4 Phone Operators Launch Collaborative Wifi Campaign

[Lite Beer]

WIFI SERVICE

4 phone operators launch collaborative WiFi campaign

The Nation

Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery join hand with 4 telecom giants to launch the mobile data service through the Wifi network, covering all the 3 shopping centres in the heart of Bangkok with a total area of over 600,000 sqm.

For the first time in Thailand, this campaign won collaboration from the four telecom giants - Advanced Info Service Plc, Total Access Communication Plc, TOT Plc and True Move Ltd.

With the latest technology, the Wifi service is provided through the network with maximum stability, giving customers with satisfaction of constant online as they keep abreast with their favorite social networks in any formats. The service is specially designed in response to the lifestyle of trendsetters as well as businessmen, shoppers and tourists to stay connected always, anywhere and anytime.

Chadatip Chutrakul, CEO of Siam Paragon Development Co Ltd and Siam Piwat Co Ltd, revealed that these 3 shopping centres, which draw local and foreign shoppers to over 500 Thai and international leading brands, target shoppers of urbanite's lifestyle who are always ahead with the latest technology. Cooperation with the four telecom giants would elevate the ICT service to superiority.

The wireless system was integrated to the 3 shopping centres to fulfill the lifestyle of over 150,000 visitors on a daily basis to enjoy their wireless connection and total access to all information and entertained embedded in every corner of Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery.

The WIFI network will work in integration with the existing mobile data networks of the 4 mobile operators in these buildings. Therefore, users can enjoy their smart phone, smart device, tablet, notebook or any WIFI-enabled devices on the enhanced, efficient and swift data service and stay connected to the online world, regardless of their service providers.

According to Mark Chong Chin Kok, chief operating officer of AIS, due to social networking, for the last three quarters, data users have increased to 8 millions in number. Under the cooperation, AIS offers WiFi at maximum speed of 100Mbps to customers using WiFi package to have immediate access with no further cost. The company has launched an unlimited WiFi package for Bt99 per month.

TrueMove H offers over 500 connection spots in the 3 centres.

-- The Nation 2011-12-14

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It's a great article, but can someone please explain what they heck they're talking about....

What exactly have they done in the Siam complex with wifi...if anything?

If I'm not a subscriber to any of those four providers' wifi services... maybe I just have their calling and 3G or Edge data services... then what? Can I use the wifi there now?

Or if I'm not a subscriber to any of those four companies mobile services at all, such as just a visiting tourist, can I use the wifi there?

And if I am a subscriber to one of those four company's current wifi services, will I still access it when I'm in the Siam complex in the same way as before?

Or are they launching some kind of unified Siam complex wifi network of their own, where customers of any of the four companies involved can all access the same Siam wifi network?

I certainly like having my "lifestyle fulfilled." But I'd like it more if the article actually explained what they're really doing there.

[bkk75]

If you leave your wifi on when you're near the collaborative hot spots then it will switch to wifi like it does now. It's just that with the new collaboration they will share the wireless AP (I assume) instead of each telco buying more AP to expand their own network. It's a smart idea and makes business sense for a change.

Edited December 14, 2011 by bkk75

[RaoulDuke]

The True wi-fi network was already available in most of that area, as well as many parts of Bangkok, and you can log on for free, but it is painfully slow and only useful for very simple tasks. Hopefully, this network will be much improved, and the price is certainly fair. The biggest problem with the existing True network is that every time you drop signal, which happens any time you move, you have to log-in all over again, which is a pain.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

If you leave your wifi on when you're near the collaborative hot spots then it will switch to wifi like it does now. It's just that with the new collaboration they will share the wireless AP (I assume) instead of each telco buying more AP to expand their own network. It's a smart idea and makes business sense for a change.

Except the article above doesn't exactly say that's what they're actually doing...

Nowhere in the article does it clearly mention the idea of shared or collaborative hot spots.

[richsilver]

I can't wait to try it since "The service is specially designed in response to the lifestyle of trendsetters"

I have always wanted to emulate the lifestyle of trendsetters. Now I have my chance!

[Yme]

"enhanced, efficient and swift data service"

I guess lifting straight from the press release handout is The Nation's version of quality journalism. I doubt there's one person on staff who knows that many superlatives.

"AIS offers WiFi at maximum speed of 100Mbps"

Believe it when I see it. Sitting here watching my AIS 3G deliver upload speeds as low as 0.7kbps and downloads as low as 0.2 kbps and that's along Rama 2 at Bang khun tien

[nikster]

The True wi-fi network was already available in most of that area, as well as many parts of Bangkok, and you can log on for free, but it is painfully slow and only useful for very simple tasks. Hopefully, this network will be much improved, and the price is certainly fair. The biggest problem with the existing True network is that every time you drop signal, which happens any time you move, you have to log-in all over again, which is a pain.

It's basically not working. Tried True WiFi a few times - it's way slower and way more annoying than True 3G (which works pretty well). 2G EDGE is better than True WiFi.

The few other public WiFi networks I've tried were similarly bad. TOT - never got it to work, despite having bought an access card. And 3BB which worked well in Central World BKK, but not anywhere in Chiang Mai I've tried.

Will the joining of forces between the 4 major operators result in a more robust WiFi solution? I wouldn't bet on it.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Believe it when I see it. Sitting here watching my AIS 3G deliver upload speeds as low as 0.7kbps and downloads as low as 0.2 kbps and that's along Rama 2 at Bang khun tien

Yes, but you're not located in a premium mall area that's been specifically designed for having your "lifestyle fulfilled."

[tominbkk]

The True wi-fi network was already available in most of that area, as well as many parts of Bangkok, and you can log on for free, but it is painfully slow and only useful for very simple tasks. Hopefully, this network will be much improved, and the price is certainly fair. The biggest problem with the existing True network is that every time you drop signal, which happens any time you move, you have to log-in all over again, which is a pain.

It's basically not working. Tried True WiFi a few times - it's way slower and way more annoying than True 3G (which works pretty well). 2G EDGE is better than True WiFi.

The few other public WiFi networks I've tried were similarly bad. TOT - never got it to work, despite having bought an access card. And 3BB which worked well in Central World BKK, but not anywhere in Chiang Mai I've tried.

Will the joining of forces between the 4 major operators result in a more robust WiFi solution? I wouldn't bet on it.

Interesting, TrueMove wifi usually works alright for me, I have used it all over BKK and in some places a bit slow but usable, and in others really fast.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The main part I'm not clear on in this Siam complex arrangement is are they saying the wifi there will be available to anyone inside...regardless of whether they have existing wifi service thru one of those four participating Thai providers... Or... only if you already have signed up for wifi service with one of them. The article seemed to leave that point entirely in the dark.

[bkk_mike]

I just wish they'd do it countrywide, so that you could use one wifi connection at all the hotspots. At the moment, it's True at the mall, CAT at McDonalds and AIS at the airport, and it would be so much less hassle if you could log in on any of their networks with a single password.

I assume it's like the reason you can't use one stored value card to travel on the underground and skytrain. The companies don't understand that if they shared access, they'd get more customers (and those customers would be less pissed off with the idiocy of having to carry separate cards for each transport system.)

[lomatopo]

This article seems to more clearly explain the service and requirements.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/technology/Three-biggest-malls-to-get-fuss-free-wi-fi-30171870.html

Customers of any of the four service providers will be able to tap into the Wi-Fi network with their username and password. They can do this anywhere in the malls, without the need to hunt for a hot spot run by the service they subscribe to.

Simply put, if you have an existing WiFi service plan with any of these four service providers then you can use your username and password to log on to any AP in this mesh. It's sort of what bkk_mike is looking for?

When I lose Truemove 3G, typically inside a larger building like a mall, and fall back to 2G, I always switch to WiFi, which I've found to be quite good, in metro-Bangkok.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Thanks Loma... that article you linked from The Nation is a bit more clear than the original version in this thread... You need a wifi user ID and password from one of the four providers to access the mall network.

The curious part to me was the original article referenced serving tourists...along with the various other groups... I['m not sure how many mall shopping tourists are wandering around with wifi access as part of what presumably would be their pre-paid mobile phone minutes.