I will be comparing internet speed tests for three different broadband internet connections that I had the chance to use in Thailand. If you’re going to be in Thailand, we hope this comparison helps you make a decision about which broadband internet provider to choose. Of the three services tested, one uses a mobile wireless system that uses GSM Edge to connect to the Internet. The other two are standard ADSL services from competing companies in Thailand. All tests were performed using the same laptop, at approximately the same time of day. The tests were carried out at a distance of 5 km from each other in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

The first type of broadband I tried was the AIS Wireless Edge solution. I bought a USB Edge card at the 7-11 convenience store which is everywhere in Thailand. The USB card cost me 1200 baht (about $37 USD). Price includes 20 hours of wireless time.

You can purchase additional hours to the card. Adding 20 hours of time costs 150 baht (about $4.50 USD) The USB card itself houses a SIM card just like the SIM card that goes in your phone. In fact, you can swap AIS SIM cards between your phone and the USB card if you want. The USB card has built-in software and I successfully installed it on Windows XP and Windows 7 laptops. I was unable to get the card to work with Mac OS X. The software works like any other dial-up/3G/4G modem on the that you click a button to connect and disconnect from the Internet.

Why try Edge and not 3G? Well, Thailand is currently locked in legal issues with wireless operators over 3G frequency allocation, so current 3G offerings are very limited. Unfortunately, Edge is the best option for nationwide coverage. In fact, Thailand might be better off skipping 3G and going straight to a 4G technology like WiMAX or LTE. I wrote an article for Network World magazine in 2009 about a Cisco pilot program testing WiMAX at a university in northern Thailand. I had the chance to see 4G in action in both Thailand and the US and was very impressed in both places…much more of a true competitor to DSL than wireless 3G.

That said, if you travel frequently, AIS Edge isn’t a bad option… as long as it doesn’t require a lot of bandwidth. AIS claims a maximum download speed of 512 Kbps, in my tests I received download speeds of 115 Kbps and upload speeds of 63 Kbps. Not very impressive, but it gets the job done when you’re just browsing the internet. I was even able to make a Skype video call with this card, though the video quality was pretty poor. Audio calls worked fine.

The second speed test I tried is a DSL connection from TOT in Thailand. Most people who have DSL go for the lowest offer, which is 4000 Kbps download and 512 Kbps upload. Currently, the monthly cost for this service is 590 baht ($18 USD) per month which includes a DSL modem/router. The speed test showed a much lower number of downloads, receiving approximately 1779 Kbps down and 371 Kbps up.

Lastly, I tried a second popular DSL provider in Thailand called 3BB. The ADSL tested is identical to the TOT offers with download speeds of 4000 Kbps and upload speeds of 512 Kbps. The monthly price for the service with a DSL modem router included is also the same as TOT at 590 baht per month. Unlike the TOT service test, the 3BB download speeds were spot on. In terms of upload speeds, 3BB was slightly lower than the TOT ADSL connection that was tested. The 3BB speed test found speeds of 4060 Kbps down and 310 Kbps up.

Please note that this is a people test only. Your results may vary based on location and time of day. Based on these tests, if I had to choose a DSL provider, I would choose 3BB for the far superior download test. If I really relied on frequent uploads, I’d go for the TOT DSL connection. Lastly, if you needed a mobile internet solution, you’d have to go for AIS’s Edge…although 3BB’s upload speeds were pretty close and seemed to explode at higher speeds.