Just ordered IPstar, for those who maybe intersted, it cost nothing for installation and setup, and a 256k download speed and 128k upload speed costs 1500 baht per month, If I find that it is too slow then I can upgrade to more speedier services for not much more baht per month.
Been in the office today and have been told next week for installation, but TIT .
Sorry folks looks like you might be seeing a little more of me on here sometime soon
regards
Bryn

As someone who pays £10 per month for a 7MB/768K service here in the UK, I am simply horrified by the figures you quote Bryn.

Thailand needs to get up to speed, literally, with its broadband. If it does not do so then, at least, its economic development will be held back.

quote:

a 256k download speed and 128k upload speed costs 1500 baht per month

IPStar is a satellite based service and is probably the most expensive method of gaining internet access in Thailand. If you live in the sticks though, there may be no other option available to you.

By comparison, landline based broadband services here are around 590 baht a month for 1Mbps and 1000 baht for 2.5Mbps.

Still more expensive than the UK, but T.I.T.

In France I pay 48 Euros for 8 megabits so both Thailand and the UK sound very cheap
ash

quote:

Thailand needs to get up to speed, literally, with its broadband. If it does not do so then, at least, its economic development will be held back.

Two main problems: -

1. The infrastucture isn't there. In the UK, BT spent millions building a big ATM network (not the cash macine variety) in the 90's which nobody used (ISDN was the big plan). They now have all the spare capacity which helps keep prices down.
Consumer broadband services typically use xDSL. In LOS, the quality of the lines is so bad even for voice calls which prevents high speed internet from being, well, high speed.
The UK has relatively good quality lines but exchanges are far apart. You're paying for 7Mbps downstream but I'd be surprised if you're getting half of that.

2. The industry is a complete mess. Nobody is really in charge of Thai telecoms from a strategic point. Too many indians, not enough chiefs. Far too many TLA (three letter acronyms). TOT, CAT, TT&T, NTC, ICT ministry....
There's no real deregulation nor competition - hence high prices. Nothing can be agreed upon - be it concession charges or connection charges. I could go on...

The real losers ... the Thai people.

Packpao

John I agree with you but as Maokang says, It is my only "real" option , living out in the sticks.
But maybe in the future as more people subscribe the prices will fall, infact it has fallen from 1605 baht per month to the current 1500. From memory 512D/256U, was 2200 per month
but I can upgrade to that should I wish to at anytime.

But the football here is great I get to see 3pm saturday kick off games, then the late sat games, sunday 3 games, monday night games, champions league, cup matches.
Discovery, National Geographic, Animal planet,A million film channels, etc,etc for 1500 baht per month. Don't show Donny rovers, although I did watch Harrogate railway VS Mansfield Live in the cup Seems funny watching that match in the jungle 6000 miles away
Take care