ADSL and Cable Modem Broadband Internet Services in Bangkok. Wi-Fi Hotspots.

ADSL-broadband by True Online :

Being online many hours a day, and regularly updating our websites, we are interested in getting fast internet connections.

In Thailand, True broadband services are most widely used, basically most companies were too slow to implement the technology, leaving True to corner the market. Initially we used True's ADSL broadband services at a download speed of just 2 Mbps, a speed that did not allow for streaming videos, or downloading large files in a short time period.

Anyway, the last few years, service has speeded up, and now 7-10 Mbsp download speed seems to be the standard. These are the latest monthly rates as of December 2011.

One important note : It may be intended to be so, but service is not 'always on'. Sometimes, for months, connections are pretty good. Then for weeks on end, connections are broken regularly, the router is flickering through the day, and you can not use the service reliably.
It is a situation of 'as good as it gets'. You are stuck, because there are no well developed competitors (any that are there hardly even promote their services). As a backup we sometimes use an 'aircard' with a sim, which we can use if we want to send emails that can not wait, or do something online that can not wait.

You can observe, that the so-called hi-speed internet on offer (see below) via cable modem, offers higher speeds, at often lower prices. But you likely need to be a customer of True Visions (TV) to use the cable service.

There are 2 important considerations regarding True's broadband services.
1) The packages offered change frequently, that is more speed is offered often at a lower price.
2) True does not automatically upgrade you to a more speedy service, or a cheaper package. You have to check from time to time, to see if you can get a better deal, and then apply again for that service. We find this a rather poor business model, and service, but there is no real competitor in the market.

Our 'wireless' router (what's in a name). Notice all the wires exiting from the back. The router can be used both for your desktop (via an ethernet cable) or wireless for your laptop.

Ultra Hi-Speed Internet :

Since July 2010 True Online offers another broadband internet service, called Ultra Hi-Speed Internet. Initially this service seemed available (by cable) in a limited number of condominiums in Bangkok. End 2011 there seems to be a wider coverage area (always check when applying if you are in a suitable location).

Rates are as follows (November 2011) and are lower than at the beginning of the service. They are bound to decrease further (you have to periodically check to see if it time to change your deal with True, this applies for all kinds of services).
Actually, the rates seem to be more competitive at the lower (10 Mbps and 20 Mbps) download speeds than their 'regular' ADSL broadband rates.

As an added bonus, you can get unlimited Wi-Fi access at thousands of True hotspots around Bangkok, at 100 baht/month, if you are a user of Ultra hi-speed Internet.

Wi-Fi Hotspots :

True has an expensive network of thousand of Wi-Fi hotspots around Bangkok. In practice, it depends on your own location, and where you wander around town. It may just be (like in our case), that you usually go to drink your coffee, have a meal, or do your shopping, at places not covered by True's services. Just check it out before applying.

Pricing for unlimited Wi-Fi are (last time we checked in November 2011) not quite correctly listed on True's website, maybe because some outdated content remains online.
When we tried to apply for unlimited Wi-Fi at hotspots in Bangkok, we were told that a rate of 250 baht/month applies when you are an ADSL-broadband customer, and 500 baht/month for persons who do not use other True services.

Different rates then again may be available for True Move customer (True mobile phone service). For example, you can get a limited number of hours of free Wi-Fi use each month. You can also get unlimited use for 100 baht/month, which is quite a good deal.

Personally, we find all the different names for services and products a bit confusing, but you possible can find out more at these websites (look for English content) :

True Move (mobile phones)
True Online (ADSL broadband)