Calling from the USA, California, I have been trying to reach relatives in Nong Khai and Ban Phua for more than a week and all I get is busy signals. Is the cellphone network broken there?

I live in NK and I have not experienced any problems with cellular service!Where is Ban Phua?

Ban Phue North end of Udon bordering Nk..?
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Only just phoned that approx area on Sunday and called 3 different Cell Phones...no problem with connection.

I was in NK over the weekend and both made and received calls, local and overseas no problems

hmm, don't want to sound negative or put thought in your mind, when could be mistaken. but when in states and couldn't get thru, it was because phone just wasn't answered, turned off, or actually busy. though i was given every excuse you could think of, from bad phone/battery/service. though when i was in country, never had a problem calling family in states or recieving. needless to say, that relationship ended. even called one time in the wee AM hours, 2am of something and was told it was only 10pm and the party was just ending..........................way too funny.

hope it's just a service problem, but seems to be a bit of smoke, might be a fire somewhere. good luck.

Maybe the person using the phone is in Laos at the moment.We are unable to maintain contact with cell phones in Laos that have Thai sim cards!Hopefully there is a good reason that you are having difficulties!Good Luck!

How many times do you try to ring in the space of 10-15 minutes?...when it happens to us now and again we try again and again until a connection is good, sometimes the line gets sent off to another country.. and sometimes another number somewhere else in Thailand.. but gets there in the end.
And maybe they have a new number..?? Lost Handset or something.

Are you using one of the cheap satelite/internet based phones?

I have been struggling ringing Thailand from the UK since the peasants tried to revolt in Bangkok, usually have to go to a more expensive 2p a min number to get through. I wouldnt worry, probably your country pulling up all the cables in the Gulf again trying to alienaate the Iranians.

After the tsunami 2 of the main internet trunks that fed Asia were cut by underwater land movement and then someone knackering another with an anchor.

If it persists or you have just sent her 800.000 to buy a bar in Udon then I would worry, but in the meantime i wouldnt worry too much, take it as if you can have some peace and quiet for a while

Thanks everyone for the updates. The contacts are my wifes sisters and they all have (or had) decent phones. We are using a international calling card and have no problems reaching some family in same region. Perhaps you are right, we should repeatedly call or assume they have us on ignore.....

Again Thanks a million

Int Calling Cards can be like that at times, just keep repeating the process till it connects .