Wireless Broadband In Thailand

[Bruce Mangosteen 538]

My GF was watching the tube this morning and I noticed some mentions of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology available in Thailand. A little poking showed that two companies support this technology, CAT Telecom and Hutch.

 

If the technology is reasonably reliable and fast, I'd switch to it over the internet I presently have here in VT1. They recently "upgraded" it to about 1/3 of the speed it once had (about 800Kb/s, down from nearly 3Mb/s), and it's also very unreliable, the gateway asks me to re-login about 3x per day. It's also expensive at about 1500 baht per month for a one-month ticket. An alternative wouldn't have to be all that fast to be worth considering; especially if it was cheaper.

 

From what I gather, CDMA 1x gives about 150Kilobit/s throughput down and about 100kb/s up. That is very slow compared to what I have now. However, with the newer technology, CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev A, they claim a throughput of 3.1Mb/s.

 

If the throuhput is what they claim, the price is anywhere near 1500 baht/month and the service doesn't stop responding every few hours and ask me to log in again, it will be worth considering; ESPECIALLY because it means I wouldn't have to search high and low for the internet everywhere I go. Hutch and CAT have some sort of coverage sharing agreement, and between them claim to cover 70% of Thailand, including all heavily populated and industrialized areas.

 

I guess the competing technology in the GSM world would be GPRS 2.5G ("BEST"). From what I can gather, this is much slower than CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev A.

 

This is an open call to anyone out there that has experience with either of these technologies (or any other possibilities) in Thailand to tell what you know about them. What's the cost, what plans are on offer (including prepay), have you used them, what was your experience, how was the throughput and coverage etc.?

 

This sort of technology could provide a low-cost alternative to the idiotically-priced internet access in some hotels, give guys internet access in the airports for no extra charge, etc. Thanks in advance for telling everybody what you know!

[MM 6,562]

It just occurred to me that you're talking about the service I have at my rural home in the USA. It's from Verizon Broadband, and was the only internet choice available, aside from dialup, in the area. The Verizon network has been online for several years there, and the speeds are impressive if you are close enough to the mobile highspeed EVDO-Rev A antenna. Otherwise it drops to GPRS speeds.

 

The EVDO-RevA speeds quoted by Verizon are considerably less than 3.1Mbps

The reliable Mobile Broadband Evolution Data Optimized (EVDO) network from Verizon Wireless has been enhanced with EVDO Rev. A to deliver even faster data speeds and greater efficiencies for Web browsing and accessing your corporate intranet and email.

 

* Fast downloads – typical speeds of 600 to 1.4Mbps.1,2

* Fast uploads – typical speeds of 500 to 800 Kbps.1,2

* When in Mobile Broadband markets that do not yet have EV-DO Rev. A, you can expect download speeds of 400 to 700 Kbps and upload speeds of 60- to 80 Kbps.2

 

Now, what's this got to do with your question? Well, if they are saying 3.1Mbps and an established USA operating network is saying 600K to 1.4M, then the Thai provider might be fudging.

 

There is a Hutch store on Pattaya Tai, near Tuk.Com, as I recall. Why don't you drop by there and ask them for some more information?

 

 

Personally, I use DTAC Edge/GPRS when I am out and about, both for my phone and my laptop. It's not too bad for browsing, and I think I pay 99b for 20hours. It's just a backup connection, not my main one, however.

[Bruce Mangosteen 538]

...if they are saying 3.1Mbps and an established USA operating network is saying 600K to 1.4M, then the Thai provider might be fudging...etc.

Well, they do claim this, at least in bursts, with a steady-state download speed of about 1Mb/s, which agrees with your observation and would be higher than I get. http://www.globenewswire.com/pa/news.html?d=145263 Of course, due to the microscopic pipe between Thailand and the outside world, the internal internet speed is generally not the primary limitation on overall throughput for most farangs (although they claim to be about to upgrade that).

 

Yup, a trip to Tuc Com is on the cards soon. I was hoping to get some real-world insight before I went though. Thanks for the reply.

[jacko 8,813]

My GF was watching the tube this morning and I noticed some mentions of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology available in Thailand. A little poking showed that two companies support this technology, CAT Telecom and Hutch.

At 1500 baht pcm for that crap I think I would be looking elsewhere too.

You may want to just try the Edge/GPRS packages, they are generally dirt cheap and if you keep your usage to non-peak are tolerable.

I like the flexibility it offers, with a laptop and mobile phone you can use it near anyplace.

As to the CAT/Hutch CDMA, I am waiting for it to develop, it seems rather new at the moment.

 

I have the problem when I visit the UK with the laptop, they don't cater for short contract, and sell you an over-priced dongle, which somehow in LOS can be forgotten and the cell-phone used.

 

Currently on TOT, it is slow but Skype works better on it than on my prior TTT Maxnet!

[joekicker 53]

As to the CAT/Hutch CDMA, I am waiting for it to develop, it seems rather new at the moment.

 

Yep, it is one company, not two. CAT Telecom is part of the Thai duopoly, and it is officially the marketing end of Hutchison, which is a Hong Kong company operating the fourth-biggest mobile phone company in Thailand, i.e. the smallest except for the infinitesimal SuthepNet aka Thai Mobile.

 

But Hutch/CAT has been going for a good long time, it's not at all new. It still has great promise and at some point may break out. It's the only CDMA around.

 

It's generally said that in Bangkok and the surrounding 25 provinces (including Chon Buri) where Hutch operates, that it is the best data throughput. Your mileage is almost certain to vary. A LOT of people who have it swear by it.

[DocDuei 0]

I have the Hutch wireless service at my apartment on Walking Street. It is much better than I could ever get with the lousy phone wires in my building. Had it for a little over a year. Works great and has only been down once but that lasted almost 3 weeks. Now currently in the U.S. so can't remember the speeds but it is very satisfactory for browsing sites both in Thailand and abroad. Not very fast for downloads though. After the first year you can switch to the monthly billing and can cancel any time.l

[Bruce Mangosteen 538]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. I do love my torrents and generally leave the computer online 24/7. Never know when the next job is gonna come!

 

If the throughput is anywhere near 1Mb I will definitely consider it. Looks like real-world experience is relatively thin on the ground (I have this thread on two other boards too), so I might have to go to a CAT/Hutch store, ask questions and have a play.

 

Please keep the comments coming though.

[joekicker 53]

If the throughput is anywhere near 1Mb I will definitely consider it. Looks like real-world experience is relatively thin on the ground (I have this thread on two other boards too), so I might have to go to a CAT/Hutch store, ask questions and have a play.

 

I must say that of all the stories I have read, seen and heard, I have never heard of anyone who used Hutch as his primary Internet supply by choice. I've never heard in, oh, six or eight years ONE person say or write that he got better Internet service via this phone service than an Internet provider. I've heard a lot of them say it's better than the other phone providers.

 

.

[Bruce Mangosteen 538]

I must say that of all the stories I have read, seen and heard, I have never heard of anyone who used Hutch as his primary Internet supply by choice. I've never heard in, oh, six or eight years ONE person say or write that he got better Internet service via this phone service than an Internet provider. I've heard a lot of them say it's better than the other phone providers.

It's a measure of my frustration over the present sorry state of the internet provided at VT1 at this time. It was down all day again today.

[joekicker 53]

It's a measure of my frustration over the present sorry state of the internet provided at VT1 at this time. It was down all day again today.

 

This is actually what I meant. You have to be desperate to pick a phone over actual ISP - you obviously are desperate.

 

If you give it a go, let us know what happens.

 

.

[Bruce Mangosteen 538]

This is actually what I meant. You have to be desperate to pick a phone over actual ISP - you obviously are desperate.

More like frustrated. If 1Mb/s CDMA-based broadband is available here, and it was reasonably reliable, it would be a step UP from what I am presently putting up with.

 

If you give it a go, let us know what happens.

Yep, will do.

[Gary 4,118]

Unfortunately Hutchinson and CAT share the CDMA network. As is normal here in Thailand, they refuse to work together. They share phone coverage but NOT data coverage. Attached is the Hutch coverage area.

 

 

I use the CAT EVDO upcountry. It's the best thing available upcountry but that's not saying much. It's up and down like a yo yo with stalling and disconnects often.

 

I'm not real sure about Hutch but have been told they have VERY little EVDO service and what they do have is not very good. The regular CDMA Internet is even slower than GPRS EDGE.

[nam-thip 1]

At 1500 baht pcm for that crap I think I would be looking elsewhere too.

You may want to just try the Edge/GPRS packages, they are generally dirt cheap and if you keep your usage to non-peak are tolerable.

I like the flexibility it offers, with a laptop and mobile phone you can use it near anyplace.

As to the CAT/Hutch CDMA, I am waiting for it to develop, it seems rather new at the moment.

 

I have the problem when I visit the UK with the laptop, they don't cater for short contract, and sell you an over-priced dongle, which somehow in LOS can be forgotten and the cell-phone used.

 

Currently on TOT, it is slow but Skype works better on it than on my prior TTT Maxnet!

 

 

 

For the last couple of years on two separate 3-months trips to the UK I’ve used my mobile to connect my laptop to the internet.

I’ve managed it using my mobile phone (Nokia N73) and an Orange Sim-card and the service goes by the name of ‘Orange internet bundle’ which for a fee of five pounds you have unlimited access to the internet for a period of seven days.

There is a setting up procedure which they’ll talk you through and once that’s out of the way your good to go.

 

Using the mobile has its speed limitations at 115kbps but with nothing much available in the short term unless you lash out silly money for a dedicated dongle it gets you by.

 

WARNING: Be careful and very aware of your expiry day (day seven) as they will feed of your credit once the bundle has expired and they have a terrible habit of forgetting to send you a text informing you your bundle has expired and needs renewing.

[jacko 8,813]

For the last couple of years on two separate 3-months trips to the UK I've used my mobile to connect my laptop to the internet.

I've managed it using my mobile phone (Nokia N73) and an Orange Sim-card and the service goes by the name of 'Orange internet bundle' which for a fee of five pounds you have unlimited access to the internet for a period of seven days.

There is a setting up procedure which they'll talk you through and once that's out of the way your good to go.

 

Using the mobile has its speed limitations at 115kbps but with nothing much available in the short term unless you lash out silly money for a dedicated dongle it gets you by.

 

WARNING: Be careful and very aware of your expiry day (day seven) as they will feed of your credit once the bundle has expired and they have a terrible habit of forgetting to send you a text informing you your bundle has expired and needs renewing.

That's interesting, I was asking around all over the place a year ago.

I will be in the Orange shop Friday! Beats sharing the library PCs with all the asylum seekers!

Coincidentally I have just got rid of all the Orange 'branding' of my Ebay purchased mobile.

I think it was 2 or more years ago I tried an 'Orange' dial-up option, put this CD in my PC and the damned thing took over my computer and branded everything in sight and screwed up all my defaults. Been wary of Orange since!

I don't like the fact that they would have an automatic access to my credit card!

I am with O2 in the UK and they don't really take pay-as-you-go customers very seriously.

 

Thanks for the feedback....

Edited September 10, 2009 by jacko