I discovered on Friday, by chance, during a visit to the CAT office in Chiang Rai, that the mast that provides CDMA coverage to the Mae Yao area and located in Huay Pra Khan is probably being switched off and decommissioned on Monday 25th July. No notice given.

They say they will locate the transceivers to another mast in the area.

Therefore if you use CAT CDMA and currently get a signal from the mast in Huay Pra Khan, you just may not have Internet service after 25th July. If this is the case, and your signal goes to ZERO, go to the CAT office and let them know so they are aware of the impact of this action.

The reason for this ? I have had two explanations.

1) The land on which the mast is located has been sold and the new owners will not renew the lease to CAT, and told them to remove it.

2) Some local residents lodged a complaint with a Government environmental agency in Bangkok stating health concerns from the radiation - apparently pre-empted by an article in the Thai press relating to electromagnetic radiation from transmission towers. That agency has instructed CAT to switch off the tower.

If it is the latter - a lot of scrap metal will be for sale soon - maybe countrywide !!

All a bit sad really - as I finally got a good signal and speed from that mast after a lot of visits to CAT - and now probably have to start all over again

Hoping that they do not switch it off !!

The contract wouldn't be cancelled by change of land ownership.

It's like buying a house that has a long term lease on it, the tenant would be difficult to get rid of.

Local Thais concerned with radiation? I seriously doubt this.

The most logical reason is the tower has problems and will be either fixed or replaced. May be being upgraded in their 3G deal with True?

The contract wouldn't be cancelled by change of land ownership.

It's like buying a house that has a long term lease on it, the tenant would be difficult to get rid of.

Local Thais concerned with radiation? I seriously doubt this.

The most logical reason is the tower has problems and will be either fixed or replaced. May be being upgraded in their 3G deal with True?

Apparently , if the infornation is correct, the instruction to shut it down for 'health reasons' came from the Office for Consumer Protection in Bangkok

In Thai - สำนักงานคุ้มครองผู้บริโภค

Ours is not to reason why . . . let's see what happens tomorrow