Wifi, Internet and Cellular Speeds on Koh Tao
Internet speeds on Koh Tao are generally very fast - as of August, 2025 the main service is from a underwater fiber line to Koh Phangan with a backup Microwave relay to Koh Phangan. Speeds get up to 700mbps down, 450ish up. These will vary depending on the service package, router/modem where you are at, how close you are to the Access Point or router etc.
Getting an AIS SIM with a large data pool or unlimited data is a good backup plan for weak areas or if there is a power outage. You can purchase AIS SIMs on the island at:
- Technomania store on the down road,
- Cell Store Sairee by Factory Cafe in Sairee
- Order from Lazada for about 250-400 a month on promotion (depending on promotions etc).
Wifi speeds at good Cafes and Restaurants are usually 100-400mbps up/down
Speed & Connection Testing Tools
- A Better Speed Test App : ORB: https://orb.net
- Another Better Speeed Test Tool: this shows you more details like: https://speed.cloudflare.com
- Handy site for seeing your external IP, DNS resolution etc: https://www.dnscheck.tools
- Video/Audio Pre-Call Test site: https://tokbox.com/developer/tools/precall
Tips and tricks for diagnosing internet speed or connections issues:
- Set your DNS: Generally use Cloudflare DNS - a lot of countries try to route DNS through their own servers for whatever reason and some of them suck badly (been seeing this in Vietnam)
- Cloudflare DNS App (very easy): https://one.one.one.one (install, then set 1.1.1.1, try first without Warp)
- Cloudflare DNS Manual setup option or to setup on routers etc: https://developers.cloudflare.com/1.1.1.1/setup/
- DNS Part 2: Check your devices DNS entries, if you see a bunch of weird crap there, and you are not sure it's needed - copy them to a doc and save them, then delete them, if things break you can always re-add them from your list you saved
- Test with Cloudflare Warp service on/off - sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't - speed or connection reliability wise (use the Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 app for this)
- Apple users: check if you have iCloud Private Relay turned on - if so try turning it off. Sometimes the relay times are really long to their servers
- Travel Router: Carry some type of quality Wi-fi router/extender - like a GL-iNet Beryl AX - you can use these to extend weak networks in hotels/apartments, or replace/create a wifi network from an old crappy router. I probably end up using mine about 50% of the time in hotels, apartments, airbnb's etc.
- Short VPN Hop: If you are in a country with some kind of "country firewall/filtering" try using a VPN to connect to a nearby country that has great infistructure. Just to try and tunnel to a better connection point. IE from Laos - try to tunnel to Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong etc
TaoHub Coworking space in Mae Haad is reliable and has a 600/400 fiber connection.

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