) and data (20 MB).

http://www.ais.co.th/3g-one-2-call/default.aspx

http://www.ais.co.th/3g-one-2-call/th/sim.aspx

http://www.ais.co.th/3g-one-2-call/th/sim-detail.aspx?id=21

The default calling rate is 2 baht/first min, 50 satang thereafter. You can change calling promotions after 30 days. They have a Pro Micro plan which offers 99 satang/min any time to all networks.

The SIM is easy to activate, *120 call/send

I added 300 baht at a Telewiz shop - this extended the expiry out an additional 60 days so until Sep. 28, 2013. I’m not sure if the new 2100 MHz subsidiary, AWN, has been integrated into the ATM networks yet? It doesn’t appear as an option here:

http://www.ais.co.th/3g-one-2-call/th/topup.aspx

I then subscribed to an unlimited 7 day/1 GB (fair use speed is 64 Kbps) mobile data plan for 250 baht (~ 264 baht with VAT), using the code *777*74# call/send.

You can review the packages here:

http://www.ais.co.th/3g/th/smartphone-package.aspx?package=Extra-Package#tips

I then configured an APN (Android):

Name: ais internet

APN: internet

MCC: 520

MNC: 03

No other configuration details are required.

As you can see I am on the new AWN 2100 MHz network, 52003.

Performance is pretty good, the hardware is limited to a max. of 7.2 Mbps.

There is an Android app. called AIS Eservice seems pretty good.

Ease of purchase/top-up/adding data: 10/10

Voice quality: 9/10

Performance: 9/10

Customer interface*: 10/10

*registered via my passport number via a ussd code *544*1*nnnnnnnnn#, English language UI and SMSes, Android app.

I know people like to kvetch endlessly about pretty much everything here including mobile infrastructure but I’d have to say this SIM/service seems pretty good.

I’ve been using DTAC/Happy and TrueMove H 3G for ~ 2 years, and have been extremely satisfied. I hope my colleague has a good experience with this SIM/plan, and I’ll follow up with any of his experiences.

Edited June 28, 2013 by lomatopo

[muratremix]

Nice review. For gods sake, buy a new phone

New chinese mtk6589 phones are both cheap and fast. You may also like to play around with baseband options, lotf of them in mtk engineer mode menu.

They support hspa plus (14.4 or 21 mbit depending on antenna design)

[sunshine51]

Lomatopo...

I'm sure your mate will be happy with what you have set up for him/her. I'm with AIS on a subscription & have

been for over 10 years and I'm satisfied. 1-2-Call has always worked well when my friends come to visit

and they've never had any complaints. I reckon all service providers here are about the same anyway.

Nice write up about this too...

[misterphil]

Where are you? All depends on your location with AIS. Lived in Pattaya and Chiang Mai and the service was good, moved to Ban Chang Rayong and upgraded to the new 3G service and could not get any signal in the house. The wife called them up and a few days later our phones went back to the old network. Still bad signal in the house though.

[woodyleonhard]

A friend of mine in Phuket has the 2.1 GHz AIS service, too, and he says it's pretty good.

Any chance you can run an international speed test at, say, testmy.net, and post the results?

[SeaVisionBurma]

Great review, thanks for posting.

Just wondering if there is a link showing which locations AIS/12Call now have 3G working in?

I'm in Phuket Town, not sure if they have it there already or not.

[Rorri]

dam_n lucky so n' so, you pay for 3G and get 3G, here in Mukdahan have to pay for 3G...but only get Edge, there is NO AIS 3G and NO Edge package, or so I'm told.

Edited June 29, 2013 by Rorri

[lomatopo]

You can check/review AIS 2100 MHz 3G (network: 52003) here:

http://www.ais.co.th/3g/th/coverage-checker.aspx#tips

Note that AIS have admitted to some issues re: the rollout of this new service:

"Somchai Lertsutiwong, AIS's chief marketing officer, acknowledged that the current lower-than-advertised mobile broadband service is due to the complicated transition period of the 3G network roll-out.

AIS now has 5,000 3G base stations on the 2100-megahertz frequency, covering 31 major provinces, with the figure rising to 6,000 covering 67 provinces next month. "

My location is Wireless Road, Bangkok.

I will get this SIM back when my colleague leaves next week.

I installed the SIM in my Google Nexus 4 - a more modern phone than the one I used initially for testing (an SGS1), and the speedtest results are below. By far the best result I’ve seen across DTAC, TrueMove H and AIS.

AIS/One-2-Call offer EDGE+ accounts, mostly time-based. Obviously if you buy a volume-based plan you would use it up faster with 3G, so you are really paying for volume rather than speed.

I'll follow-up with my colleague's experiences, and additional thoughts/comments, including conjecture on why so many people are having issues with this new AIS 2100 MHz 3G service.

[Traveling Sailor]

Wonderful review. Would you mind telling me what phone is being used? I am considering a Nokia 720. Also, do you know anything about the quality of service on Koh Samui? I know that where I am now (Thung Song, Nakhon si Thammarat) it is pretty poor.

Thanks

[lomatopo]

I've been testing with two different phones:

1.) A Samsung (AT&T) Captivate, which is an SGS1 variant, ~ 3+ years old, but running Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39E)/custom ROM: SlimBean. This hardware is limited to a max. of 7.2 Mbps.

2.) A stock (rooted) Google Nexus 4, running 4.2.2 (JDQ39).

My colleague has an SGS4 (I9505), stock, un-rooted, which I think is also running 4.2.2/JDQ39.

I am not at all familiar with mobile services on Koh Samui, sorry.

I always recommend talking with neighbors, to see what they are using, and to experiment with SIMs, which cost ~ 50 baht, and most providers have a 49 baht single day plan, which makes it easy and inexpensive to experiment.

Edited June 29, 2013 by lomatopo

[yankee99]

Am I reading correct 7 day for 264 baht? that's $36 a monthdo they have a better monthly rate

[lomatopo]

Am I reading correct 7 day for 264 baht? that's $36 a monthdo they have a better monthly rate

The plan my colleague requested for his six day stay is a single, one-time, non-recurring mobile data package which provides unlimited internet usage with a 1 GB fair-use cap and a 64 Kbps fair-use speed limit over seven (7) days. I provided a link, in my OP, to the other packages which are available. One of which is a monthly, recurring 1 GB (FuP = 64 Kbps) for 399 baht.

Here is that link again: http://www.ais.co.th/3g/th/smartphone-package.aspx?package=Extra-Package#tips

[yankee99]

^^^^thanks i didnt click all the links

[sunshine51]

Where are you? All depends on your location with AIS. Lived in Pattaya and Chiang Mai and the service was good, moved to Ban Chang Rayong and upgraded to the new 3G service and could not get any signal in the house. The wife called them up and a few days later our phones went back to the old network. Still bad signal in the house though.

I'm in Ranong...here it reverts to EDGE+...however I travel immensely and when in a 2.1GHz area it locks right

into it and I have no probs. SGS3 rooted, stock 4.2.2 ROM TiTBu & Root Explorer, minus all the factory Samsung

bloatware. "I root my own phones."

[Issangeorge]

Great review and step by step instructions on setting it up. I bought a Truemove-H sim, because at the present time it is the only 3G in my area. The problem is I can't figure out how to set it up. Can anyone out there give me the same sort of step by step directions, thanks.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ 6 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[lomatopo]

Where are you? All depends on your location with AIS. Lived in Pattaya and Chiang Mai and the service was good, moved to Ban Chang Rayong and upgraded to the new 3G service and could not get any signal in the house. The wife called them up and a few days later our phones went back to the old network. Still bad signal in the house though.

I'm in Ranong...here it reverts to EDGE+...however I travel immensely and when in a 2.1GHz area it locks right

into it and I have no probs. SGS3 rooted,

Can you share any details? Pre-paid or post-paid? What APNs are you using? Do you roam onto AIS/One-2-Call's legacy 900 MHz network for voice, text and 2G data? Have you enabled data roaming?

Great review and step by step instructions on setting it up. I bought a Truemove-H sim, because at the present time it is the only 3G in my area. The problem is I can't figure out how to set it up. Can anyone out there give me the same sort of step by step directions, thanks.

Can you share any details? Make and model of phone? Have you subscribed to a mobile data plan? Assuming you've subscribed to a data plan all you really need to do is configure an APN. The ANdroid APN settings for True can be a bit tricky. These work for me on TrueMove-H pre-paid:

(note the intentional mis-spelling of the username as "ture" that works for my SIM, maybe also try "true" if you're having problems, and the odd APN Type: default,supl)

Re-start the phone.

Edited June 30, 2013 by lomatopo

[sunshine51]

Where are you? All depends on your location with AIS. Lived in Pattaya and Chiang Mai and the service was good, moved to Ban Chang Rayong and upgraded to the new 3G service and could not get any signal in the house. The wife called them up and a few days later our phones went back to the old network. Still bad signal in the house though.

I'm in Ranong...here it reverts to EDGE+...however I travel immensely and when in a 2.1GHz area it locks right

into it and I have no probs. SGS3 rooted,

Can you share any details? Pre-paid or post-paid? What APNs are you using? Do you roam onto AIS/One-2-Call's legacy 900 MHz network for voice, text and 2G data? Have you enabled data roaming?

Great review and step by step instructions on setting it up. I bought a Truemove-H sim, because at the present time it is the only 3G in my area. The problem is I can't figure out how to set it up. Can anyone out there give me the same sort of step by step directions, thanks.

Can you share any details? Make and model of phone? Have you subscribed to a mobile data plan? Assuming you've subscribed to a data plan all you really need to do is configure an APN. The ANdroid APN settings for True can be a bit tricky. These work for me on TrueMove-H pre-paid:

(note the intentional mis-spelling of the username as "ture" that works for my SIM, maybe also try "true" if you're having problems, and the odd APN Type: default,supl)

Re-start the phone.

Please refer to post #14 of this thread...I use whatever AIS gave me and can't be bothered with fixing secondary APN's etc. BTW...I also have & use a sat-phone...Iridium Extreme...works everywhere

on this planet.

Edited June 30, 2013 by sunshine51

[Harper99]

very nice review, ;D

[lomatopo]

Another speed test on AIS 2100 MHz 3G, first time I've cracked 20 Mbps here...

[yankee99]

Another speed test on AIS 2100 MHz 3G, first time I've cracked 20 Mbps here...

How much of your alloted bandwidth does a speedtest use?

[lomatopo]

Another speed test on AIS 2100 MHz 3G, first time I've cracked 20 Mbps here...

How much of your alloted bandwidth does a speedtest use?

A SWAG would be 0.5% (one half of one percent). This is based on 1 GB, which is not hard-capped.

[SooKee]

I have the AIS E-Service ap on my iPhone but can only get the UI in Thai though? Have ploughed through dozens of their site pages (stuff rarely seems to be where you'd expect it) and can't find anything about switching this ap to English, if you can that is?

[lomatopo]

^ Not sure. I have English on the Android version. Maybe check with some iPeople?

[SooKee]

OK thanks, might do that. Was it a downloaded ap that your'e using or is it something thats on board the SIM?

[lomatopo]

Was it a downloaded ap that your'e using or is it something thats on board the SIM?

Android app., available from the Play Store. I assume you got your iVersion from the iTunes store?

Obviously you can still use the web-based eServices platform, or the standard USSD codes, for some/most account management.

[ultimate weapon]

You can check/review AIS 2100 MHz 3G (network: 52003) here:

http://www.ais.co.th/3g/th/coverage-checker.aspx#tips

Note that AIS have admitted to some issues re: the rollout of this new service:

"Somchai Lertsutiwong, AIS's chief marketing officer, acknowledged that the current lower-than-advertised mobile broadband service is due to the complicated transition period of the 3G network roll-out.

AIS now has 5,000 3G base stations on the 2100-megahertz frequency, covering 31 major provinces, with the figure rising to 6,000 covering 67 provinces next month. "

My location is Wireless Road, Bangkok.

I will get this SIM back when my colleague leaves next week.

I installed the SIM in my Google Nexus 4 - a more modern phone than the one I used initially for testing (an SGS1), and the speedtest results are below. By far the best result Ive seen across DTAC, TrueMove H and AIS.

AIS/One-2-Call offer EDGE+ accounts, mostly time-based. Obviously if you buy a volume-based plan you would use it up faster with 3G, so you are really paying for volume rather than speed.

I'll follow-up with my colleague's experiences, and additional thoughts/comments, including conjecture on why so many people are having issues with this new AIS 2100 MHz 3G service.

On the speed test that is 17mbps how is that possible when 3G+ only reaches 7.2 max?

[lomatopo]

HSDPA +, which is what AIS/2100 has deployed, has a theoretical maximum speed of 42.2 Mbps.

[ultimate weapon]

HSDPA +, which is what AIS/2100 has deployed, has a theoretical maximum speed of 42.2 Mbps.

Wow! I didn't know thailand had such fast speeds. In singapore we are already using 4G but the theoretical max speed should be 100Mbps but i am not sure anwyay here is my 4G speed. Lord our hspa speeds are only around 7.2 i don't think anyone here those 17mbps speeds if they did there wouldn't be a need to take up 4G and mind you 4G can be slow too.

[OMGImInPattaya]

dam_n lucky so n' so, you pay for 3G and get 3G, here in Mukdahan have to pay for 3G...but only get Edge, there is NO AIS 3G and NO Edge package, or so I'm told.

Mukdahan...555555

[ultimate weapon]

dam_n lucky so n' so, you pay for 3G and get 3G, here in Mukdahan have to pay for 3G...but only get Edge, there is NO AIS 3G and NO Edge package, or so I'm told.

Mukdahan...555555

I actually know of someone that comes from that province didn't know where it is and used the old wiki and lo and behold it's bordering laos or cambodia i think.