So is 4G available now?

[Howitzer]

Is true move the only provider?

In my home country i could retain my old number but had to buy a new sim to get 4G services. I wonder if i can do the same with my prepaid number or do i need to buy a new number.

[bamnutsak]

Both TrueMove H and DTAC offer 4G/LTE on 2100 MHz.

TrueMove H has very, very extensive coverage throughout the country.

DTAC does not have the same level of coverage, but does have it in most many provincial capitals.

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/truemoveh4g/en/index.html

http://www.dtac.co.th/network/coverage.html

There are ~ 2 million 4G subscribers (based on 1.8 million at the end of Q1).

Still not a lot of 4G-capable handsets, ~ 25%.

There may be a 4G auction (1800 MHz) in November, 2015.

You should check with your provider to see if your current SIM will support 4G. If it does not, they will swap it for free. You can also port out an existing number, say from AIS to TrueMove H or DTAC.

Edited July 28, 2015 by bamnutsak

[Howitzer]

Thanks for the info dude.

[speedtripler]

4g is not always a better experience than 3g, I visited a truemoveh stall to get 4g and at that particular location I had faster Internet in my 3g than the sales guy had on his demo unit both using ookla app... So I didn't sign up yet

There is a lot of info on Google about similar stories in the states re. Verizon 4g being slower than competitors 3g in major cities because

oflimited bandwidth and oversold packages

4g/lte drains your battery faster than 3g

or WiFi also

[bamnutsak]

4g is not always a better experience than 3g

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842652-4g-5971mbps/

Some phones allow for the selection of 3G only.

Call set-up times can/may be lengthy if on LTE.

Agree on the battery issue with LTE - all things being equal, but newer phones seem to be a bit better with overall battery life?

LTE offers carriers more capacity, so can ultimately benefit users.

I use T-Mo when in the U.S.; their LTE is better than their 3G for me.

[Howitzer]

i think it has to be with 4G bandwidth. Thailand has only one bandwidth for LTE while other countries have a few. You know how previously on 2G and 3G there was only say for example the 800hz bandwidth and then they slowly added in more bands and there was dual band etc etc i think when 4G adopts more bands it will be better.

[Howitzer]

ok thailand only uses the 2100 band for 4G and i checked and not all phones support 2100 so i don't know maybe some 4G phones cannot run 4G if they don't support 2100.

[RichCor]

i think it has to be with 4G bandwidth. Thailand has only one bandwidth for LTE while other countries have a few. You know how previously on 2G and 3G there was only say for example the 800hz bandwidth and then they slowly added in more bands and there was dual band etc etc i think when 4G adopts more bands it will be better.

I think you're a bit confused with Radio Frequency terminology.

Band vs Bandwidth

The word "bandwidth" here deals with the size of the slice of radio frequency spectrum dedicated to allow communication between devices.

It the instance of LTE, that slice size partially determines how much data can be delivered in one second:

Total licensed 2100 band spectrum for 4G/LTE communications

TrueMove-H is reported to dedicate 10MHz of its 15MHz allocation

DTAC is reported to dedicate only 5MHz of their 15MHz allocation

[petedk]

Let me ask a question.

If True and DTAC already use 4G why is it necessary to hold an auction for 4G bandwith?

Isn't the 4G that True and DTAC use just experimental?

[RichCor]

If True and DTAC already use 4G why is it necessary to hold an auction for 4G bandwith?

Isn't the 4G that True and DTAC use just experimental?

How does a mobile operator service millions of concurrent customers?

More towers that service smaller areas.

Use of multiple frequency spectrums so neighboring tower operations don't overlap.

Use of smarter tower antennas that only talk to quadrants, have better signal interpretation.

Use updated technology and radio protocols that allow faster data throughput per second.

Thailand's mobile operators want as many subscribers as possible. To do this they need the radio spectrum.

There's also a usability, use of 850/900 has better signal penetration characteristics than 1800 or 2100 frequencies.

Channel bandwidth and time-slice allocation in each radio band dictate user maximum speed. More users, more congestion, less speed.

LTE experimental was before the 2100 band licensing. Before, TOT or CAT 'concession license limitations' prevented LTE under those agreements.

AIS and others also want in on the fun (opportunity to make lots of money).

[speedtripler]

4g is not always a better experience than 3g

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/842652-4g-5971mbps/

Some phones allow for the selection of 3G only.

Call set-up times can/may be lengthy if on LTE.

Agree on the battery issue with LTE - all things being equal, but newer phones seem to be a bit better with overall battery life?

LTE offers carriers more capacity, so can ultimately benefit users.

I use T-Mo when in the U.S.; their LTE is better than their 3G for me.

I get your point and fully understand 4G should be faster if everything else is equal... But it isn't ,

in my limited test experience I had a 28MB/s download and the demo guy only got about half that

Maybe if we tested at a different tower he would have won with his 4g or maybe not but I don't want to change package to something half the speed I'm already on

I believe there are more 4g bands going up for sale in coming months and I'm sure speeds will improve when other companies join the party

[bamnutsak]

I get your point and fully understand 4G should be faster if everything else is equal... But it isn't ,

Well I never made that "point". I said that LTE offers greater capacity to service providers, which ultimately benefits users.

IMLE, with both DTAC and TrueMove H. both services are more than adequate for nearly all mobile apps. 3G tends to be more asymmetrical, say 20/3, while 4G is more symmetrical, say 15/10. In some cases upload speed exceeds download speed.

Yes, there may be an auction for 1800 Mhz, and even 900 MHz, this year. 1800 MHz will surely be used for 4G, to address increasing customer demand, and not pure download speed.

TrueMove H's and DTAC's 4G service is what one might call "production" scale (packaged, priced, widely available); each has ~ 1 million customers, DTAC has 3,000 4G base-stations, while TrueMove H might have even more.

[2008bangkok]

Dtac should concentrate on getting 3g coverage outside of the cities as mine is crap as soon as i go on the road.