2-Mbps Wi-Fi To Be Available Across Thailand In 2 Years

[Crushdepth]

It would be nice if said ministry would stop issuing press releases about what they plan to do and start issuing press releases about what they have actually done.

[tryptamine]

wi-fi? all over the country? simply unrealistic, it means millions of access points

maybe they meant wimax or something similar?

anyway, better they would be quicker with 3G

in Indonesia i have 200 kb/s (that is 1.6 mbit ya) real 3G speed. and several operators have this service too

or unlimited 384kbit for just above 500 baht/mth or 35/day

and it works not only in Jakarta or on Bali

in many major cities and even on Lombok

and of course outside of the 3G coverage i often still get EDGE

that said, with dtac sim it's more difficult to get stuck without any signal or GPRS (no EDGE) only, yes

but it was exactly same 2+ years ago (and that time it was really wonderful, yes) in Thailand! where's the progress?

and yes, dtac has no 3G so far even in Bkk

Edited July 17, 2010 by tryptamine

[snaggletooth]

Great News.....give me an update in two years!

more like 10. The ICT Ministry is too busy blocking sites to do anything. If they say two years multiply that times five. When I moved here seven years ago they were promising 3G in 2004. Has that materialized? By 2010 all of the subway and elevated train routes were to be completed throughout bkk (seven lines), according to plans in 2003.

The government and successive governments and the bureaucrats here have their heads so far up their own butts looking for ways to enrich themselves that they'll never get it done unless they can get rich in the process.

Don't hold your breath.

[hyperdimension]

"The price of the 2 megabit per second internet service is initially set at 150 THB." per ??? (month; hour; minute; sign-on)

Yes, they should have specified the time period. It's yet another example of poor Thai media communication. I'm guessing that it's monthly, as Internet plans are usually billed at such regularity.

Another question is how they could state such a particular price at this early stage.

Edited July 17, 2010 by hyperdimension

[garrfeild]

What about up country? in some areas you still can't get a good signal for the mobile unless you use a signal booster, even then it's hit and miss as to how fast it will be, most times taking a good minute before some pages load. They are going to have to build a few more antenna's if they think wi-fi is going to work here.

[Pui]

How about using the money to improve education?

Educated people are less subservient and more difficult to control through fear. A lot of effort has gone into installing religious and cultural beliefs. Education would mean people would start asking questions.

I'm paying 2,000 baht a month for whats meant to be the fastest service available in Thailand 16mbps and its crap. Its up and down and normally takes 5 secs a page can take 30secs.

its quicker to use free internet in some coffee shops in Bangkok or Pattaya but I don't want to sit there all day. Its a complete rip off. 16mbps is within Thailand.

Like anyone's interested in local content!

The bottleneck is the bandwidth in and out of the country. It doesn't matter what speed we're promised now or in years to come.

By comparison

Hong have got 1000mbps (1gbps) for $26 USD a month.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/04/1gbps-symmetric-fiber-us26-in-hong-kong.ars

Edited July 17, 2010 by Pui

[backsoon]

Yet another pathetic comment from the 'I haven't got a clue' Ministry. I'll bet that the minister in charge of Telecomms and communications doesn't even know how to use a computer

With millions of people using this cheap service it would probably take 2 years to load a single page.....

Your disrespect is misplaced. The Minister does not have to use a computer! He must be CONNECTED!

[webfact]

TELECOM NETWORK

PM bids to bridge digital divide

By USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION

Internet surfing will become more affordable for all Thais, thanks to the government's new project to establish a nationwide broadband network that could entail an investment of over Bt10 billion.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will oversee this development himself, Information and Communications Technology Minister Chuti Krairiksh said yesterday.

"The prime minister has given importance to the project, as it will help improve the country's competitiveness and bridge the digital divide and reduce the gap in the information access of Thais," Chuti said.

Abhisit will utilise his power as chairman of the National Information Technology Committee to follow through on the project. Established by the ICT Ministry and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) before Abhisit became prime minister, the committee will hold its first board meeting next month.

Chuti said his ministry would soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the NTC to partially finance the broadband project with the NTC's telecommunication development fund.

The committee is part of the ministry's initiative on a "wireless-road" project, aiming to provide broadband wireless service at an affordable price across the country.

Broadband Internet is now concentrated in Bangkok and big cities. Bangkok surfers pay about Bt400 monthly for a connection speed of 1 megabits per second (Mbps). But according to Chuti, once the project is completed in the next few years, surfers nationwide will pay only an initial monthly service fee of Bt150 for a connection speed of 2Mbps.

Two state agencies, TOT and CAT Telecom, will take the lead in developing the project, Chuti said.

"I want to make it happen within two years. The faster it can take place, the better for the country," he said.

TOT has proposed a budget of Bt14 billion to develop the nationwide broadband project within five years but Chuti said he would adjust the plan to two years.

Meanwhile, CAT Telecom plans to invest an additional Bt3.8 billion through the CDMA project.

Information technology human resources are necessary to smooth the project. To deal with this issue, the ICT Ministry will soon sign memoranda of understanding with universities in Bangkok, the North and the Northeast. Under the memoranda, the universities will introduce special courses to create the needed expertise.

The ministry will also sign agreements with Rajabhat universities nationwide to produce IT instructors, in cooperation with the Department of Vocational Education and the Department of Skills Development.

It has also set its sights on nurturing 20,000 "cyber scouts" within a year to help improve the digital literacy of people in the provinces. The first group of 200 cyber scouts - all teenagers - completed their training recently.

"We hope that with this project, Thailand's ranking in terms of IT competitiveness will improve," the minister said.

In the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, Thailand fell to 36th place, dropping for the second year in a row. Highlighted as weak points are insufficient protection of property rights (75th) and security (85th). Meanwhile, Thailand's technological readiness (63rd) is also lagging.

-- The Nation 2010-07-17

[Pui]

How about using the money to improve education?

Educated people are less subservient and more difficult to control through fear. A lot of effort has gone into installing religious and cultural beliefs. Education would mean people would start asking questions.

I'm paying 2,000 baht a month for whats meant to be the fastest service available in Thailand 16mbps and its crap. Its up and down and normally takes 5 secs a page can take 30secs.

its quicker in the free interest in some coffee shops. Its a complete rip off. 16mbps is within Thailand. Like anyone's interested in local content.

The bottleneck is the bandwidth in and out of the country. It doesn't matter what speed we're promised in years to come.

By comparison

Hong Kong have got 1000mbps (1gbps) for $26 USD a month.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/04/1gbps-symmetric-fiber-us26-in-hong-kong.ars

[jayjay0]

<br>How about using the money to improve education?<br>

<br><br>Bringing internet to the masses opens up all sorts of possibilities of learning for them and has particularly relevance for schools.  Academically it will herald Thailand into the present century, not to mention it's use as an outstanding business tool.  I do wish you would engage brain before pressing the send button my Friend.<img class="bbc_emoticon" alt="" src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif"><br>

and how is it going to help the have not's. This will not bring Thailand together. Now if they were to supply computers to the ones who can't afford it your post would make sense.

[backsoon]

Well if TOT are administering it, expect there to be blackout periods where the system won't work, connectivity issues where the system keeps disconnecting and if they are quoting speed of 2mbps then it willin fact be 1mbps or slower.<BR><BR>I would say that TOT are the worlds most unreliable internet service provider,compared with other companies in Thailand.

Nobody will ever convince me that anything good will come from TOT. Wrong company.

[writeshack]

People pay 400 baht for a 1 meg service? yeah.. dream on. I pay True twice that for a 512 service in Bangkok and it drops out every few minutes. I pay TOT around 600 baht a month for a 1 meg service in Isarn, and it rarely connects. I have to use a mobile aircard link. I do have direct phonelines.

Edited July 17, 2010 by writeshack

[lounger]

what did you guys expect?

this project is about bring internet to the masses

Exactly! In Singburi province we are still on semaphore.

For two years I have been paying 700baht per month for in indifferent service (so slow sometimes I cant get a speed rating). They advertise 4BB and 10MB in the town but says it will never get to rural as there is not the demand to string the wires, which I dont understand as I have a landline phone.

Using my mobile as connection is a bit slow but only 100baht per month. 30 hrs plus depending on the deals.

So bring on 2mb wifi whatever its called... we the rural masses are looking forward to it.

[Cuban]

It has also set its sights on nurturing 20,000 "cyber scouts" within a year to help improve the digital literacy of people in the provinces. The first group of 200 cyber scouts - all teenagers - completed their training recently.

So they are starting with the highest quality teachers in the subject, although considering the ability of the average Thai teacher to tackle subjects outside their comfort zone...

The two year delay is due to the central IT ministry having to place contracts throughout Issan to breed a special herd of pigs that will carry the WiFi equipment to those hard to reach cities like Khon Kaen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Thailand

Anyway.... I have a 3g (about 1.5mbps) wireless internet connection in Thailand about 8 years ago.. and it worked everywhere apart from Bangkok and Pattaya. It is CAT telecoms EVDO service.. intially i had a sierra wirelesss aircard to make it work before they had the usb dongles.

It was fantastic.. made Thailand leaps and bounds ahead of many western countries with their coverage.. and you couldnt beat the price 600baht per month unlimited in any country I have ever been in even now~~

So who says Thailand is far behind in Internet connectivity ???

Thailand has had 3g for around 8 years!

With All due respect - You clearly don't know what you are talking about.

[speede75]

Well thailand IS behind, and thats ALOT as well.

Take Sweden, there i had 100mbit fiber in my appartment since 2002. These days you are able to get 60-100mbit through either your landline or though your tv-outlet. And on top of this you are now also able to get 4G in Stockholm (as one of the first countries in the world to offer this)

But on the other hand, the internet has improved a great deal just over the last year. The 3BB 10mbit connection actually delivers what they say it should, and ive had it now for close to 10 months!

But for sure, a 2mbit wi-fi would be a most welcome addition!

[Jirapa]

<br>stunning news as the world goes to 20mb by then ok not wireless but <br>

I would be very happy when a 2 Mbps wireless Internet connection will be available at a moderate price in my area (small village in Northeastern Thailand). At the moment, I can only access the worldwide web at a "decent" speed (1 Mbps at its best) via an expensive (almost 2800 baht per month) and not always reliable during the rainy season TOT iPSTAR Satellite broadband connection and no, alas, CAT CDMA-EVDO Rev. A is not available where I live (I'm located too far from their nearest access point).

Where's the nearest telephone point or call box? At 2800B a month might be worth having a line run to your house with TOT. It's a bit expensive so get a quote as might save you in the long run. 2Mbps for wireless is rubbish as in 2 years most places will be able to get 10+Mbps down a phone line for 500B or so a month. My connection on the land line has gone from 1Mbps to 4Mbps in the past 6 months and it's the same price of 590B. Good luck.

[techboy]

Firstly i dont think they are talking about wi-fi they mean wireless interne (2.5g or 3g or whatever you want to call it) at a speed of 2mb.

Long range wi-fi is called wi-max but i dont think thats what they mean.

Anyway.... I have a 3g (about 1.5mbps) wireless internet connection in Thailand about 8 years ago.. and it worked everywhere apart from Bangkok and Pattaya. It is CAT telecoms EVDO service.. intially i had a sierra wirelesss aircard to make it work before they had the usb dongles.

It was fantastic.. made Thailand leaps and bounds ahead of many western countries with their coverage.. and you couldnt beat the price 600baht per month unlimited in any country I have ever been in even now~~

So who says Thailand is far behind in Internet connectivity ???

Thailand has had 3g for around 8 years!

Yeah but that CAT system stalls out a lot on you. Not disconnecting but acts like it is gone and then just decides to come back. If you were daytrading stocks it would give you a frigging heart attack!

[Thaihog]

Bring back Thaksin, he would have the telecomms sorted out in no time at all

I did write something else earlier but the gestapo deleted it

[elcent]

I think it could work out even before that deadline. This was one of Thaksin's secret plans to get his equipment into the market.

[Donnyboy]

<br>stunning news as the world goes to 20mb by then ok not wireless but <br>

I would be very happy when a 2 Mbps wireless Internet connection will be available at a moderate price in my area (small village in Northeastern Thailand). At the moment, I can only access the worldwide web at a "decent" speed (1 Mbps at its best) via an expensive (almost 2800 baht per month) and not always reliable during the rainy season TOT iPSTAR Satellite broadband connection and no, alas, CAT CDMA-EVDO Rev. A is not available where I live (I'm located too far from their nearest access point).

Why not move to civilization? What's the point of retiring if you need to live on rice and beans? I don't get it when other foreigners say they live in far regions of Thailand but complain about the prices of produce, supplies, electronics, internet. You are living out there for a reason and this is not one of them.

yeah, you cant have your somtum and eat it too

[anotheruser]

How about using the money to improve education?

Right. Because the internet has no benefits whatsoever in regards to education.

[Deeral]

<br>stunning news as the world goes to 20mb by then ok not wireless but <br>

I would be very happy when a 2 Mbps wireless Internet connection will be available at a moderate price in my area (small village in Northeastern Thailand). At the moment, I can only access the worldwide web at a "decent" speed (1 Mbps at its best) via an expensive (almost 2800 baht per month) and not always reliable during the rainy season TOT iPSTAR Satellite broadband connection and no, alas, CAT CDMA-EVDO Rev. A is not available where I live (I'm located too far from their nearest access point).

Why not move to civilization? What's the point of retiring if you need to live on rice and beans? I don't get it when other foreigners say they live in far regions of Thailand but complain about the prices of produce, supplies, electronics, internet. You are living out there for a reason and this is not one of them.

Thailand is a wealthy country and I think it's sad that the sum total of foresight the boring unimaginative bland people with the hands on power can think of is a paltry internet project run by an outdated incompetent company, that will actually be overtaken by outside events and technology before it ever gets off the ground.

[GuyL]

<br>stunning news as the world goes to 20mb by then ok not wireless but <br>

I would be very happy when a 2 Mbps wireless Internet connection will be available at a moderate price in my area (small village in Northeastern Thailand). At the moment, I can only access the worldwide web at a "decent" speed (1 Mbps at its best) via an expensive (almost 2800 baht per month) and not always reliable during the rainy season TOT iPSTAR Satellite broadband connection and no, alas, CAT CDMA-EVDO Rev. A is not available where I live (I'm located too far from their nearest access point).

Why not move to civilization? What's the point of retiring if you need to live on rice and beans? I don't get it when other foreigners say they live in far regions of Thailand but complain about the prices of produce, supplies, electronics, internet. You are living out there for a reason and this is not one of them.

I'm not a retiree and my only complaint is the lack of a decent Internet connection at a moderate price.

[GuyL]

<br>stunning news as the world goes to 20mb by then ok not wireless but <br>

I would be very happy when a 2 Mbps wireless Internet connection will be available at a moderate price in my area (small village in Northeastern Thailand). At the moment, I can only access the worldwide web at a "decent" speed (1 Mbps at its best) via an expensive (almost 2800 baht per month) and not always reliable during the rainy season TOT iPSTAR Satellite broadband connection and no, alas, CAT CDMA-EVDO Rev. A is not available where I live (I'm located too far from their nearest access point).

Why not move to civilization? What's the point of retiring if you need to live on rice and beans? I don't get it when other foreigners say they live in far regions of Thailand but complain about the prices of produce, supplies, electronics, internet. You are living out there for a reason and this is not one of them.

Hold your horses ezee. The Guy is only welcoming in the potential arrival of an improved service and explaining the standard of service he currently has. I don't think he needs to be lectured by you, or anyone else about where he lives and why. If (despite slow internet) he is happy there, power to his elbow, because there are certainly an awful lot of drink sodden (or otherwise) miserable sods who have come to Thailand and all they do is complain.

Thank you, robertson468! That was exactly my point.

[GuyL]

<br>stunning news as the world goes to 20mb by then ok not wireless but <br>

I would be very happy when a 2 Mbps wireless Internet connection will be available at a moderate price in my area (small village in Northeastern Thailand). At the moment, I can only access the worldwide web at a "decent" speed (1 Mbps at its best) via an expensive (almost 2800 baht per month) and not always reliable during the rainy season TOT iPSTAR Satellite broadband connection and no, alas, CAT CDMA-EVDO Rev. A is not available where I live (I'm located too far from their nearest access point).

Where's the nearest telephone point or call box? At 2800B a month might be worth having a line run to your house with TOT. It's a bit expensive so get a quote as might save you in the long run. 2Mbps for wireless is rubbish as in 2 years most places will be able to get 10+Mbps down a phone line for 500B or so a month. My connection on the land line has gone from 1Mbps to 4Mbps in the past 6 months and it's the same price of 590B. Good luck.

It's not possible to have a land phone line to my house, alas. I've already been at the local TOT office and asked them, but they refused and explained that the infrastructure is too old for Internet connection in my area.

[Pib]

There are still so many expats mostly living in locations like Bangkok, Pattaya, highrises/condos, etc., (civilization in their minds) who just don't understand the fact that most of Thailand has poor phone/DSL line infrastructure. This poor and costly "copper line" infrastructure is one reason cell phone usage became so wide spread in Thailand and similar 3d world nations, and "wireless" internet in Thailand will also probably take off over the coming few years as it's a way to expand revenue growth for communications companies/the government since cell phone growth has basically plateaued in Thailand.

I hope the government's goal to have the plan widespread comes true within 2 years, but it will probably take 5 or more years if things go well and they don't swap out governments every year or two.

[hawksway]

Too little detail. What is the technology to be used? Perhaps WiMax which for 3 years has had Intel Mobile WiMax.

Normally it's what is not announced that happens and that which is announced gets forgotten.

[sirchai]

Firstly i dont think they are talking about wi-fi they mean wireless interne (2.5g or 3g or whatever you want to call it) at a speed of 2mb.

Long range wi-fi is called wi-max but i dont think thats what they mean.

Anyway.... I have a 3g (about 1.5mbps) wireless internet connection in Thailand about 8 years ago.. and it worked everywhere apart from Bangkok and Pattaya. It is CAT telecoms EVDO service.. intially i had a sierra wirelesss aircard to make it work before they had the usb dongles.

It was fantastic.. made Thailand leaps and bounds ahead of many western countries with their coverage.. and you couldnt beat the price 600baht per month unlimited in any country I have ever been in even now~~

So who says Thailand is far behind in Internet connectivity ???

Thailand has had 3g for around 8 years!

Thailand is amazing!!!

Edited July 17, 2010 by sirchai

[surangw]

"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); line-height: 21px; ">(ICT) promises"</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); line-height: 21px; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); line-height: 21px; "><br></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(28, 40, 55); line-height: 21px; ">promises are cheep  ( you get what you pay for)  more hot air than substance </span></div>

[sirchai]

<br>stunning news as the world goes to 20mb by then ok not wireless but <br>

I would be very happy when a 2 Mbps wireless Internet connection will be available at a moderate price in my area (small village in Northeastern Thailand). At the moment, I can only access the worldwide web at a "decent" speed (1 Mbps at its best) via an expensive (almost 2800 baht per month) and not always reliable during the rainy season TOT iPSTAR Satellite broadband connection and no, alas, CAT CDMA-EVDO Rev. A is not available where I live (I'm located too far from their nearest access point).

Why not move to civilization? What's the point of retiring if you need to live on rice and beans? I don't get it when other foreigners say they live in far regions of Thailand but complain about the prices of produce, supplies, electronics, internet. You are living out there for a reason and this is not one of them.

yeah, you cant have your somtum and eat it too

Why not move to civilization? Rice and beans? We're living 'out there' for some reasons. One could be people like you. I don't get it when people like you are writing stories about things they obviously don't know.

Edited July 17, 2010 by sirchai