i have a maxnet account on a TT&T line in samui

1024/256

speedtest says aboout 1000kbps up to bangkok

but 100kbps (!!!!!!! yes 100) to melbourne australia.

this was the case in pattaya recently also in cafes.

so why does it choke on leaving/entering thailand?

simply not enough bandwidth to supply the country?

still only one pipe to the world outside?

and bless my soul, what can consumers do about it?

i have a maxnet account on a TT&T line in samui

1024/256

speedtest says aboout 1000kbps up to bangkok

but 100kbps (!!!!!!! yes 100) to melbourne australia.

this was the case in pattaya recently also in cafes.

so why does it choke on leaving/entering thailand?

simply not enough bandwidth to supply the country?

still only one pipe to the world outside?...

Yes, basically it's the international circuits that cost the big money, so capacity is pared down to well below what would be the acceptable minimum in other countries, and as a result tbere's chronic congestion most of the day, and just now it's temporarily a lot worse because of breaks in inernational cables in the Middle East.

....and bless my soul, what can consumers do about it?

Not much, I'm afraid. Remember this is LOS and we just have to be happy with things as they are!

You couldn't by any chance be mixing up Bytes to Melbourne with bits on your ADSL could you? The maxiximum download speed I've ever achieved on my 1024k Maxnet is 105kB, which I was very happy about!

+ SJ

Wasn't Thailand supposed to be the tele-communication's & IT hub of SE Asia by now?

Internet bandwidth in Thailand will never improve until the government holds ISPs liable to meet their advertised claims.