Fiber network operational in July (1Gbps network)

[Nicke]

Sounds good, TOT is building up a fiber optic network from Phuket City and with sub bransches in Patong and Thalang, and can be up to 20km from these points.

Originally Posted by Phuket Gazette

TOT broadband: 1Gbps by July

PHUKET (Nation/Gazette): TOT kicked off its project to build a new fiber-optic broadband-Internet service for Phuket with the awarding yesterday of a 136.8-million-baht network-construction contract.

“We picked Phuket as the first location to launch the service because the island has affluent consumers who can afford the premium-priced service,” said Sayan Tinsamran, TOT senior executive vice president for marketing and product development.

Under the contract, a consortium led by Italian-Thai Development and Siam Fibre Optic will install a 200-kilometer fiber network with 3,200 broadband-Internet ports.

The service will deliver voice, data and video on demand at speeds of up to 1Gbps over FTTx, or “Fiber To The x”, where “x” could be a home, buildings or any other location hooking up to the network.

Fujikura, a Japanese vendor, will supply its FTTx technology, while NTT-West Co, a Japanese telecom company, will act as project consultant.

K. Sayan said that the state enterprise had spent two years on the project’s feasibility study.

FTTx technology costs about 50,000 baht per port, more than conventional asynchronous digital subscriber line technology (ADSL). The service fee is expected to be high, but TOT will not finalize the rate until the launch date.

“We expect to break even in four years,” said K. Sayan.

The first phase will offer only voice and data; video on demand will come later.

“If the service in Phuket proves successful, FTTx will be expanded to other provinces, including Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai,” he added.

Pairoj Somsri, who heads the TOT office in Phuket, said he expects the system to be operational around the beginning of July.

Fiber-optic cables up to 20 kilometers in length will originate from the main Phuket TOT office in Phuket City as well as its two sub-branch offices in Thalang and Patong.

The network should cover most of the island, he said.

“I think it is great that Phuket was chosen to be the pilot province for this project, because this is new technology with a high investment cost,” he added.

K. Pairoj declined to estimate what prospective users would have to pay for the service once it becomes available.

Brought to you by:
The Phuket Gazette
17:34 local time (GMT +7)

[The Loop]

Internet speed where i am in Patong is varying anywhere between 5.5 Mbps and 54 Mbps at the moment......Roll on July.

[nacha]

Originally Posted by The Loop

Internet speed where i am in Patong is varying anywhere between 5.5 Mbps and 54 Mbps at the moment......Roll on July.

technically not possible (ATM), there's a maximum of 16Mbit/s downstream...
probably this is your speed of your wireless connection 5555

[Hobbsy]

maybe you mean Kbps?

[LivinLOS]

Those are 2 common wireless speeds.. hes simply looking at network connection and considering that internet speed..

While I applaud the above news post and anything that improves Thailands / Phukets net situation until they get rid of the gov sanctioned monopoly on international bandwidth all going through CAT and being charged massive (in international norms) per Mbit of true international bandwidth nothing will change.

Fingers crossed that some deal is being made to accommodate 1GBit fibre connections. One connection split between even 20 users would be amazing.

[Simbo]

I've noticed since I got back this week the speed has been crap and downloads are taking ages- best I go down town instead of peering at the screen. Wireless download speed is reading 36 Mbps at the moment grrrrrrrrrrrrr

[brilliantpebble]

I'm currently using Jasmin Internet net Café package and it doesn't seem to be as responsive as it was last year in terms of regular web browsing. I'm still happy with the download speeds it just seems like there is a little bit of latency when requesting pages and clicking around the Internet.

Just wondering what everyone's recommended ADSL package was now days. Of course having all port access is mandatory for peer to peer file sharing and bit torrent and voice over IP.

Thanks for any feedback.

[Nicke]

Try to use other DNS settings, slow responses from their DNS will give the problems you describe.

Eg Loxinfo

203.146.0.20
203.146.0.30

Samart

203.149.0.3
203.149.0.2

Must be more Bangkok based providers you also could try.

Originally Posted by brilliantpebble

I'm currently using Jasmin Internet net Café package and it doesn't seem to be as responsive as it was last year in terms of regular web browsing. I'm still happy with the download speeds it just seems like there is a little bit of latency when requesting pages and clicking around the Internet.

Just wondering what everyone's recommended ADSL package was now days. Of course having all port access is mandatory for peer to peer file sharing and bit torrent and voice over IP.

Thanks for any feedback.

[LivinLOS]

OpenDNS

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

[ATMwalking]

This is f*cking awesome news...if it is real. I'll start looking into it now. Means two things to me. Finally decent internet speed. I can finally live where I want on the island and get good internet.

I'm guessing the price will be north of 6,000. I'd pay 10,000.

The remaining issue is 1)nearly all internet to Thailand is centrally controlled and limited in bangkok. 2) connecting bangkok to Phuket...there could be a bottle neck there.

@brilliantpebble
I've had the same issue for some reason. Disappointing after a few good years with them.

@Nicke/LivinLOS
Will give that a try.

[LivinLOS]

Erm.. Chris..

FTTx technology costs about 50,000 baht per port

Of course we would queue up to pay 6k.. But at 50 I start to reconsider.

[The Loop]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Those are 2 common wireless speeds.. hes simply looking at network connection and considering that internet speed..

I think you are right.

Sounds like plenty of people are having a similar problem here at the moment.

[K2]

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

This is f*cking awesome news...if it is real.

I wont hold my breath - we can but dream!

[Sparkle]

What a dream......WOW.

i have spent 5 days over the last week with no connection, something happened with the connection and we were getting zero......so i ended up scooting down to a wireless free port in chalong .

Did this about 8 times a day. Tried to go buy one of those CDMA mobile connection things from CAT. first trip - closed for lunch, 2nd trip - sorry do not have but will call when in.

Oh to have a great internet service......would sure make a difference to a lot of people.....if it delivered.....and for that no-one will hold their breath.

[ATMwalking]

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Erm.. Chris..



Of course we would queue up to pay 6k.. But at 50 I start to reconsider.

The 50k is there hardware costs back at the switch. That plus the wiring costs and other overhead is why it will take 4 years to break even.

I'll look into this more next week. But the idea of being able to live where I want and still get kicking internet is really awesome.

[LivinLOS]

At 5 - 8k I am in.. Tho fibre to the home.. that means laying fibre, cant see that being cheap.

[ATMwalking]

In the states is is about 2000/month for the top-end of the service.
http://www22.verizon.com/content/con...and+prices.htm

So i am guessing we are looking at about 6000/month. Maybe you get one telephone line and some basic TV included. Then ++ for good channels (hopefully in HD).

[LivinLOS]

Chris.. Hidef.. Fibre to the home... 6k a month..

I think the time for writing letters to Santa has passed for a few more months !! When you think the basic SME packages cost that and only advertise 4Mbit etc then its kinda dreaming ?? No contention international bandwidth is a couple 100k baht for 1Mbit (real) I seem to remember reading.

[ATMwalking]

I recall some article about this a few years ago. Basically they got special permission to act outside of the normal channels. didn't give it much thought at the time.

Japan is one of the few places where they have figured out how to distribute fiber (and ADSL on the cheap). Like one of the best mbit/$ deals out there.

So avoiding the usual thai telecom mess, taking proven Japaneses smarts, and cheap Burmese labor they should be able to get this done at an ok price. Really once they have the fiber in place, add on services is a total been-there-done-that no brainer.

CAT made the first move by running there own lines for ADSL and bypass the telcom mess. Of course going straight to fiber makes a lot more sense.

but for now...please just let me have a few days in a happy place...that's why i'm not digging into this until next week.

[perky]

Didn't anyone read the end of the article or has that been added later?

Upon learning that the contract had been signed, Gazette computer-columnist Woody Leonhard was cautiously optimistic.

“If TOT is able to deliver 1Gbps international Internet access to offices and homes in Phuket, it will represent a major breakthrough in the island’s efforts to establish itself as an IT hub for Southeast Asia. Fiber in Phuket should prove to be a very wise investment, but to get a return on that investment, TOT must offer high-speed service not only to locations inside Thailand, but out to the rest of the world as well.”

Henry Habermacher of X-Net computers in Phuket City was more doubtful that the average Internet user would benefit.

“It’s not the speed on the last mile, it’s the speed from Thailand to the international lines,” he said. “What should I do with a 1Gbps-wide fiber line if I get served over the international lines with only 100Kbps? This will not help us at all. This is for radio stations, telephone… Internet users using international lines are not targeted with this plan at all.”

He added that the service would only become more strained with the increased demand unless CAT and other providers first expand Internet bandwidth internationally.

I won't be jumping that bandwagon until I know it delivers real international speeds - what good is it to me otherwise?

[Denver]

Got my CAT (Communications Authority of Thailand) CDMA EV-DO CCU-650 Modem today from thier offices in Patong (They've moved by the way Gollum!!) Copy of passport, one year visa, address confirmation letter thingie-me-jig.

Cracking speeds from a tiny USB Modem, managing to download loads of crap for unlimited usage at 750 Baht a month payable at the 7-11 while I pick up some Bensons and a pint of milk.

Can swim in the pool now while I email from the shallow end.

Well................I'm happy!