Testing Bangkok's free wi-fi service

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Testing Bangkok's free wi-fi service

ONE SILVER LINING IN THE OTHERWISE CONTROVERSY-RIDDEN 3G AUCTION

Published: 17 Oct 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Life

The world has gone digital. The internet has become a life necessity in this age in which people feel the need to access the world wide web - always and everywhere.

Even though the ongoing controversy surrounding the 3G auction has taken the development of digital technology in Thailand nowhere, there is still one piece of good news _ the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has joined hands with giant mobile phone and internet network service providers to offer the people free access to wireless internet (wi-fi) in several thousand locations across the country.

ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said the free wi-fi initiative is aimed at providing all Thais with an opportunity to access to the wireless internet regardless of their earnings, whereabouts or other factors.

"It will help eliminate any inequality in access to information. It will also improve people's quality of life as well as open more doors to more knowledge," said the minister.

The free wi-fi service, the minister added, is currently available in some 50,000 to 60,000 locations, mostly in communities, department stores, restaurants, hotels, academic institutes and other public venues. Registration is required yet it is simple. Basically, all users need to register online with their identification number and email address. A username and password will be sent back to them via the provided email.

Usage conditions and data transfer speed, however, vary according to each individual service provider. Advanced Info Service (AIS) offers wireless internet with a download speed of 10Mbps up to 100Mbps in some areas and allows five-hour usage per month on its network and another five hours per month on the 3BB network, which is AIS' business partner.

State-owned TOT Plc also offers free wireless internet for the public with a maximum download speed of 3Mbps and upload speed of 512bps. The username and password are valid for six months and users can access free wi-fi on the TOT network for no more than two hours per each log-on.

At the same time, True Corp offers 15 hours-per-month free wireless internet access on its network for no more than 30 minutes a day. The network's maximum download speed is 2Mbps.

To check the availability and efficiency of the service, Life recently tested free wireless internet services at several locations around Bangkok.

Location:CentralWorld

Time of test: 1.50pm

Network: AIS

Download/upload speed: 15.69Mbps/0.79Mbps

Opening an 800kb email attachment: 2sec

Fully loading Bangkok Post website: 7sec

Posting an 800kb picture on Facebook: 16sec

Fully loading a 2min 30sec video on YouTube: 7sec

Location:Chulalongkorn University

Time of test: 1.15pm

*No service.

Location:Siam BTS station

Time of test: 12am

Network: 3BB

Download/upload speed: 5.62Mbps/1.29Mbps

Opening an 800kb email attachment: 5sec

Fully loading Bangkok Post website: 10sec

Posting an 800kb picture on Facebook: 17sec

Fully loading a 2min 30sec video on YouTube: 26sec

Location:Lumpini Park

Time of test: 1.30pm

*No service.

Location:Siam Discovery

Time of test: 12.30am

Network: AIS

Download/upload speed: 15.68Mbps/0.67Mbps

Opening an 800kb email attachment: 3sec

Fully loading Bangkok Post website: 3sec

Posting an 800kb picture on Facebook: 17sec

Fully loading a 2min 30sec video on YouTube: 11sec

Location:Siam Square

Time of test: 1pm

*No service.

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Your comments

swangtal
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Discussion 9 : 26 Oct 2012 at 17.439
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Free?

How is this thing free? I pay for it with my tax money, and I don't even get to use it.

No service that the government provide is free. We all paid for it. They're supposedly great deals for the price that some of us paid (I doubt I got my money's worth, but that's beside the point), but when they don't deliver..hmm..I guess that's to be expected.
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onlyme
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Discussion 8 : 17 Oct 2012 at 17.078
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khunbj - I'm not complaining, just pointing out that the target group likely doesn't have a computer no less a wireless enabled one.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 7 : 17 Oct 2012 at 16.297
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There aint nosuch thing as a free lunch. If it's free everyone jumps on it and it slows down, just like the 10k pages for 499 baht a month but try even getting 1k speed at 4pm in the afternoon. And what use is 50,000 free spots in Bangkok when most can afford to have it at home or work, better off charging them so you can offer a free basic. service in the rural areas on cable.
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davidh
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Discussion 6 : 17 Oct 2012 at 15.246
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Quite a few holes there so don't depend on it. Doubtful of consistency on anything free since non revenue services are low priority when there are maintenance issues.

The free services, seemingly are not for Foreigners who would not meet the pre-requisite of possessing a Thai ID Card.
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barryw
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Discussion 5 : 17 Oct 2012 at 14.145
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Out of 15 places tested, only four had service. Sounds about right for Thailand where the norm is to promise plenty and deliver little.
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khunbj
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Discussion 4 : 17 Oct 2012 at 12.474
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People that bother to complain about a free service really need to see someone that can help them with their problems.....Free Wifi, saw an interview with AIS and Yingluck Shinawatra, our PM, and the message was that AIS & ICT will roll this service out all over the country which is good for the people that don't have money to pay for this kind of communication, another good initiative by the PM to get the country moving forward.
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onlyme
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Discussion 3 : 17 Oct 2012 at 12.153
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It's good to give free access across the country so even the poorest can get information. It's just too bad they can't afford a wireless computer to get to the free info.
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banmebkk
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Discussion 2 : 17 Oct 2012 at 10.472
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And once you go over the limit, which happens easily as they limit how long you can use per day, you will be charged a lot! These free wi-fi are trying to lure people into over using the service and being charged heavily.
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arch
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Discussion 1 : 17 Oct 2012 at 10.241
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Location: CentralWorld coffeeshops on 7th Floor and 2nd floor

Time of test: daily between 11am-1pm

-no signal-
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Testing Bangkok's free wi-fi service | Bangkok Post: tech