According to CAT, there is going to be a problem with the international internet link out of Thailand today and tomorrow (24th and 25th of December). Where I am now, it - very conveniently - only affects the ports used by internet phones, messenger services etc. Is this some sort of a joke? How many here believes this to be coincidence? Nice way to screw the tourist and visitors here.

And to really rub it in, CAT has arranged a party tommorow (the 25th of Dec.) at MBK to thank it's customers for the many overseas calls they have made in the past year. First price is a free phone call overseas and a trip to Hong Kong where overseas telephone charges are dirt cheap

At the same time CAT announces:

At the present, many providers of overseas calls worldwide acted on their own authority,which underwent continuous expansion. It may affect all over the crisis-stricken country and sorely prevailed over the Earnings paid to the States Coffers. CAT TELECOM together with Royal Thai Police. have arrested these illicit providers in prison or property seized for punishment

CAT TELECOM LTD. , is provided all kinds of telecommunication services and oher -related services, both locally and globally. In other words, CAT TELECOM

has absolute authority over International Telephone Service. To resolve these

illegal problems , the Follow-Up and Verification of Working Group has been

nominated to examine of accuracy of provided overseas calls services

In case, your destination number abroad [for coming call] is local call code in

contrast with overseas call code . You could immediately reported to CAT TELECOM at tel. 66 2956 7041-3. In addition, CAT TELECOM required more information, namely, destination number from abroad , date, time and the destination country for coming call.

For more information, please contact CAT CONTACT CENTER 1322 [24 hrs. everyday]

I don't know anything about that announcement but all TRUE internet international lines through CAT were out for several short periods on the 24th so do not believe it was anything specific to phone service.

Is that announcement by CAT supposed to be in the English language? Is it supposed to be intelligible? Is this CAT's idea of communication? Okay, so I teach English, but if there's one thing Thai teachers drill into their advanced students (such as students who go on to write PR releases for newspapers) it's proper tenses. I get tense just trying to understand that monstrosity of an announcement!

And look at the TONE of the sentences - giving the attitude that "we're the government, and we're the only real phone company in Thailand and if you don't like it you can dictaphone ----

I'm still trying to work out what it means too.

But not had any problems with ICQ etc, so.......