New Luxury Tax On Internet Usage In Thailand

[tteemley]

This is ubsurd. Are they taxing 56K dialup (with no contract)? Do you need the adaptor for that speed if you don't have a contract? The 970bhat is for thai nationals, regardless of speed of service???

I would appreciate clarification ASAP if anyone knows the details. Thanks

[WAERTH]

I just went to 7/11 and it seems the dongles are available in different models and different colours. As a male, you get the male model. As a female the female model. If you are sharing your computer with a girl you have to insert the male model into the female one for optimal usage!

I got a red male dongle as they had ran out of the dongles of other colours So I will open up a new website: www.dongleexchange.com later this week, so people can exchange their dongles. I am looking for the purple one with gold leaves. Anybody want to trade their dongle with me?

Waerth

[Khun Bob]

wot no p0rn !

Still I can just go down the sex shop and buy a few mags there - oh there is none of them aswell. I've heard if you ask nicely pantip plaza may be able to deliver...

hey - can i lease some land from them - oh on second thoughts it is highly unlikely thye will be around in 30 years...

Our 4 thai hamsters, which are Thai born, are happy to serve as nominee internet account holders for any porn surfing farang who will provide them with a life-long supply of bedding and sunflower seeds.

[Khun Bob]

Japan already has this problem solved

I saw on UK TV the other night that the solution lies in onacup

Do a search on google for onacup and you will see some dongles that knock the socks off Thai 7/11 male or female dongles...

fyi : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onacup

Edited April 1, 2007 by Khun Bob

[solent01]

Not long been awake and read this with bleary eyes, took me a minute fot the penny to drop........

Nice one G

[Khun Bob]

Yes it will completely overcome this junta internet prohibition and there are a few extras too :

"TiSP for Enterprise

We're actively developing a higher-performance version of TiSP specifically tailored to small and medium-sized businesses, including 24-hour, on-site technical support in the event of backup problems, brownouts and data wipes."

good to know brownouts are covered too - that gives peace of mind !

Never mind - Thailand can tax the he11 out of the internet - the canny chaps at google anticipated this and have a solution :

http://www.google.com/tisp/

It looks pretty good and should be able to over come the "blockage" in thailand from hereon

yes you can escape internet prohibition thanks to the trustworthy search giant !

freedom2surf man !

EXTREMELY Funny.....I've gotta flush my internet worries away.....sign me up!....ROFL.....this has been a great start to a Sunday....lol

[ray23]

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.

This new internet tax of 940 baht for Thais and 1490 baht for foreigners is another bad sign that the welcome mat for foreigners is being withdrawn. It's bad enough that the government is charging almost as much in tax as it is for the service but to charge foreigners more than Thais because, according to Sombat Merou-Ruang, director of the Alien Internet Control Division at CAT headquarters in Bangkok,

"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" creates an unfair two tiered system based on cultural stereotyping.

I hope this is just another rumor and not really going to happen.

If Thailand really wants foreigners to retire in Thailand and spend their foreign exchange it's going to have to provide more than a tax to lure them

If , on the other hand, Thailand is fed up with foreigners, retirees, tourists and businessmen, it's applying the right measures to scare them away

Before you scrap your moving plans remember it is already 4-1-2007 here sometimes better known as April Fools Day

[zhudiumbus]

that was excellent...i was about to ask my girl to go change the internet subscription into her name and cancel my UBC to balance things out hahhaa

Good one

[realthaideal]

I have pre-programmed dongles that can get around the tax asessment. Specially programmed by my guys Ou n Ae. They have hacked the CAT system and they know a guy that works there as their informant, named O. Thanks to O, Ae, n Ou, I can get you these for just 2000 baht, and you'll have easy interent access with thru the special dongle. That's a one time 2k fee vs paying all those extra fees again and again on a per-month basis. PM me to find out details.

[gregswim]

IT's still March 31 in Hawaii -- but this is an April Fool's joke, right?

[sbk]

It was the special dongle that did it for me. That and being free from 7-11.

FREE??? Nothing is free

[zhudiumbus]

This is ubsurd. Are they taxing 56K dialup (with no contract)? Do you need the adaptor for that speed if you don't have a contract? The 970bhat is for thai nationals, regardless of speed of service???

I would appreciate clarification ASAP if anyone knows the details. Thanks

yes regardless of contract or even if its prepaid they will just cut your signal off. The box constantly pings their dedicated server which allows the signal. without the ping from the box the server knows that the fees havent been paid and your system will not work. I guess its a way to fund the roll out for the new higher speed network and also a detterent to stop illegal downloads of copywritten info from places like limewire.

Im wondering if this is good or bad???

[benw10]

if it was not april the first i may be standing in 7-11 unable to speak thai demanding a dongle!

[carlwhile]

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

[ThailandTony]

Japan already has this problem solved

I saw on UK TV the other night that the solution lies in onacup

Do a search on google for onacup and you will see some dongles that knock the socks off Thai 7/11 male or female dongles...

fyi : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onacup

THe best part is the link to the Japanese article....quote "At Tokyo’s 2006 Gay and Lesbian festival, Tenga actually set up a mobile shop (see above) where they were introducing the onacup line and passing out samples to lucky w#####s."

Doubled up laughing at this one! What's wrong with a load of inulation tape around a banana skin?....lol

Edited April 1, 2007 by ThailandTony

[thaipapajim]

Great stuff. Shame about those with SOHDS ( sense of humour deficiency syndrome)

[carlwhile]

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

If this is not an april fool joke then the door has not just closed but been firmly bolted.

I think that trip to see Cambodia has finally got the green light.

All retiries type cast as old porno pervs, sums up the open mindedness here by some officials, which is a great pity for Thailand.

They are killing the golden goose and that will show soon enough as more foreigners get the message and move on.

Was it the land of smiles, or is it now the land of grimaces?

Enough is enough i can take a hint (smack on the head with a shovel).

So for those that are stuck with property here, good luck, if you can find a buyer before you have to give it away... thats probably the next change.

[melbat]

I wish you would'nt do things like this.. some guy from the Ministry will read and say "What a bloody good idea... Why didn't we think of this???" Just like Thailand.. love it!

[albymush]

I was Horror sticken upon reading of the Lux. Tax!!!! This is the final straw!!! So with anger in my heart, I rushed out to the yard and Hung myself from one of our coconut trees.

My wife heard my strangled gurgles and tried to get me down --- after strugggling for what seemed hours she finally managed to cut the silk scarf that I used for a noose, and I fell to the ground, breaking my leg in the process.

She laid me out on todays copy of the Bangkok Post, and though there were tears in my eyes --- I'd seen what a mess she'd made of my silk scarf --- I was just able to make out the date!!!

It was then that I remembered those immortal words ----- "Thank God for ThaiVisa"

Writing this from a Hospital somewhere in Thailand

Albymush

[grandpa-m]

I was so concerned about this new imposition on farang that I rushed straight down to my local 7-11. I asked the young chap behind the counter if I could check out his dongle. We are meeting tonight for drinks.

Nice one george! I'm either still gullible or more trusting. - or maybe just thick? The dongle bit did ring a bell though.

i swallowed hook -line and sinker the best one yet grandpa-m

[toptuan]

I was so concerned about this new imposition on farang that I rushed straight down to my local 7-11. I asked the young chap behind the counter if I could check out his dongle. We are meeting tonight for drinks.

Hey must have gone to the same 7/11 store

my Thai wife went down and asked to see if she could see his dongle and was told he already had a full appointment book for tonight, had a smile on his face like a Siamese cat

Hope all my friends back home have good humor when they recieve my email today to tell them my new Thai wife is 3 1/2 months pregnant...

So, Ozzie, you've had a working-dongle for at least 3.5 months already? Where'd you get it? I also have a pre-April 1 dongle, but when I plug it in there's no signal. My g/f also hates it because it looks just like the one in the OP's picture.

ODC* President,

TT

*Organization for the Dongle-Challenged

Edited April 1, 2007 by toptuan

[Khun Bob]

Insulation tape and bananaskin - its the majority organic solution.

Never forget that there are alot of bananas in thailand ! They may be small and green, but can sure be sweet !

I wont talk about the host bars where a man can make 100K GBP a week, where there are girls who take hormones to grow a beard and the guy who has 30+ life like latex dolls, with interchangeable significant parts !

Japan already has this problem solved

I saw on UK TV the other night that the solution lies in onacup

Do a search on google for onacup and you will see some dongles that knock the socks off Thai 7/11 male or female dongles...

fyi : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onacup

THe best part is the link to the Japanese article....quote "At Tokyo’s 2006 Gay and Lesbian festival, Tenga actually set up a mobile shop (see above) where they were introducing the onacup line and passing out samples to lucky w#####s."

Doubled up laughing at this one! What's wrong with a load of inulation tape around a banana skin?....lol

[Kaysfeld]

This new internet tax of 940 baht for Thais and 1490 baht for foreigners is another bad sign that the welcome mat for foreigners is being withdrawn. It's bad enough that the government is charging almost as much in tax as it is for the service but to charge foreigners more than Thais because, according to Sombat Merou-Ruang, director of the Alien Internet Control Division at CAT headquarters in Bangkok,

"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" creates an unfair two tiered system based on cultural stereotyping.

I am quite disapointed that they only charge Farang 50% extra in Tax.

It is normally 100 to 1000% extra.

Does this mean that they think that we Farang have gotten poorer or have they discovered that our money doesn't grow on trees.

I wonder

[siampaulibuyasia]

APRIL FOOL HAHAHA

[cyborg22]

"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"

This makes my blood boil!!!!! I love Thailand but it's about time they put their own house in order first.

I am in the UK at the moment sorting various things out before my return to los. Prior to my return i worked for a company (which shall remain nameless). My work involved maintaining computer systems and ensuring trouble free access. Before i start i am the only farang employed by this company, Every day i visited different places of business only to find the computers fouled up (by porn sites) The companies in question don't have farang except me i don't look at porn sites during the night, I finish at 6pm lol. I suppose visiting porn sites could be contrued as furthering their education.

If i am out of order here i apologise unreservedly.

[toptuan]

"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"

This makes my blood boil!!!!! I love Thailand but it's about time they put their own house in order first.

I am in the UK at the moment sorting various things out before my return to los. Prior to my return i worked for a company (which shall remain nameless). My work involved maintaining computer systems and ensuring trouble free access. Before i start i am the only farang employed by this company, Every day i visited different places of business only to find the computers fouled up (by porn sites) The companies in question don't have farang except me i don't look at porn sites during the night, I finish at 6pm lol. I suppose visiting porn sites could be contrued as furthering their education.

If i am out of order here i apologise unreservedly.

No, no, right on target, Cyborg. You took the bait, and just keep running with it....

[Rhys]

No fool like an April Foole

[toptuan]

Eleven thousand views in eight hours. One-hundred seventy-five posts on twelve pages--half of them in total panic. And, 200 visits to local 7-11's nationwide, confronting clueless cashiers (unconfirmed).

George, you're a winner!

Edited April 1, 2007 by toptuan

[wowpow]

Dongle-busters are on sale in Panthip Plaza. These avoid the tax information gathering system by routing your internet connection via an overseas circumlogutor on a scrambled signal similar to the Thai army system. The danger is that the tax collectors may compare the internet service provider member list with those paying tax but this is extremely unlikely to happen within the life of the current coup. These devices are a rather expensive 1000 baht and the designer Apple blue denture version is 5575 baht - discounts currently unavailable and the essential for the cool computer nerd.

The Stepford - a remote dongle cunnuingly disguised.

I have heard rumours that cheap copies of the fake dongles are being sold by the vendors on Pattaya beach for 150 baht.

[Jeff1]

Sorry guys..

Can someone explain me in simple words??

Is it for real?

My internet connection is on the wife name .

Will I be disconnected from the net start from tonight or what??

PLEASE HELP

In very simple words, yes it's for real.