Laos mobile cell GSM coverage
 

Any recommendations for prepaid GSM SIM for Laos? Coverage desired at least in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and along Highway 13 between them.
Thanks.
Rich

are you just curious? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

More than just curious since I'm travelling there next week.

I expect to pick up a Thai prepaid SIM, but my experience is that local prepaid is usually cheaper.
Rich

Look at the networks listed here:

http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_la.shtml

Thanks. Looks as if coverage isn't that great outside the cities.
Rich

Rent an Iridium 9505. It ain't cheap but at least it'll work.

Thanks for the satellite phone pointer. A cursory search found that satellite phone costs are actually approaching reality for the casual user. Form factor needs additional development, though.
Rich

Oh yeah, does it ever! Globalstar's form factor is better than Iridium's but the coverage isn't as good. We have two iridium units for forays into 'interesting' parts of the world (most recently the African Okavango Delta) and eight Globalstar units for disaster recovery efforts... it's just a pity G* doesn't have coverage in many of the very places one would need a satphone! I do find it amusing that Iraq is a "local" call, though. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

Just to answer my own query, Tango SIMs, widely available, have decent coverage in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and points in between such as Vang Vieng and even in the mountains along Highway 13.

500 Thai Baht for the SIM and not much airtime. 50,000Kip for a top up. Don't expect a lot of talk credit for a call to the US. It seemed about $1.50-$2/minute.

Also, don't expect to be able to use a Thai SIM in central Vientiane, though Thailand is close enough to hit it with a ball of sticky rice thrown across the Mekong from a Vientiane riverside restaurant. Good coverage by the time you get close to the Friendship Bridge, however.
Rich

2011 sees a lot of Lao telecoms improvements
 

Since the last post to this thread some 7 years ago, Laos has caught up a bit and even has 4G in the capital Vientiane.

Most provincial towns have 3G and WiFi. GPRS and EDGE offered in most other areas. http://go2c.me/laocomms has comprehensive phone and internet information for 2011.