Slow international Internet speed over cable (TRUE Online) ?

[Cosmo88]

I've have TRUE Online 15/1.5 Mb/s via (coax) cable, and when doing Ookla Speedtest to local Thai server I get 25/2.0 Mb/s and pings at 10-15 ms, i.e. excellent.

BUT, for much of the time, I can't watch video streamed from servers outside Thailand (e.g. international news channels or Youtube) without severe hacking and disturbances.

On weekday mornings/daytime, the quality is often OK, but otherwise the service is practically unusable for streaming video. Also, normal international websites tend to load slowly.

As far as I understand, streaming video requires at least 3-4 Mb/s in order to flow well, so this seems to indicate that I get less than that from the relevant international servers.

Is this all due to capacity limitations of the international gateway server of Thailand, or is it something else?

Can something be done about it?

[Pib]

Yes, most likely bandwidth controls (i.e., throttling) at the international gateway. The Thai ISPs only guarantee (somewhat) their domestic/advertised speed, not their international speed combined with long distance.

I too am on the DOCSIS 15MB/1.5Mb (for several years now...use to be on their 20Mb/2Mb plan) and although I don't do much live video streaming I do experience pausing sometimes when viewing Youtube video clips or a embedded news video clip on a new site...not much, but sometimes I do. Not only does video streaming need a certain minimum bandwidth it also needs a "steady, consistent" flow. Speed test type programs only show the "average" speed over the X-seconds the test is run; it does not necessary show and stop-and-go (in the milliseconds) bandwidth flow although with Speedtest.net it will show a graph of the speed variations and many times the variations are extreme...as mentioned, streaming video needs a minimum bandwidth "and a steady flow." Speedtest.net is not good to use for international speed testing since it easily fooled by hidden cache servers which cause speedtest.net to frequently give high (false) download speeds and faster-than-light ping time. Part of this problem is Speedtest.net is a Flash/Ookla-based program versus a more accurate Java-based program. Speedtest.net is fine for in-country/local speedtesting but can be easiy fooled in international speed testing.

Unless you get some type of business based internet plan which usually provide higher international speed (at a much higher price) a DOCSIS, Fiber, or ADSL plan will give about the same international speed when measured with an accurate speed testing program and assuming you have a good local connection.

[Cosmo88]

Yes, most likely bandwidth controls (i.e., throttling) at the international gateway. The Thai ISPs only guarantee (somewhat) their domestic/advertised speed, not their international speed combined with long distance.

I too am on the DOCSIS 15MB/1.5Mb (for several years now...use to be on their 20Mb/2Mb plan) and although I don't do much live video streaming I do experience pausing sometimes when viewing Youtube video clips or a embedded news video clip on a new site...not much, but sometimes I do. Not only does video streaming need a certain minimum bandwidth it also needs a "steady, consistent" flow. Speed test type programs only show the "average" speed over the X-seconds the test is run; it does not necessary show and stop-and-go (in the milliseconds) bandwidth flow although with Speedtest.net it will show a graph of the speed variations and many times the variations are extreme...as mentioned, streaming video needs a minimum bandwidth "and a steady flow." Speedtest.net is not good to use for international speed testing since it easily fooled by hidden cache servers which cause speedtest.net to frequently give high (false) download speeds and faster-than-light ping time. Part of this problem is Speedtest.net is a Flash/Ookla-based program versus a more accurate Java-based program. Speedtest.net is fine for in-country/local speedtesting but can be easiy fooled in international speed testing.

Unless you get some type of business based internet plan which usually provide higher international speed (at a much higher price) a DOCSIS, Fiber, or ADSL plan will give about the same international speed when measured with an accurate speed testing program and assuming you have a good local connection.

Thanks for response. Yes I've also suspected not only the speed but also the speed variations which as you say can even be spotted on the Speedtest SW.

So basically, for an ordinary "domestic" Internet access plan, not much can be done I suppose.

[Pib]

So basically, for an ordinary "domestic" Internet access plan, not much can be done I suppose.

Correct. You can complain to the ISP and maybe get a better connection if there is local problem causing your problem. But it's most likely throttling occurring at the international gateway. International bandwidth costs money and Thai ISPs don't seem to want to spend a lot of money in that area since 99% of their customers are Thai, know little English, and primarily surf Thai websites.

[RichCor]

Slow International Internet isn't something new, and this topic has been discussed in this forum many, many times. I'd suggest the OP use the site search feature to look over those past threads for information. There may be some tidbits of information that could be employed.

ThaiVisa search links:

docsis slow international internet

Proxies and other VPN information

YouTube Center, return to YouTube's old way of buffering

While very little can be done to improve your direct access to International Internet you might want to try some of the other suggestions presented in those threads, like using a VPN, VPS or Proxy service.

My personal favorite is to use "HOLA Better Internet", a proxy browser extension, and set some sites (ie: Youtube) to fetch content I want through Singapore. While it doesn't eliminate all the buffering issues it does reduce a lot of it. If I have connectivity issues then using HOLA to set a url address to fetch through Singapore is my first remedy. This proxy doesn't work for everything -- It's great for Google's YouTube, but actually the opposite for Google Mail.

Another suggestion that works involves installing "YouTube Center" browser extension and setting options to turn off "DASH", (return to YouTube's old way of buffering).

[Cosmo88]

Slow International Internet isn't something new, and this topic has been discussed in this forum many, many times. I'd suggest the OP use the site search feature to look over those past threads for information. There may be some tidbits of information that could be employed.

ThaiVisa search links:

docsis slow international internet

Proxies and other VPN information

YouTube Center, return to YouTube's old way of buffering

While very little can be done to improve your direct access to International Internet you might want to try some of the other suggestions presented in those threads, like using a VPN, VPS or Proxy service.

My personal favorite is to use "HOLA Better Internet", a proxy browser extension, and set some sites (ie: Youtube) to fetch content I want through Singapore. While it doesn't eliminate all the buffering issues it does reduce a lot of it. If I have connectivity issues then using HOLA to set a url address to fetch through Singapore is my first remedy. This proxy doesn't work for everything -- It's great for Google's YouTube, but actually the opposite for Google Mail.

Another suggestion that works involves installing "YouTube Center" browser extension and setting options to turn off "DASH", (return to YouTube's old way of buffering).

Very interesting, thanks!

[KhunBENQ]

I can only share your experience.

I am on a ToT landline (DSL).

I have no problem watching HD like streams from Bangkok (from an IP TV provider) all day.

Those streams are about 3 MBit/s.

But in the late afternoon/evening I can not even watch streams in the 1 MBit/s range from German TV (directly).

Streams with 3 to 4 MBit/s are not the norm, They are quite on top of the quality range.

For me it is impossible to watch such streams from outside Thailand.

In youtube you can select the quality.

A 480p stream is arround 1 Mbit/s, 1080p consumes 4.5 to 6 Mbit/s,

And most youtube clips come from Singapore servers where there are dedicated bandwidths to Thailand.

Applies to other Google services also.

Smiliar applies to Facebook, Microsoft [update] and probably others.

Thats why most of the Thais are happy with their internet

I am currently waiting to be connected via a fibre optic cable (FTTH), 20 down / 2 up Mbit/s

I do not expect too much in terms of international bandwidth.

Edited March 26, 2014 by KhunBENQ