How does anyone run an online business here without a dedicated connection? Every time that we have bad weather, the internet goes off and it usually takes TOT 2 days to repair it, this is a regular problem in the north. Heavy rain or winds, internet down for two days.

No one can run a business like this. Thailand has just copied the latest tech and just stuck it in place. No history of research or development, no history of the process development with no experience of implementing the tech then learning and developing over time. Thailand just implements the top layer, then when something goes wrong they have no idea or experience of fixing it. They are not able to run it properly as they just buy the top layer and are inexperienced. No online business can survive two day shut downs when the rains are heavy.

 

TOT have fixed this many times, always a fault nearby, and always a fault that comes back again and again. In the US and Europe the internet has matured over the years ans most of the developed world can look after and maintain it, Thailand cannot, they have no history of research development thewy just copy without any experience, They do this with almost everything which is why nothing works properly as everything is selotape and prayers.

Managed just fine for the last 20yrs, two things achieve this, 2 internet service providers, and a good UPS 

Living in the sticks, if the power goes out, the UPS kicks in, it's very rare both internet services go down at the same time.Ultimately I can connect via SIM too if needs be.

 

 

I just tether to my phone, and use that 4G connection. It’s almost never gone down, even during storms on remote islands and during the pandemic. 

 

I’ve had much less success with land based wifi and don’t rely on it. 

I don't get it. How's your exchange? My experience with TOT was never great, but echo above. UK Internet on the cellular level at least I find is a total S show where I am compared to Thai, when I rarely get anything under full bar and watch movies through tether... not in a big town. It has really come on over the past few years. Perhaps consider getting a good phone package on a good phone and have wire as backup...

5 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

UK Internet on the cellular level at least I find is a total S show

Thailand managed to leap ahead 

by going digital first ADSL using exist ing copper lines then fibre.

 

Did you know that during negotiations with the Thatcher government British Telecom offered to run fibre optics to every household in Britain if it was not sold off..( privitised) well we saw what happened...still trying to catch up.

Use your mobile data connection!  I've lived 'in the sticks' for year, in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar and still managed to teach online for several hours each day without a stable internet or electricity supply 🙂  Mobile internet bandwidth is quite enough for Zoom video connections...

I would not recommend TOT as an Internet provider. I have also been running successfully for over 20 years. I have 2 providers as @CharlieH stated, to be sure that it´s always working. After that, it´s always mobile internet as well but it´s the same 2 companies. I use AIS and True. I have maybe experienced 3-5 breakdowns over 1h during that time.