New Luxury Tax On Internet Usage In Thailand

[Orangutang]

New Luxury tax on internet usage in Thailand

All internet accounts to be taxed with 970 Baht/month.

Hardware dongle required for internet use

BANGKOK: -- The government has announced heavy investment to upgrade Thailand's international bandwidth, but has introduced an internet tax to help fund investment, and control usage.

The internet tax will be based on bandwidth and would be applied on a graduated scale according to the speed of a users internet connection. The internet luxory tax will be 970 Baht/month for most users.

Foreigners without a work permit and retirees will be required to pay the monthly tax at a higher rate, 1,490 Baht/month.

New hardware required

The new internet tax will require all internet users in Thailand to install a hardware dongle from CAT. The dongles can be picked up free of charge from any 7-Eleven outlets in Thailand starting today. Without the dongle, users will be disconnected after 6 minutes of use and unable to access the internet from 23.30pm tonight.

Oh My Bhudda!!!

NEW Damages" Tax On Faraang Dongles!!!

Siri Porn PUDYOO , National Ministry for Health Saftey and All That is Estetically beautiful was quoted today as saying," Faraang Dongles are large and Very Ugly and each one shall be taxed 500-2000 baht for each entry into Thailand according to size ,colour material and ugliness!"

"Those wich were added after april 2003 are exempt from the tax!"Wood is the cheapest while silicon is the highest taxed."Faraang Ladies are to have a Police certificate from Thier Home domicile stating that they travel WITHOUT a dongle.

Golly! I guess we're "flogged"!

Edited April 1, 2007 by Orangutang

[NamSod]

New Luxury tax on internet usage in Thailand

"Thaivisa.com will launch its own nationwide ISP shortly, trying to bypass the new internet tax with a new speed concept. We will provide speeds of 300 and 1200/75 baud, which is not taxable", says Dr. Pong to Reuters.

I love it!

You really had me going until I saw your baud rate.. hahahaha.

While we are telling news.. did you hear the Daily Mail has reported that a local manufacturer had sold 10,000 "rogue bras" that were causing a unique and unprecedented problem, not to the wearers but to the public at large. Apparently the support wire in these bras had been made out of a kind of copper originally designed for use in fire alarms. When this copper came into contact with nylon and body heat, it produced static electricity which, in turn, was interfering with local television and radio broadcasts. The chief engineer of British Telecom, upon reading the article, immediately ordered that all his female laboratory employees disclose what type of bra they were wearing.

[jltheart]

haha Just another way to hurt the internet users of Thailand and line their pockets somemore. Who really is suprised. This country is so amazing. Just a bunch of no brains running the show.

[TEFLMike]

haha Just another way to hurt the internet users of Thailand and line their pockets somemore. Who really is suprised. This country is so amazing. Just a bunch of no brains running the show.

<remaining quiet> Shhhhh....

[chiang mai]

Well done George, a great spoof.

[OxfordWill]

OK, I had a very heavy night last night and you got me for 5 mins, but the funniest thing is I wouldnt actually be surprised if they did something like this one day.

[Targus]

I really don't understand this "New Luxury tax on internet usage in Thailand"

Just received a PM from Administration telling me that all Thaivisa Members who haven't actually been in Thailand since January 1, 2007 will be disconnected as from tonight because of the high costs involved. Just members & posters living in Thailand or very frequent visitors are allowed to stay 'onboard' with Thaivisa.... That's utter nonsense!

I haven't been in LOS since some 5 months ago, but I feel discriminated now !

Why on earth would I be disconnected from Thaivisa?

Anybody else received this message ?

I'm real angry now !

LaoPo

[Targus]

New Luxury tax on internet usage in Thailand

All internet accounts to be taxed with 970 Baht/month.

Hardware dongle required for internet use

BANGKOK: -- The government has announced heavy investment to upgrade Thailand's international bandwidth, but has introduced an internet tax to help fund investment, and control usage.

The internet tax will be based on bandwidth and would be applied on a graduated scale according to the speed of a users internet connection. The internet luxory tax will be 970 Baht/month for most users.

Foreigners without a work permit and retirees will be required to pay the monthly tax at a higher rate, 1,490 Baht/month.

Sombat Merou-Ruang, director of the Alien Internet Control Division at CAT headquarters in Bangkok says "foreigners that do not have work in Thailand only hang out on internet forums, visit pornographic sites and other website lamock, different from Thai citizens who mostly use the internet for banking, ecommerce, and furthering their education".

In addition to the bandwidth tax, an extra usage tax of 490 Baht will be levied on those using Bittorrents and surfing foreign language internet forums.

New hardware required

The new internet tax will require all internet users in Thailand to install a hardware dongle from CAT. The dongles can be picked up free of charge from any 7-Eleven outlets in Thailand starting today. Without the dongle, users will be disconnected after 6 minutes of use and unable to access the internet from 23.30pm tonight.

A dongle is a small hardware device that connects to a computer

serial port, to administrate the software who controls the user.

When the tax dongle is not present, the software runs in a restricted

mode or refuses to run. Windows XP and Windows Vista operating

systems are likely to hang without the tax dongle installed.

"This is a disaster" says Jarunsek Khlongtoy, owner of the Sanuk Internet Cafe at Khao San Road in Bangkok. "We need to raise our minute fees up by 300% from today, and set aside special computers for those wishing to use internet forums."

Malee Thorlee, manager of the Excite Internet shop on Sukhumvit says that she will now have to limit foreigners using the internet in the shop to one at a time, to keep costs down.

The head of CS-Loxinfo Department of Internet, Dr. Boonlert Chaamaak says this is a blow to internet users in Thailand, who already enjoy fast internet speeds and almost no down time.

DTAC has announced a new range of GPRS packages for foreigners, starting with 100hrs for 2,000 Baht, to combat the new internet tax. Other operators are likely to announce new GPRS charges soon.

Internet satellite to me moved

Shinsat PLC welcomes the tax, and has pledged to use the extra funds allocated to them to improve satellite internet communications. Dr. Rinrada Maimeepompem, head of IPstar Internet Speeds Division, has announced plans to move the IPstar satellite closer to earth from next month, which should improve speeds greatly due to less distance for the signal to travel. The new owners Temasek will also use this opportunity to move the satellite nearer to Singapore, as it is now theirs.

TOT sources have said that executives are overjoyed at the prospect of government investment, adding that now they would be able to buy a new fleet of vans for their technicians, which is important if they wish to improve internet speeds and quality.

"This is typical for the CAT monopoly", says Dr. Pat Pong, administrator at Thaivisa.com, the leading portal for expats in Thailand. "We strongly believe this is just the government wanting to keep track of the internet usage". He continues: "Thaivisa.com will launch its own nationwide ISP shortly, trying to bypass the new internet tax with a new speed concept. We will provide speeds of 300 and 1200/75 baud, which is not taxable", says Dr. Pong to Reuters.

Foreigners applying to the Internet tax need to provide a valid passport with Non-Immigrant Visa, health certificate and 6 colour photos 4x2 cm, plus a verified copy of their house registration (Tabien Baan) or lease agreement.

CAT will close all unregistered internet accounts before midnight today.

-- Thaivisa.com/Agencies 2007-04-01

I cannot believe what I am reading. As today is April 1st I suppose this must be some kind of a joke !!??

[FrankRizzo]

I just spoke to my Thai Techo Boy who setup my cracked cable connection, he say's he can crack my dongle so

I can avoid the tax. No problem - I'll just pay the tax !!!!!!!

[MrPlum]

MEMBER ADVISORY:

Insufficient supplies of dongles have been shipped to all the 7-11s to meet demand. I called the emergency number provided by CAT's dongle support group and was assured that a batch of pink dongles is now available at the Calypso Cabaret.

'Katoey Broadband' say there is full compatibility and their technical support will aid members who are having difficulty in inserting their dongles into the correct port. When asked if there were any performance improvements from this enhancement, Numbkun Lobside of technical support said... 'We find that a tight fit almost always guarantees a higher upload speed.'

Blind internet users can ensure they have the right dongle by feeling for the raised plastic nipple on the front of the chassis.

[busred]

Internet Tax

Thai people are among the best/friendliest in the world, but unfortunately like other countries the rich and powerful always want to become more rich. This new tax will only discourage people and the official who decided that all foreigns only visit (bad, nor nice web sites) should become a monk again to straighten out his head and judgting all people so harshly from a few.

[toptuan]

It's pretty funny to see how many posters read the OP's opening post, and race right to the "REPLY" button to vent their anger--not bothering to read another single thing from page 2 through 15.

While it's a good warning to all of us to always read the intervening posts, so we don't look like jackasses later, I must admit I've been tempted to do the same thing a hundred times (glad I didn't this time!). However, their arrogance to by-pass the equally-valued and important opinions and feedback of 200 fellow "TV-ites" also provides great ongoing entertainment!

And, I wonder how many will skip over this dead give-away post, and keep doing the same thing?

Tonight,

Mr. Smug

[Maxwell Book]

Good joke because its thinkable in Thailand!

[Otis]

This is really too much. It's over the top. If the esteemed and revered Dr. Maimeeprobrem at the Institute thinks this is a clever way to regulate the price of virtual connections in Bangsue, he's respectfully mistaken, in my humble opinion as a foreigner in this paradise.

All the dongles I now have are good enough to handle my present speed and interactive connections.

I just spoke with Atty. Khunmeeprobrem and he said he would have lunch with Dr. Maimeeprobrem and that there would be maimeepanhaa to pay. Otis

[hansnl]

I know about april 1, and all the stupidity that people have to unload and endure.

I really had hoped, in vain, that living in Thailand would have freed me from all this bloody nonsense.

I think it is bad enought that the Thai government is blocking Sites for me, as it is!

However, everything even a little relating to sex is under scrutiny, but I tried to obtain some info how to fabricate bombs, kill people, in short, very dangerous things in the hands of people that want to do wrong.

Guess what.....all free to view.

I think that looking at male and female "meat" and so on, is infenitely much more dangerous as looking at bloodshed, murder, killing, blowing up things, and more of those very nice things.

I think all readers of ThaiVisa will agree with me!

But please, no more April stupidity.

Please do not fuel the "blame the farang" mentality.

Thank you so much.

However......it was a good one!

WARNING.....WARNING.....sense of humour failure ALERT....ALERT....

I am so very sorry, Thailand Tony.

There was I really hoping to make a kind of understated humourless statement.

Seems to me I succeeded.

Oh dear.....how sad.......never mind.......shut up (Quote of the day Number 1)

Thank you so very much for the warning, but to include alerts is going a bit to far, don't you think so?

By the way, anybody knows an adress for used dongles?

Serial, USB, even pararallel, mai pen rai!

Must be cheap, of course!

All dongles get a respray in Thailand pink and will be sold on the night market in Khon Kaen only!

Only for Farang, special price!

Retirees get a discount in view of old age, senile decline or alzheimer.

Or maybe all farang get a discount for the reasons mentioned above

Ta!

[hansnl]

I know about april 1, and all the stupidity that people have to unload and endure.

I really had hoped, in vain, that living in Thailand would have freed me from all this bloody nonsense.

I think it is bad enought that the Thai government is blocking Sites for me, as it is!

However, everything even a little relating to sex is under scrutiny, but I tried to obtain some info how to fabricate bombs, kill people, in short, very dangerous things in the hands of people that want to do wrong.

Guess what.....all free to view.

I think that looking at male and female "meat" and so on, is infenitely much more dangerous as looking at bloodshed, murder, killing, blowing up things, and more of those very nice things.

I think all readers of ThaiVisa will agree with me!

But please, no more April stupidity.

Please do not fuel the "blame the farang" mentality.

Thank you so much.

However......it was a good one!

WARNING.....WARNING.....sense of humour failure ALERT....ALERT....

I am so very sorry, Thailand Tony.

There was I really hoping to make a kind of understated humourless statement.

Seems to me I succeeded.

Oh dear.....how sad.......never mind.......shut up (Quote of the day Number 1)

Thank you so very much for the warning, but to include alerts is going a bit to far, don't you think so?

By the way, anybody knows an adress for used dongles?

Serial, USB, even pararallel, mai pen rai!

Must be cheap, of course!

All dongles get a respray in Thailand pink and will be sold on the night market in Khon Kaen only!

Only for Farang, special price!

Retirees get a discount in view of old age, senile decline or alzheimer.

Or maybe all farang get a discount for the reasons mentioned above

Ta!

[marcel.dekorte]

Nice 1 april joke, George

Greetings,

Marcel de Korte

[kayo]

amazingly, as mentioned a few posts prior to this one, that after 16,000 views and 230 replies in about 14 hours, some people are still falling for it.l

[tuffy]

It's been years since I have been had on a April Fools Day gag. I hope it is years before I fall prey again. The sad this is that it is almost believable here in LOS with my what next attitude I have had lately!

GOOD ONE (jerks)!!

[kayo]

I know about april 1, and all the stupidity that people have to unload and endure.

I really had hoped, in vain, that living in Thailand would have freed me from all this bloody nonsense.

I think it is bad enought that the Thai government is blocking Sites for me, as it is!

.

Thank you so much.

However......it was a good one!

I thought it was only certain ISP's blocking certain sites, not a nationwide gov't imposed block...

[jdinasia]

amazingly, as mentioned a few posts prior to this one, that after 16,000 views and 230 replies in about 14 hours, some people are still falling for it.l

Reading AND understanding what they read is a lost art I think ......

My fave is still the ban on showers .... though last year's train wreck at the Lao Khao plant was great too ....

I like it when the content tests people's knowledge a bit (the names in the no shower ... the train itself in the Phuket story eyc ...) catches SCADS of people out

[donmeurett]

TOT has a discounted plan If you sign up prior to midnight 2 April,

Tax will be 1/2 of 12 percent of the total of persons who sign up prior

to the deadline. if you are from europe you must pay in euros not

to exceed the total sum of 48.5 percent.

Americans are exempt from all taxes if they show a valid ID.

:D

[brahmburgers]

Next we'll be required to purchase keyboards from the Thai Ministry of Communication. 50% discount for trade-ins of your current keyboard. In it will be embedded chips that detect the when they typist types offensive words. Five words per day allowed. More that five in a 24 hour period, and the keyboard police come around to knock on your door - and it won't be pretty. Laptop keyboards can be retro-fitted.

No Thais need be affected by this edict, because it's known that Thais do not dwell in debauchery.

[Roger_royal]

Thanks everyone, was having a *hit day in UK until I read your posts.

Hope to be back in LOS later this year.

[No beleeeeve!]

Well the traditional April Fools post yet again trips a couple of ya!!!!

[kurtgruen]

This is more informative than the Bangkok Post. Thanks George

I agree, thanks George. A good one.

BTW, anything is more informative and unbiased than the Bangkok Post.

[El Taco Loco]

Don't know what was funnier, George's post or all the responses. Great one!

[jetjock]

Should I buy a condom to put over my Dongle to prevent a virus from attacking my computer ??

[TIPSYBOB]

haha Just another way to hurt the internet users of Thailand and line their pockets somemore. Who really is suprised. This country is so amazing. Just a bunch of no brains running the show.

On a more serious note.

Due to the situation prevailing now in Chang Mai (smoke and breathing difficulties) the local Zoo autorities have decided to move the zoo to Bangkok where the air is more bearable... A former aide to the former Prime Minister suggested that to solve the problem, at a very low cost, and without having to move the animals, just built a fence around the Parliament House.

[westcoastnative]

My wife and I have seriously considered moving from the Untied States to Thailand to retire and spend the nestegg that we have saved over the years in the land of smiles. We even bought a nice piece of property there last year.

Lately We've been having second thoughts due to the appreciation of the baht, the terrorists unrest, and the new laws that seem to have an unfriendly "anti foreigner" tilt.

They assume that we have more money than the average Thai therefore we should pay more. After all we are rich "Farang" with money to burn. Paradise is never cheap. Next they will tax us for the amount of air we breathe and there will be a tax for using the ground to walk on.