Broadband Abroad: Internet Connectivity Outside of the United States

Thailand, India

Thailand

DSL is the fastest Internet connection type in Thailand, with speeds ranging from 128 kbps download/64 kbps upload to 2 mbps download/1 mbps upload. "DSL technology is popular in Bangkok, but the most common connection is still 56 kbps dial-up in up-country," says Kittipong Tansuwan, editor of PC World Thailand. Prices range from about 200 to 2000 Thai baht ($5 to $50) per month.

India

Nearly 10 percent of India's 1 billion-plus population has a mobile handset, yet only 1.5 million have broadband connections, according to information provided by PC World India editor R. Giridhar. Unfortunately, bandwidth rates for home users are pretty low.

DSL is available in many cities. For example, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd., a large telecom provider, offers 256-kbps service for 900 rupees, or about $19, per month with a 1GB usage cap. A plan with 1-mbps download speed and a 10GB cap costs 3300 INR, or about $71. Another provider, Airtel, offers 512-kbps service for 1094 INR, or about $24 per month.

Hathway Cable & Datacom offers cable Internet access in several cities. A 512-kbps plan with a 2.4GB cap costs 3000 INR, or about $65 per month. And Sify Broadband offers a 256-kbps service with a 150MB-per day cap for 815 INR, or $18 per month.