"special" Internet Connection To Make Foreign Websites Faster?

[Bearnagh]

Hi,

I have a question that I'm hoping someone with more knowledge than me can possibly help with.

Today we went to pay our monthly bill at the 3BB Triple-T office.

I couldn't help but notice the advertising everywhere which offers a 3Mb connection for 590 Baht, 4Mb for 790 Baht, 5Mb for 1000 Baht and 10 Mb for 1490 Baht / month.

I asked my wife why we were being charged 1090 Baht/month for a mere 3Mb connection. Naturally I was pretty puzzled about this.

She told me that the connection we have is a "special" one for viewing Farrang websites, coming from England, America or such places. The other cheaper connections would be very fast for Thai websites but poor for the foreign ones. On asking the question specifically, the people at Triple-T assured her that the line we have got makes the websites from "Farrang land" come in a lot faster than the other cheaper products above.

Is this possible? Or is it BS?

Can anyone help to throw some light on this for me?

Much appreciated.

[robblok]

Some claim that the premier subscription is better for international sites. I have used both and dont see much difference. Currently i have the 10mb package and its super fast. But internet differs too much from place to place to say it would be fast for you too.

[Bearnagh]

Thanks Robblok for the reply.

So in theory at least, what they are saying is technically possible, rather than fanciful notion?

[Supernova]

The cheaper Indy packages have a higher contention ratio compared to Premier (which I assume is what you have based on the 1090 baht monthly fee). Contention ratio is the number of subscribers sharing a connection. A lower contention ratio offers better connection stability. However, this doesn't mean that the more pricier Premier package is any faster (downstream) than the cheaper Indy package. With Premier, you also get 1Mbps upload which is twice as fast as Indy's 512Kbps. Indy may also have other restrictions.

[BlueSmurf]

Lotys of mb's makes no difgference as they are in country..Yours is the best paying 1090 baht a month..I complained about the net being slow and they boosted me to 8mb's and it made no difference.They admitted its all to do with busy lines out of the country..Dave

[kuffki]

Basically the cheap and expensive packages run on the same server, but for cheaper ones i do not think they have much of a limit for users, ie you could have 400 people on the same server. while the premier one would be limited to say 100 users per server, so the international connection would be faster.

This kind of rules and way of doing business can only be found in Thailand and no other place on earth. I am on Sophon Cable, which is very stable and very fast for local sites, not so great for international.

I am on 4mb speed for the same price of 999/month

[manarak]

it IS possible.

Internet Access Providers do not just dump the traffic onto the backbone, but they pay for bandwidth with carriers. I.e. the carriers will allot a certain badwidth for each provider.

The provider can rent badwidth for connection to european and us backbones, and the provider can route traffic from your modem (identified by its IP & MAC address) over different "tubes" depending on the service you paid.

I attached a graphical overview of carrier links.

[Bearnagh]

Thank you for your very informative and helpful replies. I have learnt something here. I had not considered contention ratios etc. Given what's been said here, I will stick with the monthly package I have.

Much appreciated.

[poldebol]

We have the 4MB internet connection from TT&T at 631.30 THB/month. Usually the quality is very good, but every few weeks it goes down drastically. After a few days, my wife gives them a call, they go to the routine of checking the speed from their own side and "Nothing is wrong". Usually, a few minutes (or a day) after the call, the quality goes up again. I have taught my wife to be a little bit more self-confident on the phone and e.g. ask for a refund. If necessary, she will call several times.

The last two or three times, they have a new dish on the menu. If we pay more, we will get a better international connection. So far, not clear what this is going to cost.

Now I am writing them a letter, telling I am apalled at the way they try to push us in a more expensive price range whereas we would be fine according to them when we started. My idea is that I will pay more, but get the same quality with intermittent drops problems.

Does somebody have experience with this? Is a guarantee possible? Or TIT?

Thanks

[kuffki]

We have the 4MB internet connection from TT&T at 631.30 THB/month. Usually the quality is very good, but every few weeks it goes down drastically. After a few days, my wife gives them a call, they go to the routine of checking the speed from their own side and "Nothing is wrong". Usually, a few minutes (or a day) after the call, the quality goes up again. I have taught my wife to be a little bit more self-confident on the phone and e.g. ask for a refund. If necessary, she will call several times.

The last two or three times, they have a new dish on the menu. If we pay more, we will get a better international connection. So far, not clear what this is going to cost.

Now I am writing them a letter, telling I am apalled at the way they try to push us in a more expensive price range whereas we would be fine according to them when we started. My idea is that I will pay more, but get the same quality with intermittent drops problems.

Does somebody have experience with this? Is a guarantee possible? Or TIT?

Thanks

Do not waste your time. Firstly there is hardly anyone in their office who can speak English, let alone read it.

Secondly, they could not care less of customer service or complains.

I was with them for 10 days and spent all 10 days on the phone because internet did not work. I once spent 6 hours trying to speak to a manager, when i eventually gave up.

by the end of it, i just canceled it and mind you, not even an apology or anything.

If you can, get connected to Sophon cable, they now offering fibre-optic cable connection-very very stable and should i have a problem, technicians are out at my place within 2 hours

[bob4you]

I just had broadband installed in my 3rd road townhouse and the results were not from a children's fairy tale but the honest truth.

I had ordered internet service 7 weeks ago from 3bbb and was told they would contact me in a week, no such luck. After 6 weeks I get a phone call, "you order internet sir" "yes, when can you install?" "you must go to our office and purchase modem first then we come install" I told him that after 6 weeks I did not believe or trust their lies and did not want their service"

Next I went to Sophon Cable where I had heard rumors that they now had internet but no official notification. She gave me a brochure that had Cat's logo on it with price of B990 for 4 mbs. Then proceeded to tell me in very broken English where their (Sophon Broadband)office was, on Pattaya Thai. Since it had CAT's logo I thought I would just go to CAT and see what they said, tried to double talk me into ordering from them and when I asked if they now had "Fiber optics" on 3rd road she told me yes but brochure was talking about shared this and that and when I pinned her down she informed me that it was fiber optics on copper wire, so I left and called the number on the brochure for Sophon Broadband, got directions and went there. They had a computer set up to demonstate the various band widths so you could compare and 4 mb was 690 per month B 2500 installation, free modem on 1 year contract. I told her I wanted that one and when could they come install it. Her reply the installer would come to my house about 6pm to verify how far they had to run the line and that they could do it. This was 1pm. At 3pm I got a phone call from the installer and I asked him when he would be there, he verified that I wanted a 1 year agreement and would be there at 11am next day to install.

Next day 9:45am they were out front running wires and hooking up by 11 am I had internet. They spent 45 minutes trying to get my wireless working but to no avail. Ran speed tests and results were 4.01/.51 Bangkok and 1.93/.51 California. 1/2 hour after they left it crapped out and I could not get on internet. Called the office and she said repairman would be there in 1 hour, less than 1/2 hour they were at the door, checked it, verified my modem had crashed and gave me a new one, did speed check and same, same.

So if Sophon is offered in your area avoid TOT, TIT, BBB and go to them, if you are as fortunate as I was you will be pleased.

[kuffki]

I just had broadband installed in my 3rd road townhouse and the results were not from a children's fairy tale but the honest truth.

I had ordered internet service 7 weeks ago from 3bbb and was told they would contact me in a week, no such luck. After 6 weeks I get a phone call, "you order internet sir" "yes, when can you install?" "you must go to our office and purchase modem first then we come install" I told him that after 6 weeks I did not believe or trust their lies and did not want their service"

Next I went to Sophon Cable where I had heard rumors that they now had internet but no official notification. She gave me a brochure that had Cat's logo on it with price of B990 for 4 mbs. Then proceeded to tell me in very broken English where their (Sophon Broadband)office was, on Pattaya Thai. Since it had CAT's logo I thought I would just go to CAT and see what they said, tried to double talk me into ordering from them and when I asked if they now had "Fiber optics" on 3rd road she told me yes but brochure was talking about shared this and that and when I pinned her down she informed me that it was fiber optics on copper wire, so I left and called the number on the brochure for Sophon Broadband, got directions and went there. They had a computer set up to demonstate the various band widths so you could compare and 4 mb was 690 per month B 2500 installation, free modem on 1 year contract. I told her I wanted that one and when could they come install it. Her reply the installer would come to my house about 6pm to verify how far they had to run the line and that they could do it. This was 1pm. At 3pm I got a phone call from the installer and I asked him when he would be there, he verified that I wanted a 1 year agreement and would be there at 11am next day to install.

Next day 9:45am they were out front running wires and hooking up by 11 am I had internet. They spent 45 minutes trying to get my wireless working but to no avail. Ran speed tests and results were 4.01/.51 Bangkok and 1.93/.51 California. 1/2 hour after they left it crapped out and I could not get on internet. Called the office and she said repairman would be there in 1 hour, less than 1/2 hour they were at the door, checked it, verified my modem had crashed and gave me a new one, did speed check and same, same.

So if Sophon is offered in your area avoid TOT, TIT, BBB and go to them, if you are as fortunate as I was you will be pleased.

Very true post. I had the same experience with Sophon Cable. Anytime there is a problem they are there within 1-3 hours, none of that 2-10 day wait like all others.

It is run through CAT but i think they leased a line, i have now had it for 3 months and it is very stable connection.

[MaxLee]

Is anything wrong with the internet since yesterday.... Most of the websites do not load properly.

I am a true user living in Nontaburi...

[rikigalazy]

I don't really have the answer for that but like you said, I also saw the ad from 3BB saying 590 baht for 5M connection.

I have true internet(8M/1M) but I'm not satisfied by the service. It's really slow when you browse foreign websites, especially when you stream videos or download stuff.

So, I was also wondering myself whether to get new package from different company which has decent speed for world wide web

[kuffki]

I don't really have the answer for that but like you said, I also saw the ad from 3BB saying 590 baht for 5M connection.

I have true internet(8M/1M) but I'm not satisfied by the service. It's really slow when you browse foreign websites, especially when you stream videos or download stuff.

So, I was also wondering myself whether to get new package from different company which has decent speed for world wide web

S O P H O N C A B L E

[Supernova]

I don't really have the answer for that but like you said, I also saw the ad from 3BB saying 590 baht for 5M connection.

I have true internet(8M/1M) but I'm not satisfied by the service. It's really slow when you browse foreign websites, especially when you stream videos or download stuff.

So, I was also wondering myself whether to get new package from different company which has decent speed for world wide web

If you choose 3BB, get the Premier package. It costs a bit more than Indy, but has a lower contention ratio which is better for browsing websites outside Thailand. You also get twice the upload speed 1Mbps (vs Indy's 512K).

I'm thinking of switching over myself, not that there's anything wrong with my current provider, but I'm fed up with the constant problems I've been having with my antiquated phone line.

S O P H O N C A B L E

Unfortunately, it's only available in Pattaya. Not an option for those of us living elsewhere.

[bob4you]

Update on Sophon Cable

When they installed my system 4 people tried to get my existing wireless working to no avail, suggested that I buy new wireless from them for B1500 - B2500 or go to Tuk Com, I went to TukCom and purchased a 4x normal distance wireless router for a little more, tried to install it myself but failed so called Sophon at 4:15, they said someone would arrive about 6pm at 5:15 they were here and fixed it in 15 minutes and got a nice tip for their effort, now works fine and my speed on speednet.net is still the same 4.1 and .5 with a very strong signal from my new TP link router.

[bob4you]

Not often I find a Thai company that "under promises and over delivers"

[kuffki]

I don't really have the answer for that but like you said, I also saw the ad from 3BB saying 590 baht for 5M connection.

I have true internet(8M/1M) but I'm not satisfied by the service. It's really slow when you browse foreign websites, especially when you stream videos or download stuff.

So, I was also wondering myself whether to get new package from different company which has decent speed for world wide web

If you choose 3BB, get the Premier package. It costs a bit more than Indy, but has a lower contention ratio which is better for browsing websites outside Thailand. You also get twice the upload speed 1Mbps (vs Indy's 512K).

I'm thinking of switching over myself, not that there's anything wrong with my current provider, but I'm fed up with the constant problems I've been having with my antiquated phone line.

S O P H O N C A B L E

Unfortunately, it's only available in Pattaya. Not an option for those of us living elsewhere.

Give them a call, i am 99.9% sure it is now available in other areas such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and else where, it is NOT same as sophon tv

their number 038 423 000

They rent line from CAT so whereever there is CAT, sophon will be available shortly

[Totster]

Not often I find a Thai company that "under promises and over delivers"

Give it time.. it always starts off good..

totster

[wpcoe]

Indy may also have other restrictions.

Indy has advertised restrictions on VoIP and torrents, whereas Premier does not. That said, I used to have slow but steady torrent downloads on Indy. I never have tried VoIP.

[nikster]

Thanks Robblok for the reply.

So in theory at least, what they are saying is technically possible, rather than fanciful notion?

Technically possible but unlikely. Do you know you have a premier connection?

Promotions change, and if you have an old one, you might very well pay way more than the same speed would be under a new promotion. Just tell them you want to switch to a new promotion.

In theory, premier / business lines should have a lower contention ratio. E.g. instead of sharing your 3Mbit with 50 others, you share only with 20. In practice, it really depends on the provider as well as some other factors on whether or not you get what you pay for. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't.

[Pib]

When it comes to DSL, the contention/user ratio makes a big, big difference, especially for international speed. The contention ratio provided by your ISP usually boils down to a 50 to 1 for normal home use or a 10-20 to 1 for business/home premier type package use.

This "doesn't" mean up to 50 other people might be sharing your local DSL/phone line, it means "after" the DSLAM connection (this is where you DSL/phone line hooks into your local phone/DSL office/station) the contention/user ratio is shared by up to 50 folks. Kinda like a water hose being split out to many other water hoses. With this setup you will probably see top speed on speed tests to in-Thailand web sites/servers, but when going to international web sites your international speed/web access may slow down a whole lot due to a lot of users sharing the outbound international access. How much international bandwidth your ISP provides rents also makes a big difference.

If the "physical" aspects of your phone/DSL line are in good order (i.e., you have a good phone line/DSL connection to your local phone company central office/station), then how fast or slow your DSL connection runs is pretty much determined by your speed of service (2MB, 4MB, etc) "and" contention/user ratio (50 to 1, 10 to 1, etc).

[Spoonman]

4mb upload is huge, I reckon you have the best upload bar none, prolly worldwide.

Just had 3BB installed in Ubon. 590 bt. Done two different speed tests, 5 mb and 4 mb uploads. Now very quick on page turning and foreign sites. For the first time l can watch youtube etc with no stalling. Cool.