Dtac Coverage

[sceadugenga]

I picked up a new phone card from dtac yesterday and it worked fine in town but once I got home it was "limited service" only. For limited read "none".

A quick Google reveals this little map.

Anyone had the same problem using dtac out of town?

My last sim worked ok.

[skippybangkok]

DTAC 3G coverage currently is about 1/2 of True Coverage, and AIS is even less. Expect some improvement after 2.1 Ghz auctions. Unlike 2G, 3G is a "living breathing network" meaning the reach is not a fixed entity as it is in 2G.

If network load goes up, the reach (distance) goes down. As such, the light blue area might have been designed based on a low utilization load , who knows now how many subs are using those bases.

Might have to wait till after the auction to see what happens.

[sceadugenga]

That doesn't look too promising either....

More challenges seen to spectrum auction

USANEE MONGKOLPORN

THE NATION October 11, 2012 1:00 am

As the auction of 2.1-gigahertz spectrum slots draws near, more people are expected to line up to file legal challenges to suspend the bidding.

Lawsuits are also expected to be filed against the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board if the auction takes place and people are unhappy with the outcome.

The first two legal moves against the auction were made yesterday. One was from telecom scholar Anupap Tiralap, who filed a petition to the Central Administrative Court for a temporary injunction against the October 16 spectrum auction.

The court will hold an urgent session this afternoon to decide whether to accept the case for consideration.

As part of his petition, Anupap seeks a court order for the NBTC to suspend the auction, pending its complete issuance of key measures to bring optimal benefits to the population, including the determination of a maximum 3G-service fee.

He said the watchdog must also oblige spectrum winners to completely roll out nationwide networks to cover the entire population, without a big time lapse between roll-out phases and regardless of different areas' income and service demand.

He cited Article 47 of the Constitution in arguing that the spectrum must be allocated based on people's maximum interest.

As part of the tender's terms and conditions, the winners of at least 10MHz of bandwidth must provide network coverage to 50 per cent of the population within two years, and to 80 per cent within four years. Anupap questioned why the auction terms did not determine coverage of the remaining 20 per cent of the population.

Another case was made to the same court by a representative of the Consumer Public Protection Association, seeking an injunction to suspend the auction and asking the court to issue an order for the NBTC to revoke the name of DTAC Network, a subsidiary of Total Access Communication (DTAC), from taking part in the bidding on the grounds that it is allegedly a foreign-dominated firm.

The filing also cited that DTAC chief executive officer Jon Eddy Abdullah, an American national, has management control over DTAC.

DTAC Network, together with Advanced Info Service's Advanced Wireless Network and True Corp's Real Future, are the three prequalified bidders in the auction.

[sceadugenga]

Apparently the map I posted is only of the 3G covered area.

I went into dtac and the girl played with my phone and it's working fine out here in the sticks now.

[smokie36]

Its a real shambles.

Here in the UK 4G has just been divvied up successfully to give some perspective...

[mcgriffith]

I have a DTAC (so-called) 3G aircard I use with my laptop. So-called because it is not 2.1 GHz but the 850 MHz.

Although it worked fine in CR when I was there recently, I didn't really expect it to work at all in Chiang Dao, where I spent 2 nights (at Chiang Dao Nest, out by the cave).

I was astonished to get a full HSDPA signal out in the boonies, not just the plain jane GPRS/Edge.

My connection speed was better there than I get in Chiang Mai- smokin' fast (few other users in that area is the reason no doubt).

[sceadugenga]

What does that cost you a month?

[mcgriffith]

650 B (plus VAT; 695.50 total) for 3 GB at the fastest speed available on the network. I often get 1.2-2 Mbps when the network is not too busy.

After 3 GB, it throttle back to a max of 384 kbps.

Even that 384 kbps is way faster than what I had on my AIS 3G.

If you download a lot of movies, TV shows etc. probably the DTAC top plan @ 999/mo. is the way to go- top available speed, full month unlimited.

Of course there are wired options, that depending on your location, put these speeds (and maybe prices) to shame.

But for wireless, DTAC seems to be working great for now in North Thailand.

[sceadugenga]

That's not a bad price but it's hardly worth me bothering for the amount of time I'd need it.

I bought an iPad this year which is great fun but something that's surprised me is the amount of free wifi available around town.

[Big Gary]

Apparently the map I posted is only of the 3G covered area.

I went into dtac and the girl played with my phone and it's working fine out here in the sticks now.

DTAC hasnt and still doesnt work properly in my village of Hong Au in Chiangrai. When I was using DTAC I had to stand at a certain place on my upstairs veranda to get a signal. Even had to leave the phone out there for incoming calls. My wifes neice just got a phone with DTAC and it wouldnt work at our house last week when she came around ti visit. We use 12Call.

[sceadugenga]

My problem with 12Call is that if you don't use it you lose it, my chosen form of communication is the internet (surprise surprise) and 100B would last me 6 months on the phone.

I drove the local agent for 12Call to distraction demanding he get my phone working again and retrieve my lost funds.

I suspect he puts the "out to lunch" sign up when he sees me coming now.

Edited October 12, 2012 by sceadugenga