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

Broadband by True Online :

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

True Online is the most widely used provider (at least for home use) in Thailand. At present, it offers three different broadband services :

1) Internet by ADSL (telephone line)
2) Internet by Cable
3) Internet by Fiber to the Home
The latter two need added infrastructure to the home or building where you live, making it not suitable to everyone.

1) Internet by ADSL

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 10-13 Mbsp download speed seems to be the standard. Below are the monthly rates as of 2014.

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. The name is broadband, but sometimes it is not even possible to stream online radio broadcasts.
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).

Likely what happens is an increase in the number of customers, and updated to the infrastructure that are not timely.

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 not everybody has the possibility to upgrade to cable internet services.

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.

2) Internet by Cable (formerly called Ultra Hi-Speed Internet) :

True Online offers another broadband internet service, called Internet by Cable (as translated from the Thai language). This service started around 2010, initially at a limited number of locations, but with expanded coverage at present.

Rates are as follows (April 2014) and have not substantially been lowered since 2011 (except at the lower end).

The problem of getting Internet by Cable is your local infrastructure. We assume there is likely no problem is you live in a house. However, if you live in a condominium, as an individual it will not be possible to have the special cable installed. The condominium where you live would need to have an agreement with True to supply the building infrastructure.

3) Internet by Fiber to the Home

Since 2013 True Online also provides Fiber to the Home (FTTH) broadband services.

Fees in April 2014 were as follows :

As with the cable service, you need infrastructure installed where you live. Services to homes will likely not be a substantial problem, but when living in a condo, you need to contact your condo owner, to see if the service is possible at your location.

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.

We could not find pricing data lately on the True Online website. However, we bought 'coupons' featuring a username and password at 150 baht for a month's use at True service center (or coffee shop).

You may also get some free Wifi (or free phone calls) added if you purchase (as a new customer) for any of the broadband services.

True offers also some 'triple play' packages that include broadband, TV channels, and internet data by phone, at interesting rates.

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