WI-FI

Official vows free Wi-Fi on 2 expressway stages

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) Governor Aiyarat Thinapai yesterday promised that people using Bangkok's expressways would be able to connect to the Internet for free via Wi-Fi within three months, prompting police to warn that using wireless devices behind the wheel was illegal and could lead to accidents.

Exat was co-ordinating with TOT to set up the Wi-Fi network, which would facilitate communications for expressway users, Aiyarat said.

The project would enable users of the first- and second-phase expressways to access the Internet via Wi-Fi at any time. When they exited the expressway and returned to surface roads, the Wi-Fi connection would be cut, Aiyarat said.

Expressway Traffic Control superintendent Pol Colonel Khajornkiat Sipan said he hadn't received a report or information about free Wi-Fi on the expressways yet. He commented that it would be illegal for drivers to use Internet-connected appliances behind the wheel, adding that doing so could cause them to take their focus off driving, resulting in road accidents. While it would be a positive step if passengers could connect to the Internet, he said, drivers would be arrested if caught using Internet-enabled devices while driving, as it is a violation of the traffic law.

An iPhone user told The Nation that he would definitely be tempted to surf the Net while driving if there was a good connection.

"At present, I use my iPhone as an iPod while driving, but if the Net connection is strong, I would be inclined to access something from, say, YouTube," said the office worker. He admitted that trying to access the likes of YouTube while driving could be a distraction.

"If you drive and surf the Net at the same time, you can't be totally focused. I do admit that there are risks involved," he said.

-- The Nation 2012-02-28

Lol....they really don't get it

Surely free wifi can be made available in more places where it can be genuinely useful rather than expressways or am I missing something?

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"If you drive and surf the Net at the same time, you can't be totally focused. I do admit that there are risks involved,"

Don't drive and surf!

Wow

This has to be the most unbelievable things I ave read in a long time

It shuld be the opposite ... as soon as you enter the express way,

the WIFI connection is cut.

Surely free wifi can be made available in more places where it can be genuinely useful rather than expressways or am I missing something?

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This will just lead to more accidents!

Another reason why i dont live bangkok.what a CRAZY plan.but this is a crazy country governed by crazy people:angry:

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Is this intended to support kids' education, by allowing them to connect while in transit to and from school? Surely not for drivers, since that could increase the risk of accidents. GPS doesn't need wifi, if there's an accident or breakdown, one would report via a phone, for example, so what is the rationale?

They say

"could cause them to take their focus off driving,"

Now that has to be the understatement of the year.

Is it April1

Have you ever taken into consideration that private cars/buses/vans/taxis can carry passengers?

What's is all about? What about cell phones?

The driving habits in BKK are crazy enough without wifi; the drivers already have mobile phones and TVs to distract them.

Is this another form of natural selection in Thailand. Don't kill people just take the warning labels off and let nature run it;s course.

When they exited the expressway and returned to surface roads, the Wi-Fi connection would be cut, Aiyarat said.

Back to nose-picking then.

Skpye while you drive.

Instead of Text while you drive that kills 9. Remember the under-age girl Paewa?

Edited February 28, 201214 yr by sparebox2

You really couldn't make up some of the 'news' in this country!

Absolutely a rediculous idea. People are having trouble staying on the road as it is. Please!

Why not put the free wi-fi in the city but not on the expressway.

Thailand is more advance than Vietnam in terms of IT, isn't it?

I can find free wifi in saigon almost everywhere. when I went to Bangkok, it was so frustrating to find any free wifi.

Went to starbucks, I had to buy 150 baht for one hour.

In Saigon, you go to Coffee Beans, free internet, Highlands coffee, free internet, you go to the malls, you'll get free internet.

This is a good service for passengers and also for drivers. For example if someone wishes to listen internet radio via mobile device. Naturally this can even be done with EDGE/UMTS connection. Another thing is to load map tiles to clients which need to access the network.

But how the network will be done? WLAN does not have very long range. There will be huge amount of devices, which are accessing the network. This means there will be huge amounts of handovers from one base station to another.

This is a good service for passengers and also for drivers. For example if someone wishes to listen internet radio via mobile device. Naturally this can even be done with EDGE/UMTS connection. Another thing is to load map tiles to clients which need to access the network.

But how the network will be done? WLAN does not have very long range. There will be huge amount of devices, which are accessing the network. This means there will be huge amounts of handovers from one base station to another.

WLAN does not have very long range.

Try WMax.

I hope they block Facebook or we're going to have cars all over the Expressway! 555

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/536909-facebook-partly-the-cause-of-unwanted-thai-teen-pregnancies-nesdb/

From a western perspective it seems counter intuitive, dangerous and stupid. From a Thai perspective it's a twofer. Graft on the procurement and maintenance contracts along with a captive group of people with above average wealth the police can exploit should people actually use it.

Amazing Thailand, nobody else could dream this up. Must need to get rid of some budget money quickly and without any thought.

Be careful, WiFi on the Expressway might cause pregnancy.

After seeing cars parked 3 wide during the flooding, I expect the same will happen with free wifi. Folks will park along the tollway to access their free internet. I don't suppose this would affect traffic flow, will it?

They say

"could cause them to take their focus off driving,"

Now that has to be the understatement of the year.

Is it April1

Could, not really as they are not focused on their driving anyhow. Well most of t hem.

LOS finally determined to get on the information super highway.

This is part of the government plan to have free wi-fi in schools. Now some of the kids will be able to do their homework on the way home. Kids will also be able to sit under the expressways and do their homework.

... or access Facebook.

Surely free wifi can be made available in more places where it can be genuinely useful rather than expressways or am I missing something?

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This will just lead to more accidents!

or teen pregnancies....http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/536909-facebook-partly-the-cause-of-unwanted-thai-teen-pregnancies-nesdb

Why not put the free wi-fi in the city but not on the expressway.

Thailand is more advance than Vietnam in terms of IT, isn't it?

I can find free wifi in saigon almost everywhere. when I went to Bangkok, it was so frustrating to find any free wifi.

Went to starbucks, I had to buy 150 baht for one hour.

In Saigon, you go to Coffee Beans, free internet, Highlands coffee, free internet, you go to the malls, you'll get free internet.

I live in Saigon now, and you're right. Just bought my first smart phone and have found wireless everywhere. I have also discovered that we don't have 3G here, we have 3.5G (HSDPA) which can be 10 times faster than 3G. Has Thailand got its 3G sorted yet?

Re: The Original Post. All I can say is, stupid idea TIT.

Amazing Thailand, nobody else could dream this up. Must need to get rid of some budget money quickly and without any thought.

WRONG! (apparently). Try doing some basic internet research (WiFi-connected or not) before plopping . Apparently, these folks:

http://www.xiocom.co...ay-railway.html

[Name withheld to protect the guilty] technology enabled the deployment and operation of the world's first highway Wi-Fi network that delivers high-speed voice and data services to customers in vehicles moving at more than 80 mph. This network was deployed on an interstate highway in Arizona in the USA for a project that was funded by the US Department of Homeland Security.

Highway/railway Wi-Fi networks are increasingly being demanded by: (read the rest yourselves)

Deployed a WiFi system on an Arizona freeway which was funded by the DHS? Could it have anything to do with tracking/catching illegals, I wonder. Or maybe they're developing a way for TSA to search peoples cars/luggage while they are on the way to the airport ... or something even more sinister.

I can see where high-speed data/voice might come in very handy for law enforcement on the Arizona freeways where internet access would not normally be available. Then again, there are the porn and chat sites ... not to mention the Dunkin' Donuts locator maps!

I might agree with you with that getting rid of budget money might have been a partial incentive for the AFI (Arizona Freeway Internet) by the DHS. After all, it is the USA and how many Trillion in debt are they now? How many jobs were created or saved by the AFI, I can't help but wonder.

Edited February 28, 201214 yr by MaxYakov