The maintenance of the optical backbone is catastrophic, mainly along the roads, there is no coordination between electricity, water and highway departments, everybody do his little work without caring about the underground or aerial optical cable, when they is an "accident" (cable is damaged or cut) they only do a temporary joint which stay for years. Only two joints are normally permitted on a span of 4 kms to assure a good debit. Wonder why internet speed or successful connection on the network is always a problem in Thailand!

Posted by Jean-Paul Patrick on July 22, 2010 12:07

Man you people, what do you expect heh? many of us guys had no electric for years when we first came to Phuket, Kata, Karon Rawai and even Patong had none in the beginning.

So you Johnny come lately guys have no appreciation how far we have come, and how fast. This is the problem with people. They come from societies that are very developed and want to live a simple life in Phuket. Well it isn't simple any more here, but it isn't like back home either.

Yes, Thailand has a long ways to go but they're getting there, so relax. I am spoiled now and was unhappy the line was down also today.

You want to live the simple life, go to some of the towns up the coast and forget about your computers. Frankly, after years of nothing much to do here, I enjoy most of our advancements.

It's some of you people coming here that drive us old hands crazy.

Posted by Brian on July 23, 2010 06:30

@Brian, some of us are not just sitting in god's waiting room, using a computer to just check the odd email from children, but work via the net and require uptime to do so.

Cambodia has 3G, Vietnam has 3G, and Thais are still squabbling over whose snout gets into the trough for the licenses, while other countries roll out their 4G platforms.

Net connections are a driver of industry, a creator of wealth, and if Thais want to continue to fall behind their neighbors they have every right to do so. But when the economic picture is poor, and house break ins rise, those same 'old hands' will be the same ones squealing and moving up north.

Posted by LivinLOS on July 23, 2010 07:27

Brian, my business is internet based. Because of the backward internet here, I am shutting down my business and all the people who earn very good salaries from me are going to back to the backward lives they had.
Thank you, now I can also lead the simple life, and no more work.

Posted by Graham on July 23, 2010 11:12

I have had a tech company here for many years. We do distributed software development (everything is in the cloud). I would suggest a simpler solution to giving up. Have two isp's, monthly cost is minimal.

As an example, we had no problem yesterday. One system was down the other was working.

In the IT industry it is normal to assume disasters happen and prepare for them, like backing up. I agree Thailand has come a long ways in a short time. There are glitches and annoyances but overall it works and works well.

When things do go awry I find my customers pretty tolerant and understanding. It is a trade off I accepted when I decided to live here. Island paradise does not equate to tech mecca.

Further, I do not agree that the Internet here is backward and in fact get speeds and reliability comparable to my offices in the States if not better. It does depend on where you are on the island and what service you subscribe to.

With a little effort, like researching before locating and ensuring you have quality provision (just like anywhere else in the world) you should be able to mitigate the disruptions. I may be incorrect but such has worked for me over the last 10 years or so.

Posted by Ya Think Doctor? on July 23, 2010 12:37

A pleasure to see such informed and thoughtful feedback as that from Ya Think Doctor. (And that's a lovely picture of the turtle.)

Posted by donmphkt on July 23, 2010 13:45

Thank you for your comments Ya Think Doctor.

Unfortunately location was not an option I had. I had to be near my investment and office in the north of the island. Pointless living in Phuket City just to get good internet speeds.

But I am well and truly out of this business world. I did not need the bs of day to day hassles. Now onto the relaxed good life of worry free farangs. Bring it on.

Posted by Graham on July 23, 2010 18:29

Do you people not read? I like my computer in spite of SOME of you new timers being obnoxious (most people moving here aren't) us old guys don't run away and desert the ship we like it here in Phuket. You young wimps are the ones to runaway.

In fact I teach on my computer in Bangkok and may teach some courses in overseas Universities on foreign trade. Also my lovely computer has made it possible for me make a lot of money just living here in Phuket sitting in my living room. God what a wonderful tool.

I have watched with awe as the speeds increased over time and how the rates for such speeds have gone down thanks to millions of Johnny come lately moving here. Thanks Ya Think Doctor ? nice to learn more about what's going on so I can get a better service.

Computers have made my living in Pair of Dice (paradise yes its a shake rattle and a roll here) really enjoyable as I am able to access the rest of the world from my home.

Posted by Brian on July 23, 2010 21:39

I would really like to know, which services you would recommend, as I need a realtime connection to Europe, not too heavy load, but consistent and reliable. Because only when I know which services are the ones right now, I can check for location this August. Thanks for your help.

Posted by Lena on July 23, 2010 22:42

Brian Ahmed! I agree.

Posted by Nsupin on July 25, 2010 04:20

i LOVE cat CDMA. I have a huge tower near to my home and VERY seldom have problems! I was NOT part of the outage!

Posted by Chalong Boy on July 29, 2010 06:04