Thailand Urged to Investigate Criminal Use of Satellite Internet

[webfact]

Wikipedia file photo for reference only.

 

A Thai parliament member has urged the government to establish a working group to investigate the potential criminal misuse of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity. This comes amid concerns that call centre gangs operating on Thailand's borders might exploit satellite internet to sustain their illegal activities.

 

The closure of ground-based telecom networks has been a primary strategy for disconnecting these gangs from internet access. However, Takorn Tantasith of the Thai Sang Thai Party warns that resilient satellite connections could undermine these efforts. He pointed specifically to networks operated by major satellite companies OneWeb and Starlink, both of which have expansive global coverage that includes Thailand.

 

OneWeb's network consists of 648 satellites, while Starlink, known for its extensive deployment, operates around 6,000 satellites worldwide, serving continents and regions including North and South America, Europe, Australia, parts of Africa, and across Asia. Importantly, Starlink's use of Ka and Ku frequency bands facilitates robust internet connectivity via portable signal-receiving equipment.

Takorn emphasized that even if terrestrial internet is severed, neighbouring countries could still exploit LEO satellite networks. As such, he called for an immediate governmental study into these satellite systems' potential impacts on national security and crime prevention efforts.

 

Government efforts, which include cutting off electricity and internet in certain border zones and limiting oil sales, have been previously praised by Takorn. In fact, last year, Thai authorities, including the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry, confiscated 58 Starlink satellite equipment sets intended for use by fraudsters.

 

Currently, there's a significant push to clamp down on such illicit satellite use, with the DES Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong noting that measures to disrupt illegal online activities have led criminals to modify their tactics. This includes removing unauthorised signal towers and cross-border communication cables to stay beneath the radar of law enforcement.

 

This call to action signals the need for enhanced regulatory oversight and technological strategies to prevent criminal exploitation of satellite internet, ensuring the sustainability of Thailand's anti-crime initiatives along its borders, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-02-17

 

 

[Hakuna Matata]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Takorn emphasized that even if terrestrial internet is severed, neighbouring countries could still exploit LEO satellite networks

 

Call Center SIM boxes are not using Internet connection at all. They are connecting directly to Thai mobile networks from over the border(AIS, True, DTAC, etc). The individual operators are connected over LAN network.

 

Why don't mobile network operators like AIS, DTAC, True etc. do anything to effectively render those call center SIM boxes inoperative by restricting service based on geo location? I know how to configure the Cellular Switch software to restrict and deny service for certain geographical area. Why don't those Mobile Network operators know how to do that? Incompetent, unprofessional or just greedy?

 

The SIM box signal is coming from over the border, from another country, but using Thai network SIM cards and Thai cellular networks.

 

There is a way to stop this at once and forever.

[hotchilli]

8 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

There is a way to stop this at once and forever.

There is a way but not the will.

[Hakuna Matata]

Just now, hotchilli said:

There is a way but not the will.

 

Right, because Thai mobile network operators do not want to lose the revenue.

[hotchilli]

1 minute ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

Right, because Thai mobile network operators do not want to lose the revenue.

Correct

[NativeBob]

Our beloved pimp from Ireland who employs girls into webcam biz strongly advises to use Starlink uplink. Costly setup but worth it.

[bubblegum]

38 minutes ago, NativeBob said:

Our beloved pimp from Ireland who employs girls into webcam biz strongly advises to use Starlink uplink. Costly setup but worth it.

Starlink is not available in Thailand

[MikeandDow]

1 hour ago, bubblegum said:

Starlink is not available in Thailand

Incorrect,   The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) approved a six-month trial of Starlink in Thailand in January 2024. Trial is still ongoing but not avalible to the public

[placnx]

3 hours ago, Hakuna Matata said:

 

Call Center SIM boxes are not using Internet connection at all. They are connecting directly to Thai mobile networks from over the border(AIS, True, DTAC, etc). The individual operators are connected over LAN network.

 

Why don't mobile network operators like AIS, DTAC, True etc. do anything to effectively render those call center SIM boxes inoperative by restricting service based on geo location? I know how to configure the Cellular Switch software to restrict and deny service for certain geographical area. Why don't those Mobile Network operators know how to do that? Incompetent, unprofessional or just greedy?

 

The SIM box signal is coming from over the border, from another country, but using Thai network SIM cards and Thai cellular networks.

 

There is a way to stop this at once and forever.

It's also a question of "know your customer". Maybe the Burma resistance groups are also using SIM boxes to communicate with the outside world,  Musk could provide them with Starlink service which would give the resistance more mobility.

[ukrules]

This is why we can't have nice things.

 

I heard Starlink will work outside of its registered home country including in and around Asia for up to 2 months before the terminal must 'return home' and service stops.

Certain countries go to extraordinary lengths to prevent any use of satellite communication, occasionally arresting people as spies simply due to having an emergency satellite phone for example. The countries that do this are not good countries.

[NativeBob]

2 hours ago, bubblegum said:

Starlink is not available in Thailand

#ROFL

Elon took his personal vendetta against LOS.

[NativeBob]

11 minutes ago, ukrules said:

I heard Starlink will work outside of its registered home country including in and around Asia for up to 2 months before the terminal must 'return home' and service stops.

Yes, that box is very strict with geolocation. But you still can get one reg'd from MY.

But boxes from UA (sealed, unopened) are useless as bricks. One "smart businessman HU" invested in that junk. 

[ukrules]

3 minutes ago, NativeBob said:

Yes, that box is very strict with geolocation. But you still can get one reg'd from MY.

But boxes from UA (sealed, unopened) are useless as bricks. One "smart businessman HU" invested in that junk. 

 

I heard you can bring one from the US or Europe over and use it for up to 2 months 'out of region', not sure how accurate that is - but I would imagine it needs registering and using in the home country before being turned on in a 'roaming' region. I don't have one at this stage.

[NativeBob]

1 minute ago, ukrules said:

I heard you can bring one from the US or Europe over and use it for up to 2 months 'out of region'

Wow, that's very long haul! I mean smuggling from nearby countries where Starlink officially "in agreement with local govt."
Also, my guess is Starlink's account from USA is different from any other country's account.

 

The dude bought one in MY and he lives at Phuket, but travel alot. So he got that set in his car.

I have no positive info about PH though, should ask around.

[ukrules]

1 hour ago, NativeBob said:

Wow, that's very long haul! I mean smuggling from nearby countries where Starlink officially "in agreement with local govt."
Also, my guess is Starlink's account from USA is different from any other country's account.

 

The dude bought one in MY and he lives at Phuket, but travel alot. So he got that set in his car.

I have no positive info about PH though, should ask around.

 

Hardly smuggling - they are kind of designed for global usage and allow global travel but it is time limited when away from home.

 

Think of private planes and yachts.

 

[SOTIRIOS]

...Are They Suggesting That 'Anyone That Doesn't Pay Monthly Fees To The Dominant Internet Providers Is A Criminal'.. (?)

... Is That A Precedent That Should Be Set Or Supported...(?)