DriftAsia Tools · Laos

Laos
mobile data tools

Prices, network indicators, operators and trip-planning tools for Laos. Use the full calculator with the destination already selected.

Mobile speed
50/100
Current network indicator. Open index.
Transparency
78/100
Plan disclosure, expiry and activation clarity.
Toolkit

All tools for Laos

Country snapshot

What matters before buying

Market note

Mountainous terrain limits coverage; download offline maps.

Coverage reality

Laos has four operators (Unitel, Lao Telecom, ETL, Beeline) all running nationwide 4G, with 5G only just appearing in parts of Vientiane via Lao Telecom. Coverage is reliable in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Pakse, Savannakhet and the Mekong corridor towns. Once you head off the beaten track the picture changes fast: northern trekking areas (Phongsali, Luang Namtha), the Plain of Jars and remote mountain and border zones have limited or no signal. The 4,000 Islands (Don Det, Don Khon) have basic 4G on the main island clusters.

Local SIM reality

Typical local SIM: $5 to 12. Usually sold at Airport kiosks at Vientiane and Luang Prabang, and operator shops in town. A Unitel prepaid pack is the safest local choice for getting around the country. A travel eSIM saves the kiosk stop and connects on arrival, which matters when you land at a small airport.

Networks

Our eSIM local operators

Lao Telecom (LTC)

Covers all provinces and has begun 5G in parts of Vientiane. A strong, practical choice for cities and standard tourist routes.

ETL

Nationwide footprint but mentioned less often as a top travel pick. Some eSIM providers route through it.

Decision

Travel eSIM or local SIM?

Choose a travel eSIM

you stick to the cities and main tourist towns and want to land connected without finding a kiosk at a small airport.

Consider a local SIM

you head deep into the rural north for a long stretch, where a Unitel pack on the strongest network is the safer bet.

Field data

Measurements in progress

Pending

No first-hand measurement has been published for Laos yet. This page will update automatically when a validated field test is added to the shared dataset.

Sources and methodology

Price per GB is the median of mid-tier plans from the live Laos catalogue. Network and transparency indicators come from the shared Drift dataset and are refreshed monthly.

Field measurements are published only after validation. Open dataset: data-asia.json.

Figures updated August 2026. Dataset license: CC BY 4.0.

DriftAsia Laos mobile data tools · updated August 2026