I assume it is more and more common to have an internet connection at home.  What speeds are available?  Is it reliable and how much does it cost?  

abercrombie wrote on 30^th Apr, 2011 at 3:03pm:

I assume it is more and more common to have an internet connection at home.  What speeds are available?  Is it reliable and how much does it cost?

I believe it's not too expensive in the city.  Because I live in the countryside with no telephone lines, I have to use a satellite connection.  It is extremely expensive, costing me 1,500,000 kip a month.

It's called high-speed satellite internet, but I don't know the exact speed.


Old Man

Is it true that the Lao government don't censore 'sites?

I know our 'big brothers' China are homophobic. They control EVERYTHING north of the border. No such domineering in our beloved Laos?

Yes, the internet censorship in China is childish.  I can understand blocking porn I guess, but all the other stuff is just plain retarded.  And in Shanghai, the city of the future, we have the slowest internet in the entire country.

If I move to Laos, which always seems to be pending, I won't need lightning fast internet, but I would like something better than dial-up that's reliable and unlimited.

abercrombie wrote on 1^st May, 2011 at 7:26am:

Yes, the internet censorship in China is childish.  I can understand blocking porn I guess, but all the other stuff is just plain retarded.  And in Shanghai, the city of the future, we have the slowest internet in the entire country. If I move to Laos, which always seems to be pending, I won't need lightning fast internet, but I would like something better than dial-up that's reliable and unlimited.

What's wrong with porn? No one ever went out to rape someone after jacking off, right? The diligent inflating price of the 'pussy cat' these days, is making rape the only solution for the desperate. Porn alone would would go along way in regards to detering crime against women, ironically. :-?

Can someone tell me the internet plans/prices for the net in laos?

What about smart phones? Anyone know the prices for internet access on phones?

I was just saying that if a government was going to block access to something, porn seems the least objectionable target.  Not saying one way or the other, other than that case is more easily understood than banning Facebook and Youtube and Wikipedia and Blogspot.  And the blockings are seemingly random at times.  Sometimes Youtube is fine, sometimes not.  Then a couple days of sketchy gmail and google.  Even my domain where I post the chapters to my upcoming Nobel winning book gets blocked once in a while.  If anyone's interested...  http://alrightlook.com/default/

But a VPN works around all the problems, but of course it makes a slow Shanghai connection even slower.


Quote:

Can someone tell me the internet plans/prices for the net in laos? What about smart phones? Anyone know the prices for internet access on phones?

I'd also like to know.

abercrombie wrote on 1^st May, 2011 at 8:18am:

I was just saying that if a government was going to block access to something, porn seems the least objectionable target.  Not saying one way or the other, other than that case is more easily understood than banning Facebook and Youtube and Wikipedia and Blogspot.  And the blockings are seemingly random at times.  Sometimes Youtube is fine, sometimes not.  Then a couple days of sketchy gmail and google.  Even my domain where I post the chapters to my upcoming Nobel winning book gets blocked once in a while.  If anyone's interested...  http://alrightlook.com/default/ But a VPN works around all the problems, but of course it makes a slow Shanghai connection even slower. Quote: Can someone tell me the internet plans/prices for the net in laos? What about smart phones? Anyone know the prices for internet access on phones? I'd also like to know.

Well, what ISN'T blocked over there?

I think it's imminenet that this site will be blocked too. I read somewhere that china is where the pathet lao are sending their top students these days, to learn from the 'master'. It's inevitable that their big brother ploys will be carrid out in Laos too. Enjoy Laopride.com while it last people.

Why do you want to move to Laos?



Hey Admin', bro!, what do you think? Is Larb Dip talking rubbish? Is he speculating too much?

Quote:

Well, what ISN'T blocked over there?

As a matter of policy, the big information sites and social networking sites are the main ones being blocked.  And porn.  Then they will block CNN or BBC or whatever for a few days if what the censors view to be an incendiary China related story has been posted.  The random blockings I mentioned no one understands.  But this site won't have a problem.  Shanghaiexpat.com has really juicy anti-China postings at times, but since maybe only two or three Chinese people look at that site, it doesn't matter.  

[Edit:  I'm talking about foreign sites.  Once those are out of the way, they can concentrate more effort on controlling the domestic Chinese sites.  They know the rules, and are well aware that the plug can be pulled on any of them (or even arrests) if they engage in anything the big boys might not like.]

And the Chinese government employs thousands of people in their internet security department, which I don't think Laos is going to do.  China is huge with constant bubbling resentment and little uprisings, so they are forever hushing up and brushing under any coverage of these potential flashpoints to prevent them from spreading.


Quote:

Why do you want to move to Laos?

Long story short, visa issues.  But my employer (the cause of the visa issues) always manages to shove enough money-stuffed red envelopes into whoever's pockets so nothing happens.  I could get another job, but I like my job.  But I need a plan B for when the rug finally gets pulled.  

Everyone online says nothing but good things about the Lao people.  That can certainly NOT be said about China.  And I can live in Vientiane for half the cost of where I am now.  Seems a good place to work on my writing.  If publishers laugh my stories out of their offices and my savings finally run dry, I guess I'll go back to teaching again.  Not the end of the world.  While I'd rather be writing, I am a pretty decent teacher, and the kids think I'm cool.  :)

Never seen any internet blocking here in Laos, not even porn.  The TV from Thailand sometimes gets blocked (by Thailand) when the Thai govt. doesn't want people to know about the red shirts/yellow shirts political fighting that is going on.

But then, Thailand is a modern, representative democracy whereas Laos is a brutal, totalitarian repressive dictatorship, right?

NOT!

Old Man

Laos don't censors internet. China, Thailand, Vietnam, North Korea do.
:) ;)

There's is peace and stability in Laos. That's one of the thing I like about Laos.
;) 8-)


wrote on 1^st May, 2011 at 9:18am:

Never seen any internet blocking here in Laos, not even porn.  The TV from Thailand sometimes gets blocked (by Thailand) when the Thai govt. doesn't want people to know about the red shirts/yellow shirts political fighting that is going on. But then, Thailand is a modern, representative democracy whereas Laos is a brutal, totalitarian repressive dictatorship, right? NOT! Old Man

wrote on 1^st May, 2011 at 9:18am:

Never seen any internet blocking here in Laos, not even porn.  The TV from Thailand sometimes gets blocked (by Thailand) when the Thai govt. doesn't want people to know about the red shirts/yellow shirts political fighting that is going on. But then, Thailand is a modern, representative democracy whereas Laos is a brutal, totalitarian repressive dictatorship, right? NOT! Old Man

Old Man, who upset you? Wow. I for one like the Lao government a whole lot more than the Thai government. Not only is what happened in Thailand unlikely to happen in Laos, but most of my in-laws were (or are) in the military.

wrote on 1^st May, 2011 at 11:25pm:

wrote on 1st May, 2011 at 9:18am: Never seen any internet blocking here in Laos, not even porn.  The TV from Thailand sometimes gets blocked (by Thailand) when the Thai govt. doesn't want people to know about the red shirts/yellow shirts political fighting that is going on. But then, Thailand is a modern, representative democracy whereas Laos is a brutal, totalitarian repressive dictatorship, right? NOT! Old Man Old Man, who upset you? Wow. I for one like the Lao government a whole lot more than the Thai government. Not only is what happened in Thailand unlikely to happen in Laos, but most of my in-laws were (or are) in the military.

My bother-in-law is in the military, too.

How are your preparations for your visit going?

Nervous?

Old Man

wrote on 1^st May, 2011 at 11:42pm:

wrote on 1st May, 2011 at 11:25pm: wrote on 1st May, 2011 at 9:18am: Never seen any internet blocking here in Laos, not even porn.  The TV from Thailand sometimes gets blocked (by Thailand) when the Thai govt. doesn't want people to know about the red shirts/yellow shirts political fighting that is going on. But then, Thailand is a modern, representative democracy whereas Laos is a brutal, totalitarian repressive dictatorship, right? NOT! Old Man Old Man, who upset you? Wow. I for one like the Lao government a whole lot more than the Thai government. Not only is what happened in Thailand unlikely to happen in Laos, but most of my in-laws were (or are) in the military. My bother-in-law is in the military, too. How are your preparations for your visit going? Nervous? Old Man

What? Me Nervous?   :o   To tell the truth, exceedingly so. There are so many things we have to do before we go. Keo thought we had one more week to get ready (than we actually had) so now she is about as nervous as I.

We depart from Columbus International (Ohio) one week from tomorrow. Nervous as I am, I have never been happier, nor more in love. Take care, see you soon.

Pretty expensive.
;)


wrote on 30^th Apr, 2011 at 7:09pm:

abercrombie wrote on 30th Apr, 2011 at 3:03pm: I assume it is more and more common to have an internet connection at home.  What speeds are available?  Is it reliable and how much does it cost?   I believe it's not too expensive in the city.  Because I live in the countryside with no telephone lines, I have to use a satellite connection.  It is extremely expensive, costing me 1,500,000 kip a month. It's called high-speed satellite internet, but I don't know the exact speed. Old Man

About Internet in Laos (price analysis, censorship) I found this site very interesting: http://internet-in-laos.blogspot.com/