Internet Phone Calls Banned?

[GuestHouse]

There is a link over on the LP Thailand branch in which the OP is saying that Thailand has banned Internet Phone Calls from within Thailand..

Surely that cannont be true?

Can it?

[roger2006]

iam new to forum but ive just been talking to my friend on skype in bangkok and iam in uk at moment download free program from is site www.expatsolutins.org.uk

i put the link in because sometimes i think the thai block the direct link to site

[rishi]

AFAIK - from non-authoritative sources - internet telephoni is technical illegal in Thailand (due to monopoly regulations) - but don't take my word for it.

Most - if not all - of the blocking happens at ISP level. E.g. for an overlapping period I had two ISP's: LoxInfo and TRUE. Many sites, blocked at LoxInfo, were very unblocked at TRUE.

Sofar, I haven't had any problems with using Skype (either ISP), but these days each week seems to bring yet another Thai-based provider of public VoIP. Surely, once the ISP's and/or their subsidiarys/affiliates enter the market, Skype will be blocked at those ISP's who have entered it.

Edited February 12, 2006 by rishi

[rono]

AFAIK - from non-authoritative sources - internet telephoni is technical illegal in Thailand (due to monopoly regulations) - but don't take my word for it.

Most - if not all - of the blocking happens at ISP level. E.g. for an overlapping period I had two ISP's: LoxInfo and TRUE. Many sites, blocked at LoxInfo, were very unblocked at TRUE.

Sofar, I haven't had any problems with using Skype (either ISP), but these days each week seems to bring yet another Thai-based provider of public VoIP. Surely, once the ISP's and/or their subsidiarys/affiliates enter the market, Skype will be blocked at those ISP's who have entered it.

am using skype and msn with true adsl, no problems so far

[Crushdepth]

VOIP was meant to get 'legalised' this quarter (it may have already happened, not sure of the exact date).

[Tippaporn]

I've been using VoIP with NetTelephone as a service provider here in Thailand for well over a year now. Called from the U.S. to Thailand and received calls from Thailand as recently as today.

[solo siam]

How would they stop you using a VOIP program like skype, seems it would be nigh on impossible to me. But, yes I believe VOIP is illegal as they havent worked out any way to make money out of it yet.

[Carmine6]

How would they stop you using a VOIP program like skype, seems it would be nigh on impossible to me. But, yes I believe VOIP is illegal as they havent worked out any way to make money out of it yet.

The way I've heard that it could be done is they add network software that picks out what look like VOIP packets. It doesn't stop the packet, but prioritizes the other data packets. VOIP call quality drops significantly and people make their own choice.