4 Best Mobile Operators in Laos

This type of SIM card sounds new to many of you, but it is the most updated and convenient way of communicating for travelers abroad these days. Prepaid Laos tourist eSIM is 100% online and can help you stay connected in Laos almost wherever and whenever you are in Laos. It has the same function as a traditional tourist sim card but you do not need to swap a new sim card. 

Oftentimes, tourists will choose data-only tourist eSIM for their trip to save money while still maintaining contact with others via apps.

It is recommended to compare the plans and rates offered by different mobile network providers to find the best option for your needs.

Where to buy: buy at online stores of eSIM providers like Laos-esim.com, Airalo, Holafly, etc.

Requirement: an unlocked and eSIM-compatible device

Why eSIM for Your Laos Trip?

An eSIM is not a requirement for traveling to Laos, but it comes with some advantages and conveniences for travelers.
Here is a brief comparison between Laos eSIM vs physical SIM card. Let’s see how similar and different they are!
Laos eSIM vs Laos SIM Card

Factors	eSIM for Laos	Laos SIM cards
Similarities	They are both sims, and have the ability to connect the phone to the mobile provider’s network in Laos and keep them get connected everywhere in Laos They both work in a dual-sim phone
Form	An eSIM is a digital sim that allows users to activate a mobile data plan from the network provider without having to use a physical nano-sim.	A sim card is a chip that is physically inserted or removed inside the phone with your carrier’s plan.
Where to buy	online	Picked up at a store or shipped to you
Pros	eSIM is digital: eSIM is built-in in the motherboard of a mobile device. You can buy Laos tourist eSIM outside Laos, download them ANYWHERE as long as you have internet access, and have it activated right after you land in Laos. eSIM cannot be physically damaged or lost: because it is inside the phone, the eSIM will not be lost or damaged like the physical sim. eSIM are not limited: it allows you to switch lines whenever you want. You can store multiple eSIMs in a device. This is a big plus in comparison with physical SIM cards. You can set up eSIM before arriving in Laos and activate them after landing. You can avoid the sim card registration scheme of Laos, which is mandatory for those using Thai SIM cards.	Sim is removable: if your phone’s battery dies, you can swap the sim card into another unlocked device with a working battery Sim are easily bought at local markets or convenience stores in Laos Sims are usually cheaper than eSIMs.
Cons	eSIM does not work in older phones: because eSIM technology is relatively new, not all phone models can work with eSIM. You may have to buy a new expensive phone if you want to use eSIM	Sim card can be lost or damaged: If you remove your sim and place it somewhere

Currently, there are four main mobile operators in Laos, consisting of Unitel Laos, Lao Telecom, ETL and TPlus. These operators all offer voice calls, text messaging, data, and internet access, but it’s up to you to decide which one is the best fit for you.

What SIM card should you buy when visiting Laos? If you want to buy a SIM card in Laos, I would recommend going with Unitel because they cover most of Laos and are the fastest provider in Laos. However, speeds and coverage can vary greatly depending on the province you are in, which is why many locals have SIM cards of multiple operators so that they can stay connected at all times.

In Laos, all providers are fully or partially owned by the Lao government. As a result, rates are almost the same among the providers. Moreover, unlike most Southeast Asian countries, you do not need to show your passport when buying a SIM card.

They all have different things they’re good at and not so good at. You need to think about what you need from a mobile company before choosing one based on their network coverage, price, and how helpful their customer service is.

Let’s take a closer look at each one of them:  

Speed Test Mobile Operator in Laos

Laos SIM card plans for Travel

Operator	Plan Name	Data	Calls/SMS	Validity	Price
Unitel	1 Day	500MB	100 mins/SMS	1 day	$2
	Weekly	2GB	500 mins/SMS	7 days	$7
	30 Day	5GB	Unlimited	30 days	$15
Lao Telecom	3 Day	1GB	300 mins/SMS	3 days	$5
	30 Day Red	5GB	Unlimited	30 days	$15
	90 Day Purple	30GB	Unlimited	90 days	$40
TPlus	Daily	1GB	300 mins	1 day	$2
	Classic Monthly	10GB	Unlimited	30 days	$15
ETL	1 Day	500MB	100 mins/SMS	1 day	$2
	15 Day	3GB	1000 mins/SMS	15 days	$10
	30 Day Plus	10GB	Unlimited	30 days	$20

1. Unitel Laos

Unitel Laos, also known as Lao Telecom, is the largest mobile operator in Laos with a market share of over 50%. It was established in 2000 and is jointly owned by the Lao government and Viettel, a Vietnamese telecommunications company.

Services and Coverage

Unitel is the largest provider in Laos, as established in the introduction. It is also the provider that suffers from the most congestion in the cities, meaning that your speeds or connection can be subpar at times. Unitel claims that it covers 97% of the population, and 4G/LTE can be found in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Champasak, Savannakhet, and other major towns and provinces.

Unitel Laos Coverage Map in Laos

Pricing and Packages

Do note that you need to buy a 4G SIM card if you want to use Unitel’s 4G network, as they sell 3G SIM cards that, as the name implies, only works on their 3G network (and 2G too).
Unitel SIM cards are sold for 10 000 LAK ($1.60) and come with 5000 LAK in credit and 200 MB. You can choose to register yourself to get another 10000 LAK. Not sure if that would be worth it, though.

The following Unitel data packs are available:

• 2000 LAK: 60 MB for 24 hours
• 5000 LAK: 125 MB for 24 hours
• 10 000 LAK: 270 MB for 30 days
• 15 000 LAK: 1.5 GB for 30 days
• 100 000 LAK: 3 GB for 30 days
• 120 000 LAK: 4 GB for 30 days
  

You can also buy Unitel’s data-only SIM card called Net SIM for 10 000 LAK at Unitel offices – it comes with 300 MB and allows you to SMS as well. No calls can be made with this SIM card. You can register yourself and get 300 MB for free. A handful of Unitel data-only packs are listed below:

• 10 000 LAK: 6 GB for 2 days
• 10 000 LAK: 5 GB for 3 days
• 10 000 LAK: 2 GB for 5 days
• 10 000 LAK: 1.5 GB for 7 days
• 50 000 LAK:  5 GB for 30 days
• 120 000 LAK: 12 GB for 30 days

Customer Satisfaction

Unitel Laos has received numerous awards and accolades for its services, including the Best Mobile Operator in Laos by Frost & Sullivan and the Best Quality Network Award by Ookla. Its customer service has also been praised for its efficiency and helpfulness. However, some customers have complained about slow internet speeds during peak hours and lack of network coverage in rural areas.

Comparison of Unitel Laos’ Prepaid Packages

PACKAGE NAME	PRICE (KIP)	DATA	VOICE CALLS	SMS
Easy Fun	5,000	50 MB	15 min	10
Light	30,000	500 MB	60 min	30
Basic	50,000	1 GB	120 min	50
Super	100,000	2 GB	240 min	100
Ultimate	200,000	4 GB	480 min	200

Unitel Laos offers the best esim package for travelers;

eSIM Package	Laos eSIM Travel 15GB For 10 Days	Laos eSIM Travel 30GB For 15 Days
DATA	15 GB	30 GB
VALID	10 DAYS	15 DAYS
Network operator	Unitel / Star Telecom	Unitel / Star Telecom
eSIM phone number	Yes	Yes
Plan activation method	Dial 121	Dial 121
Top-up:	Yes	Yes
Hotspot/Tethering:	Yes	Yes
Link to buy	Click here	Click here

2. Lao Telecom

Lao Telecom, also known as LTC, is the first mobile operator in Laos, established in 1996. It is a state-owned company and holds the second-largest market share in the country.

Services and Coverage

Lao Telecom offers 2G and 3G services to its customers, with limited 4G coverage available in major cities. Its network covers around 80% of the population in Laos, which is significantly lower than Unitel’s coverage. However, Lao Telecom’s services are relatively stable and reliable, with good voice call quality and fast internet speeds.

Pricing and Packages

Lao Telecom (LTC/LaoTel)
Lao Telecom is the second largest provider and offers 3G access in most provinces in Laos. They also offer 4G/LTE in Vientiane and some other cities. Lao Telecom’s SIM cards, called M phone, are sold for 5000 LAK and can be used for both 3G and 4G/LTE – you do not need to buy a 4G SIM card to use 4G/LTE.

Lao Telecom offers both prepaid and postpaid packages, with prices ranging from 5,000 kip to 200,000 kip. Its prepaid packages come with data, voice calls, and SMS, while postpaid plans offer additional benefits such as unlimited data and free international calls. Lao Telecom also offers promotions and discounts throughout the year, making its services more affordable for customers.

Below are the M phone data packs:

• 5000 LAK: 125 MB for 24 hours
• 10 000 LAK: 250 MB for 30 days
• 50 000 LAK: 1.25 GB for 30 days
• 100 000 LAK: 2.5 GB for 30 days

You can also buy a Lao Telecom data-only SIM card called SIM Net for 10000 LAK. The following packages can be used for 3G and 4G/LTE access:

• 5000 LAK: 1 GB for 24 hours
• 10 000 LAK: 1.5 GB for 7 days
• 50 000 LAK: 7 GB for 30 days

You can also get one of their “unlimited” packs, which get throttled to 512 Kbps after using your allowance. They are, however, expensive, and 512 kbps is slow:

• 150 000 LAK: 15 GB for 30 days
• 250 000 LAK: 30 GB for 30 days
• 50 000 LAK: Extra 5 GB of high-speed data

Customer Satisfaction

Lao Telecom has been recognized for its network quality and innovation, winning the Best Mobile Operator in Laos award by Frost & Sullivan. Its customer service has also improved significantly over the years, with shorter waiting times and more helpful agents. However, some customers have complained about a lack of coverage in remote areas and high call rates for international calls.

Comparison of Lao Telecom’s Postpaid Packages

PACKAGE NAME	PRICE (KIP)	DATA	VOICE CALLS	INTERNATIONAL CALLS
Basic	50,000	1 GB	Unlimited	No
Plus	100,000	2 GB	Unlimited	Yes, at discounted rates
Premium	200,000	Unlimited	Unlimited	Yes, at discounted rates

3. ETL

ETL, or Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao, is a joint venture between Lao government and Thaicom, a Thai telecommunications company. It was established in 1995 and holds around 10% market share in Laos.

Services and Coverage

ETL offers 2G, 3G, and limited 4G services to its customers, with coverage available in major cities and towns in Laos. Its network quality has been improving over the years, with faster internet speeds and better voice call quality. ETL has also invested in expanding its coverage area, making it a reliable option for customers in rural areas.

Pricing and Packages

ETL, or Enterprise of Communications Laos, has a small 3G network in Laos, which makes it unsuitable for those who want to explore more of Laos instead of solely the capital.

ETL offers both prepaid and postpaid packages, with prices ranging from 5,000 kip to 200,000 kip. Its prepaid packages come with data, voice calls, and SMS, while postpaid plans offer unlimited data and free international calls. ETL also offers discounts and promotions throughout the year, making its services more affordable for customers.

SIM cards are sold for 5000 LAK and their data packs, called eNet, can be added, which are listed below:

• 1000 LAK: 240 MB for 1 day
• 5000 LAK: 800 MB for 1 day
• 10 000 LAK: 1.5 GB for 7 days
• 50 000 LAK: 5.5 GB for 30 days
• 100 000 LAK: 12 GB for 30 days
• 200 000 LAK: 30 GB for 30 days

Customer Satisfaction

ETL has been awarded the Best Quality Network Award by Ookla for its network quality and performance. Its customer service has also received positive feedback from customers for being fast and helpful. However, some customers have reported issues with slow internet speeds during peak hours and limited coverage in remote areas.

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Comparison of ETL’s Prepaid Packages

PACKAGE NAME	PRICE (KIP)	DATA	VOICE CALLS	SMS
Easy	5,000	50 MB	10 min	10
Fun	30,000	500 MB	40 min	20
Plus	50,000	1 GB	80 min	40
Premium	100,000	2 GB	160 min	80
Ultimate	200,000	4 GB	320 min	160

4. TPlus Laos

TPlus Laos is a relatively new mobile operator in Laos, established in 2016. It is a joint venture between the Lao government and True Corporation, a Thai telecommunications company.

Services and Coverage

TPlus Laos offers 2G, 3G, and limited 4G services to its customers, with coverage available in major cities and towns in the country. Its network quality has been improving since its launch, with faster internet speeds and better voice call quality. TPlus has also invested in expanding its coverage area, making it a reliable option for customers in rural areas.

Pricing and Packages

TPlus Laos offers both prepaid and postpaid packages, with prices ranging from 5,000 kip to 200,000 kip. Its prepaid packages come with data, voice calls, and SMS, while postpaid plans offer unlimited data and free international calls. TPlus also offers promotions and discounts throughout the year, making its services more affordable for customers.

PACKAGE NAME	PRICE (KIP)	DATA	VOICE CALLS	SMS
Basic	50,000	1 GB	Unlimited	No
Plus	100,000	2 GB	Unlimited	Yes, at discounted rates
Premium	200,000	Unlimited	Unlimited	Yes, at discounted rates

TPlus, previously known as Beeline, is a small network carrier in Laos. Depending on where you are, Beeline can be the fastest provider in the region. Even then, speeds are slow at up to 5 Mbps. TPlus SIM cards can be bought for 10000 LAK and come with 5000 LAK in credit. The following TPLus packages can be added:

• 1000 LAK: 50 MB for 1 day
• 6000 LAK: 200 MB for 3 days
• 10 000 LAK: 500 MB for 7 days
• 10 000 LAK: 300 MB for 30 days
• 50 000 LAK: 1.5 GB for 30 days
• 80 000 LAK: 2 GB for 30 days
• 100 000 LAK: 3 GB for 30 days

Customer Satisfaction

Being a relatively new player in the market, TPlus Laos has not received many awards or recognition. However, its network quality and customer service have been praised by customers, with fast and reliable services. Some customers have reported issues with slow internet speeds during peak hours.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT LAOS’ MOBILE OPERATORS

In conclusion, Unitel Laos stands out as the best mobile operator in Laos with its wide coverage area and reliable network quality. However, Lao Telecom, ETL, and TPlus Laos also offer competitive services and pricing, making them suitable choices for customers depending on their location and needs. With the continuous growth and development of Laos’ mobile telecommunications industry, it is expected that these operators will continue to improve and provide even better services to meet the demands of its growing population.