3G News & Developments

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Loma, I'm trying to go the other direction, as in... a U.S. prepaid number and SIM that will roam internationally in Thailand (just for rare rare use, so rates aren't really an issue).

But as best as I can tell, T-Mobile doesn't have roaming agreements for Thailand at all... and while ATT does, they appear to only be available to their contract subscribers and not on any of their prepaid services.

Anyone you know who can provide a U.S. pre-paid GSM SIM that will roam in Thailand???

Edited April 15, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[skippybangkok]

Was on Roaming..... iPhone 4s ..... I was with some techs from Comcast, even they bitched about AT&T

[Digitalbanana]

DTAC Plans 3G Expansion

Thailand's DTAC Planning to Upgrade 11,000 Base Station to 3G

On a day when the main news story is about who projected porn in parliament it is good to note that the state of DTAC's plight has not changed for me in the past 5 or 6 years whereas neighboring countries are forging ahead beyond 3G. A reply below I got from DTAC this week on why I still don't have 3G - even though they offered it last week <deleted>!

Dear Customer,

First of all, we would like to inform you that for some area in ??? are on trial for 3G service

so that’s why you could use the service if the network swing to the nearest cell site; however, if the signal drops

or poor, the speed will automatically drop down. However, our concern party are considering to improve 3G in

many provinces. If dtac 3G has formal launch, we will advertise to customers again.

Best regards,

E-Service unit

Ms. ??? ???

-------------------------------------------

From: ????

Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 4:54:52 PM

To: Feedback

Cc: Feedback

Subject: Re: 3G service

Dear Happy DTAC,

It's been almost FOUR years since I last emailed on the subject of 3G (below) and I now notice on your web site that 3G coverage is finally available in ????? - where I have moved to from Bangkok.

http://www.dtac.co.t...coverage-en.php

However since several days my phone (Samsung Galaxy S2) has changed back to a very slow EDGE signal and there is no 3G despite us living in the high signal area of your coverage. Around 12-Apr we had strong 3G signal from DTAC, now only EDGE. Has DTAC turned 3G off? When can we expect a 3G signal or what should be done?

Kind rgds

Khun ????

Mobile phone number/#668???

From: Feedback <[email protected]>

To: ?????

Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 2:06 PM

Subject: 3G service

Details/#Dear Happy!

I have been using your Happy service for over 4 years and still notice there is no 3G network in Bangkok, unlike in most other major cities in Asia?

Do I have an incompatible 3G phone that I purchased in Bangkok last year or does DTAC have no 3G service?

Kind rgds,

????

Dear Sir,

According to your inquiry about 3G service. First of all, we apologise that 3G service is not

applied to our network right now. We take this matter seriously to be considered in order to apply

and fulfill customers' satisfaction.

However, one of the factors 3G service will be applied or not is the allowance policy of The

National Telecommunications Commission.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if there is anything else we can do for you. Thank you for

taking your time to contact us. We value your opinions and appreciate your concerns.

Best Regard,

E-Service unit

Ms.????

[lomatopo]

^Where are you located? Do others nearby get 3G from DTAC? Do you have the APN configured? Do you have a 3G data plan? I can't follow your/DTAC's email string, or make sense of it (I realize English is not your primary or first language.).

Maybe best to port your number to AIS or TrueMove H?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It's not prior poster who's having an English problem. It's the DTAC CSR email responses to him that are having a problem with English.

That aside, it looked pretty clear to me... He was posting his email and DTAC's answer from several years ago (2008) asking why he didn't have DTAC 3G service in BKK, and above that his more recent email exchange with them in which he still wasn't getting 3G in his new home outside BKK, despite having seen it show up on his phone briefly at a recent point in time.

[Digitalbanana]

Yes, TallGuy got it right on the ball. I was just having fun with DTAC support by email whose English isn't native but meaning understood. My niggle with DTAC was nothing has changed for the last several years but they didn't bite as its understandably out of their control. My phone settings are all good, and my 3G signal lasted until about 12-Apr then went away. I was trying it in central Nakhon Sithammarat city where currently there appears to be no 3G again, although we had it recently. Part of the ever, never ending, test periods for DTAC outside Bangkok I would guess. In Bangkok it works fine since late last year so I guess there is some progress since my first asking in 2008!?

[lomatopo]

Yes, TallGuy got it right on the ball. I was just having fun with DTAC support by email whose English isn't native but meaning understood. My niggle with DTAC was nothing has changed for the last several years but they didn't bite as its understandably out of their control. My phone settings are all good, and my 3G signal lasted until about 12-Apr then went away. I was trying it in central Nakhon Sithammarat city where currently there appears to be no 3G again, although we had it recently. Part of the ever, never ending, test periods for DTAC outside Bangkok I would guess. In Bangkok it works fine since late last year so I guess there is some progress since my first asking in 2008!?

OK. Funny, I could understand the DTAC emails but I couldn't understand yours, or your post?

DTAC has greatly expanded their 3G but is certainly still behind CAT/TrueMove H and TOT re: coverage. Not sure what your goal is exactly? If it's broader coverage for 3G then the solution is obvious?

DTAC's website shows 3G coverage in Nakhon Si Thammarat so suspect you have an equipment/configuration issue or perhaps were outside the coverage areas?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

FWIW, I had a similar episode occur a few months back with TOT/I-Mobile's 3G network in BKK...

Had been using it for many months with no problem and always a full bars signal at my BKK home. Then suddenly one day, everything changed... My phone and everything else was the same. But suddenly my 3G signal on their network dropped to barely 1 bar at my same home where I'd been all along.

All my calls and even office visits contacting I-Mobile and TOT produced no answers or any help. At first I thought maybe they were just having a temporary service outage where maybe one of their cell sites close to my home went down, so my phone was having to catch a signal from a more remote location. But then that almost no signal status continued on and on and never changed or went back to its prior normal.

In the end, I had to ditch their service and sign up with another provider instead.

Edited April 24, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Digitalbanana]

DTAC's website shows 3G coverage in Nakhon Si Thammarat so suspect you have an equipment/configuration issue or perhaps were outside the coverage areas?

Yes, I'm in the dark blue area - last week until 12-Apr it was H connection all day - now never changes from E(dge). DTAC service isn't working - wonder if the True Map http://www3.truecorp...eh/icoveragemap is telling the truth unlike the DTAC for Nakhon Sithammarat?

Edited April 24, 2012 by Digitalbanana

[Digitalbanana]

Further to my disappointment as of late with DTAC, I found that the only place with H(SPA) signal in Nakhon Si Thamarrat is now the Robinson Ocean Dept store on the first and second floors only! And even then I can get only about 150kbps. Everywhere else in the vicinity is E(dge) signal only.

Back in Bangkok now I can get a H(SPA) signal almost all places I go but only download speeds of no more than 480kbps (although spiking to over 1mbsp for a brief moment on Speedtest). Last time I was here was getting at least 3mbps. Almost time to give up with DTAC? I do love their low prices and prompt service replies in English but the network sucks. Trouble is my phone number is long established and I'd rather keep it or is True the only way forward?

[skippybangkok]

..............Trouble is my phone number is long established and I'd rather keep it or is True the only way forward?

Well, with MNP you can keep you number and move to any operator you want now.....been in existence for a year. As p mentioned in previous posts, on a drive to Khon Kaen, TrueH coverage was 78%, DTAC on the same route was 26%.

On the train to chiang mai, it was alost 100% vs DTAC 12%.

TallGuy, as for the coverage maps, because they have jaggered edges and seem quite hap hazard, i would say they are real, but............ it could be a design which is under implementation, or already implemented. True has tons of network now for 3G. I can confirm the Phuket part where i went sailing is correct, we had 3G all over the stretch of water between phuket, krabi and Lanta

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I went to the DTAC Hall at Siam Paragon the other day (Sat) wanting to get a prepaid (disposable) SIM on their service pretty much just for calling.

To my amazement, the English speaking guy at their shop there said they didn't have any prepaid SIMs to sell me, and then told me I'd need to go to 7-11 or the nearby Jaymart shop in order to buy one.. That seemed very strange.

But then it got better, as we talked more, the DTAC guy ended up adding that even if I did go and buy their SIM elsewhere, I wouldn't be able to activate my new SIM immediately... I asked, do you mean it would take a couple hours or so. And he replied no.... they were having some kind of network problem (he said) that at that time was preventing them from activating any new prepaid SIMs... I asked how soon the problem would be fixed, the next day, a day or two??? He couldn't say and didn't know... just that it wouldn't work then.

I ended up getting a prepaid True Move H SIM at the nearby Digital Gateway shop...

What the heck is going on with DTAC? No SIMs and can't activate new accounts?

Edited May 7, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[skippybangkok]

I went to the DTAC Hall at Siam Paragon the other day (Sat) wanting to get a prepaid (disposable) SIM on their service pretty much just for calling.

To my amazement, the English speaking guy at their shop there said they didn't have any prepaid SIMs to sell me, and then told me I'd need to go to 7-11 or the nearby Jaymart shop in order to buy one.. That seemed very strange.

But then it got better, as we talked more, the DTAC guy ended up adding that even if I did go and buy their SIM elsewhere, I wouldn't be able to activate my new SIM immediately... I asked, do you mean it would take a couple hours or so. And he replied no.... they were having some kind of network problem (he said) that at that time was preventing them from activating any new prepaid SIMs... I asked how soon the problem would be fixed, the next day, a day or two??? He couldn't say and didn't know... just that it wouldn't work then.

I ended up getting a prepaid True Move H SIM at the nearby Digital Gateway shop...

What the heck is going on with DTAC? No SIMs and can't activate new accounts?

Yeh, not sure whats up with them lately, but they are getting bad press lately, especially for Network Quality. The recent satisfaction surveys, DTAC ended up getting 3rd place for network quality, with AIS #1 and True in #2 ( for a first ).

[lomatopo]

Trouble is my phone number is long established and I'd rather keep it or is True the only way forward?

You should experiment with a TrueMove H SIM, and then if satisfied port your number. It is relatively easy to do. Note that you can forward your calls to another number during any experimentation.

http://www.truemove-h.com/en//mnp.aspx

I continue to get great 3G performance with DTAC in Bangkok.

FWIW, all the service providers steer pre-paid SIM purchases to alternate channels these days. I tried to buy a TrueMove H SIM in a TrueMove shop and was directed to a nearby counter shop. I think this is standard now?

My Aunt did purchase a Happy pre-paid SIM, with a new phone, yesterday at Seacon and the woman in the shop successfully activated the Happy SIM so not sure what was up? I did scan some Thai forms and did not see any references to this issue over the last 48 hours? My DTAC/Happy 3G service re-upped today successfully.

We used a TrueMove H SIM for Songkhran, and were able to get 3G in Phrae, however off-net call completion was less than 50%, off-net call quality abysmal, SMSes were often undelivered or delivered many hours later. Worth it for the 3G but not for basic communications. This is just one data point of course, but there are many, many similar complaints on both Thai and English forums here so not difficult to understand why TrueMove remains the #3 service provider here. They are number one is losing money however.

Edited May 7, 2012 by lomatopo

[skippybangkok]

Worth it for the 3G but not for basic communications. This is just one data point of course, but there are many, many similar complaints on both Thai and English forums here so not difficult to understand why TrueMove remains the #3 service provider here.

What a load of dollup .... i guess the next comment will be DTAC is not the sole provider on the Space Station too.

[lomatopo]

Further to my disappointment as of late with DTAC, I found that the only place with H(SPA) signal in Nakhon Si Thamarrat is now the Robinson Ocean Dept store on the first and second floors only! And even then I can get only about 150kbps. Everywhere else in the vicinity is E(dge) signal only.

Back in Bangkok now I can get a H(SPA) signal almost all places I go but only download speeds of no more than 480kbps (although spiking to over 1mbsp for a brief moment on Speedtest). Last time I was here was getting at least 3mbps. Almost time to give up with DTAC? I do love their low prices and prompt service replies in English but the network sucks. Trouble is my phone number is long established and I'd rather keep it or is True the only way forward?

Can you share what type of device you have? If Android are you running a custom ROM? And if Android, can you look at Settings, About phone, Baseband version, and share the Baseband version? It sounds like you may have a crappy modem?

I can run KC1, or JK4 and get good results with DTAC, but if I use some of the other modems I get really poor performance. Most custom ROMs do not have the best modems for use here, IME. (Note that my previous speedtest result posted above was with KC1, this one with JK4; these are the two best modems I've found after testing close to one hundred.)

Edited May 7, 2012 by lomatopo

[Digitalbanana]

I'm running the Samsung supplied Android 2.3.6 on a Galaxy S2. No root. Results tonight in Bangkok are nothing like yours or what I got 2 or 3 months ago. Perhaps I need to visit DTAC and ask &lt;deleted&gt; is going on before cancelling? I have Happy prepaid with about 3000THB of credit if that's an issue - should I switch to post paid or do both use same network?

[skippybangkok]

I'm running the Samsung supplied Android 2.3.6 on a Galaxy S2. No root. Results tonight in Bangkok are nothing like yours or what I got 2 or 3 months ago. Perhaps I need to visit DTAC and ask &lt;deleted&gt; is going on before cancelling? I have Happy prepaid with about 3000THB of credit if that's an issue - should I switch to post paid or do both use same network?

Just give up, their network is inferior. Like putting a square peg in a round hole

Try AIS or True

( Waow .... Love that pic, DTAC has real good 2G ! ....oops, that's supposed to be 3G )

Edited May 7, 2012 by skippybangkok

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Loma, re your comments above about SIM sales, as with many things here, YMMV...

--In the past, I've bought SIMs direct from DTAC shops without any problem. And this wasn't just any DTAC shop, but one of their service halls in Paragon.

--When I want to True's Digital Gateway shop later that day after striking out with DTAC, that True shop was doing a brisk business selling both prepaid and post paid SIMs to both Thai and farang customers while I was there.

So they at least certainly weren't sending customers elsewhere to get their SIMs. They had the usual drawers full of SIM packets and the sheets with all the various available numbers listed.

Edited May 7, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[lomatopo]

I'm running the Samsung supplied Android 2.3.6 on a Galaxy S2. No root. Results tonight in Bangkok are nothing like yours or what I got 2 or 3 months ago. Perhaps I need to visit DTAC and ask &lt;deleted&gt; is going on before cancelling? I have Happy prepaid with about 3000THB of credit if that's an issue - should I switch to post paid or do both use same network?

Do you really have three thousand baht pre-paid credit on your Happy SIM? Or is it 300 baht? In case you were unaware you would lose that if porting to another service provider. I honestly can't see any reason for carrying a balance that high.

You should experiment with a TrueMove H and/or AIS/One-2-call SIM just to eliminate any hardware or firmware issues. We have an SGS2 in the family but it is not handy today, I can say it is an i9100 rather than an i9100T. There were some informed posts regarding this i9100T, that it was custom tuned with HW and FW for Telstra's 850 Mhz network in Australia and then pedaled here for True/DTAC. There have also been a lot of complaints regarding this version, and I would always recommend it be avoided. The i9100 I have access to has run DTAC, AIS and Truemove H and it routinely gets over 10 Mbps (down) on DTAC, but only ~ 1 Mbps up. With TrueMove H it usually gets 1 Mbps down and up.

I can do a bit more research on the i9100/i9100T and associated modems.

Note that 2G is limited to 236.8 Kbps so you are clearly not getting 2G service.

My hardware is limited to 7.2 Mbps hence my speedtest results cannot get up to double-digits...

Edited May 8, 2012 by lomatopo

[lomatopo]

CIMB report on DTAC: http://www.cimbsecur...DTAC-040512.pdf

Downgraded from Outperform to Neutral.

Some good detail including the 3G roll-out, "CEO also said that the company would allocate a majority portion of its THB8bn-9bn capex budget in FY12 to roll out another 3,000 3G/850MHz cell

sites (5,000 cell sites in total) throughout this year. This would increase DTAC’s 3G coverage to up to 50-60% population coverage."

which would seem to indicate they have 2,000 3G base-stations currently.

They were profitable, as were AIS. Haven't seen True's mobile numbers from Q1 (expected May 22) yet but they typically lose money every year/quarter.

Edited May 8, 2012 by lomatopo

[lomatopo]

Here is an example of a poor baseband modem on DTAC (Same location as my previous speedtests):

(and a cell mast map for DTAC in/around Siam Square)

[lomatopo]

An interesting article which the True believers will find fault with...The author is a real thorn in the side of the incompetent vested interests at True.

http://www.telecomas...ying-regulators

Don Sambandaraksa

More DTAC bullying by regulators

January 26, 2012

There is a difference between running a telco business and regulating a telco industry, an analogy being the difference between a football team manger and a referee. However, it is a difference that Thailand’s new regulator seems to have missed in all the announcements last week. In a move that can only be described as micro-managing the players, regulator the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has threatened DTAC with repercussions up to revocation of DTAC’s concession if quality of service continues to slip. The warning was motivated by the operator's repeated network crashes over the last month and a half. It has also ordered a halt in database migration until further notice.

Apparently, the NBTC did not buy in to DTAC’s explanation that the network outages were caused by unbelievably bad luck - a car crash severing one fibre line followed by a bush fire taking out the redundant link within the space of three minutes being the cause of its latest network crash. Newspapers were out for blood. “DTAC suffers mass exodus due to network outages,” one leading English newspaper’s headline went. Another Thai daily ran the headline, “DTAC unable to answer to network crashes.”

Only, the so-called mass exodus amounted to 3,000 of its 23 million users leaving the network in December up from the usual 1,000 a month. That works out at 0.01%. Put another way, DTAC may have suffered network problems, but 99.99% of its users decided not to jump ship in December. The public relations onslaught against DTAC was spoon-fed to the media by one of the new NBTC commissioners who also in the same week announced a price cap on significant players. AIS and DTAC, with a market share of 43% and 30% respectively, will soon be faced with a 0.99 baht per minute maximum price cap for voice calls. Third placed TrueMove escapes it for now and the same regulator is considering whether to treat TrueMove and TrueMove H as one entity or two in its calculations.

The silver lining is that despite the hiccups, despite the war, both of words and bullets, that has been waged against it, users are sticking to DTAC because of the network quality. AIS’ 3G network is a mess due to lack of planning and equipment from every vendor under the sun, TrueMove might have raw speed, but it does not seem to understand the need for low-latency connections and its over-aggressive use of transparent proxies make you wonder if you are connected to the internet or a ghost of the internet at times, while TOT still thinks that indoor and out of Bangkok coverage is optional now into its third year of operations.

Edited May 8, 2012 by lomatopo

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It has also ordered a halt in database migration until further notice.

I'm wondering if this all above has any relation to DTAC's inability to activate new prepaid service for me the other day....

Re the 1 baht per minute price cap on DTAC and AIS, when I signed up for a prepaid smartphone SIM with True Move H the other day, the standard plan the staff there offered me, and I accepted, supposedly was 1 baht per minute for calls...

BTW, I haven't seen any evidence that the supposed 1 baht per minute cap on voice calls via DTAC and AIS networks has been implemented as yet. In looking at the DTAC website and service plans the other day, they had the usual range of multiple plans and promotions with pricing all over the place.

Edited May 8, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[lomatopo]

This recent report has a lot of detail re: the upcoming 3G auction: (starts on page 5)

http://portal.settrade.com/brokerpage/IPO/Research/upload/2000000181209/Daily_2012_05_03_e_th.pdf

Positive message from NBTC

Following our recent visit with Colonel Settapong, a member of the National Broadcasting and Telecom Commission (NBTC) and chairman

of the telecom committee, we reiterate our view that the auction on 3G licenses on 2.1GHz spectrum should be the real deal this time and

should take place in October. This is not a surprise to us and the market since the share prices of cellular companies have skyrocketed

almost 50% over the past nine months. Therefore, we maintain our Neutral weighting on the sector. However, one positive message from

NBTC that we believe the market has not fully factored into the share prices is the potential revision to the foreign dominance rule.

According to NBTC, the committee is revising the foreign dominance rule to be more relaxed than the previous version. Definitely,

Advanced Info Service (ADVA.BK/ADVANC TB)* and Total Access Communication (DTAC.BK/DTAC TB)* would be the key beneficiaries

of a less stringent rule. However, if we look at the performances of their share prices, DTAC’s share price has underperformed ADVANC’s

due to concerns on this issue. With the potential of a less stringent foreign dominance rule and the 3G licensing, we reiterate our

Outperform rating on DTAC with a target price of Bt100.00.

We reiterate our Neutral weighting on the ICT sector, since the share prices of telecom stocks have surged over the past six months

and significantly outperformed SET. The benefits of 3G licensing seem to already be reflected in the share prices. The high dividend

yields are still the attraction for investing in the telecom sector in Thailand. DTAC is the only stock that we rate Outperform for the

sector. The company offers a high dividend yield and it will be the prime beneficiary of the upcoming 3G licensing, but the share price

does not appear to fully factor in these benefits

[Digitalbanana]

Do you really have three thousand baht pre-paid credit on your Happy SIM? Or is it 300 baht? In case you were unaware you would lose that if porting to another service provider. I honestly can't see any reason for carrying a balance that high.

Yes, a long story but I was given some top up cards for free, and had to use them all before expiry date so I got 3000THB of credit.

I found out something today I didn't know about my HAPPY Internet Plan. The plan only allows a maximum 384kbps download speed as part of FAIR USAGE based on its price which is cheap 20hrs/month access for 99THB which I've had since before 3G started! When I enabled 3G using the *3000# activate message DTAC never thought to tell me what the FAIR USAGE plan was for 3G - and actually I was surfing at 4-6mbps download back in February this yr so thought nothing of it.

I got this information from DTAC today by email from them. I have now asked for what FAIR USAGE PLANS are available that allow 3G/H speeds.I need something cheaper end or pay as you go since I am not always in country to use it every month. Not sure what options are as DTAC hasn't responded yet.

Edited May 8, 2012 by Digitalbanana

[skippybangkok]

An interesting article which the True believers will find fault with...The author is a real thorn in the side of the incompetent vested interests at True.

http://www.telecomas...ying-regulators

Don Sambandaraksa

More DTAC bullying by regulators

January 26, 2012

There is a difference between running a telco business and regulating a telco industry, an analogy being the difference between a football team manger and a referee. However, it is a difference that Thailand’s new regulator seems to have missed in all the announcements last week. In a move that can only be described as micro-managing the players, regulator the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has threatened DTAC with repercussions up to revocation of DTAC’s concession if quality of service continues to slip. The warning was motivated by the operator's repeated network crashes over the last month and a half. It has also ordered a halt in database migration until further notice.

Apparently, the NBTC did not buy in to DTAC’s explanation that the network outages were caused by unbelievably bad luck - a car crash severing one fibre line followed by a bush fire taking out the redundant link within the space of three minutes being the cause of its latest network crash. Newspapers were out for blood. “DTAC suffers mass exodus due to network outages,†one leading English newspaper’s headline went. Another Thai daily ran the headline, “DTAC unable to answer to network crashes.â€

Only, the so-called mass exodus amounted to 3,000 of its 23 million users leaving the network in December up from the usual 1,000 a month. That works out at 0.01%. Put another way, DTAC may have suffered network problems, but 99.99% of its users decided not to jump ship in December. The public relations onslaught against DTAC was spoon-fed to the media by one of the new NBTC commissioners who also in the same week announced a price cap on significant players. AIS and DTAC, with a market share of 43% and 30% respectively, will soon be faced with a 0.99 baht per minute maximum price cap for voice calls. Third placed TrueMove escapes it for now and the same regulator is considering whether to treat TrueMove and TrueMove H as one entity or two in its calculations.

The silver lining is that despite the hiccups, despite the war, both of words and bullets, that has been waged against it, users are sticking to DTAC because of the network quality. AIS’ 3G network is a mess due to lack of planning and equipment from every vendor under the sun, TrueMove might have raw speed, but it does not seem to understand the need for low-latency connections and its over-aggressive use of transparent proxies make you wonder if you are connected to the internet or a ghost of the internet at times, while TOT still thinks that indoor and out of Bangkok coverage is optional now into its third year of operations.

Written by Eddie, or did DTAC pay someone this time ?

[lomatopo]

I'm wondering if this all above has any relation to DTAC's inability to activate new prepaid service for me the other day....

Re the 1 baht per minute price cap on DTAC and AIS, when I signed up for a prepaid smartphone SIM with True Move H the other day, the standard plan the staff there offered me, and I accepted, supposedly was 1 baht per minute for calls...

BTW, I haven't seen any evidence that the supposed 1 baht per minute cap on voice calls via DTAC and AIS networks has been implemented as yet. In looking at the DTAC website and service plans the other day, they had the usual range of multiple plans and promotions with pricing all over the place.

If you will note the article is old, and it was the NBTC who "ordered" the halt in database migration; I assume DTAC did not do this? BTW, I tried to buy a pre-paid TueMove H SIM at the flashy True shop in Siam Paragon yesterday and was turned away. I did buy a DTAC/Happy pre-paid SIM (49 baht) at a counter shop in MBK and successfully activated it and added value.

The "price cap" should actually be referred to as a "price floor", meaning that DTAC and AIS are prevented from offering "standard" plans with voice calls at less than 1 baht/min, but of course TrueMove - /H is not.

Yes, a long story but I was given some top up cards for free, and had to use them all before expiry date so I got 3000THB of credit.

I found out something today I didn't know about my HAPPY Internet Plan. The plan only allows a maximum 384kbps download speed as part of FAIR USAGE based on its price which is cheap 20hrs/month access for 99THB which I've had since before 3G started! When I enabled 3G using the *3000# activate message DTAC never thought to tell me what the FAIR USAGE plan was for 3G - and actually I was surfing at 4-6mbps download back in February this yr so thought nothing of it.

I got this information from DTAC today by email from them. I have now asked for what FAIR USAGE PLANS are available that allow 3G/H speeds.I need something cheaper end or pay as you go since I am not always in country to use it every month. Not sure what options are as DTAC hasn't responded yet.

You should look into a daily or weekly plan, both which DTAC/Happy offer. Of course your choice of a time-based plan now explains your speed results; I am pretty sure all Happy pre-paid Internet time-based plans are capped at 384 Kbps, for obvious reasons. The fair-use policies are in place at almost all service providers, and TrueMove H actually caps some plans at a paltry 64 Kbps! Glad we finally got to the bottom of your "issue".

http://www.happy.co....mid=368〈=en

edited to add: As far as I can determine TrueMove H does not offer any time-based 3G packages. TrueMove does have some time-based packages but you do not want to use TrueMove as they are closing down their "trial" 3G network. AIS/One-2-Call does have some time-based 3G packages but they are of course capped at 384 Kbps, which is what you'd expect.

Written by Eddie, or did DTAC pay someone this time ?

The author is Don Sambandaraksa. I suspect he knows a bit more about the local telecomms scene than you? Or those imbeciles at TrueMove.

Edited May 9, 2012 by lomatopo

[skippybangkok]

Analyst Report on True

UOB - A good quarter ahead

• Strong iPhone sales - True Mobile Group has captured the lion's share of iPhone sales and is far ahead of AIS and DTAC.
  

Obviously the leader in 3G........ expect more "govt" (aka AIS lobby ) investigations into the CAT-True deal to try to slow things down

[lomatopo]

Analyst Report on True

UOB - A good quarter ahead

• Strong iPhone sales - True Mobile Group has captured the lion's share of iPhone sales and is far ahead of AIS and DTAC.
  

Obviously the leader in 3G........ expect more "govt" (aka AIS lobby ) investigations into the CAT-True deal to try to slow things down

Good to see TrueMove is good at something other than providing mobile telephony and data service! Not sure their core business is selling hardware, but when you offer up to 50% off then one would expect them to move a lot of units. (Yes, locking customers in for two years, and getting them to pre-pay for the most expensive plan for 8 months was quite brilliant.)

Everyone knows the CAT-True deal(s) were "shady"; nothing is really illegal here.

I still find it amazing that True is still not paying CAT any concession fees for 3G! Now wonder CAT is considering dropping TrueMove H as a reseller.

Is that last quote attributable to you?