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I am planning on spending winter in Laos but need to be in regular contact with folks back home. Will my mobile phone be working in the cities and populated areas? And is the regular phone system easely avaiable, reliable and affordable?
I have experienced Burma being difficult in this regard and expect Laos to be better.

1

No problems with the telephone system. Occasionally it takes a few attempts to dial overseas because of line congestion, but it never takes that long.

2

Hi Gombis.

You'll need a SIM card, which are fairly cheap (around $5 US). Coverage as of last year (when I was there) was still fairly limited. In the larger population centers and tourist meccas (ie Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet etc) is pretty much it.

You could also just get a phonecard or what not and call from the available landlines, though the availability is even more restricted. You can also use the net phones at net cafes.

Paddlefoot

3

My two cents.

Bring someone's old phone from back home. Here in the US we throw them away often when getting a new one for a new contract and phone plan. Take it with you and get a new sim card. The cheap chinese phones in laos are horrid and the Euro imports are pricey. International calls are cheap,

4

I don't know where post #2 is coming from, but I totally disagree with this comment. Coverage with ETL is excellent and has been ever since i have lived here.
Agree that the Chinese copies are poor, but you can pick up some decent phones for not bad prices. I bought a really nice I mobile for 3000 Baht here.

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