Utility poles in Thailand
Tall concrete and huge cable bundles
A huge bundle of black cables strung along tall concrete poles is a strong Thailand clue.
- Thick bundles of black cables, often with spare coils hanging off the pole.
- Tall concrete poles with several crossarms.
- The Philippines and Indonesia can look similar: check signs and scenery.
16 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Cable bundles 9
Key clue Tall concrete pole 7
Thailand: what its poles look like
Thai streets are known for huge bundles of black cable strung along tall concrete poles. Over the years, telecom lines have been added on top of each other, often with spare coils hanging off the pole.
The poles themselves are tall and concrete, with several crossarms carrying power lines above the cable bundles.
The thickest cable bundles are in busy towns and city streets. Along country roads you see long lines of tall concrete poles with fewer cables, often beside rice fields and palm trees.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
Thailand vs 
Philippines
Indonesia
The Philippines and Indonesia can look similar. Thailand drives on the left, like Indonesia but unlike the Philippines, and Thai script on signs is easy to recognise.
Questions about poles in Thailand
Why are there so many cables on Thai poles?
Many telecom companies have added their lines to the same poles over the years, and old cables are often left in place. The result is the famous thick bundles of black cable.
How do I tell Thailand from the Philippines?
Thailand drives on the left and uses Thai script, while the Philippines drives on the right and most signs are in English.