TELECOMMUNICATION & BROADBAND News

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RM2b undersea cable to HK, US proposed
By Tan Choe Choe Published: 2010/09/22
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...kebel/Article/

THE Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) of the Prime Minister's Department has proposed that a new RM2 billion undersea cable network linking Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak to Hong Kong and the US be built to improve bandwidth capacity and connectivity.

If approved, this regional network, which would pass through Guam, would provide a designed capacity of 7 terabit/second.

It would be owned and operated by a consortium of local telecommunication companies.

"We think it is important to do this as 80 per cent of websites that Malaysians access is not hosted locally - a lot of them are from the US.

"It would enhance the reliability of connectivity by providing more diversity and resilience for traffic generated here to the US," said Eugene Teh Yee, director of National Key Results Area and one of the key members of the Pemandu's National Key Economic Activities (NKEA) Lab for Communication Contents and Infrastructure.

Teh said the route of the undersea cable is yet to be determined as more extensive oceanographic studies need to be conducted.

Teh was speaking at the breakout session for Communication Contents and Infrastructure after the launch of the Economic Transformation Programme - The Roadmap for Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The session was attended by over 100 industry players, analysts and fund managers.

The proposal for a new undersea cable or regional network was mooted after a two-month brain-storming session among some 45 members of the lab, which included some of the best brains from key industry players, to increase the competitiveness and gross national income of the telecommunications industry.

It is also understood that the idea has obtained funding "in principle" from the Economic Planning Unit to conduct a more in-depth study on the feasibility of such undersea cable. The study would probably take about a year.

Another key member of the lab, who declined to be named, said the new cable is the "best way to improve capacity for the benefit of the whole industry".

"This initiative would also allow international cables to land in Sabah and Sarawak, which is a first for the states.

"That means their Internet traffic need not be re-routed to Peninsular (Malaysia) anymore, but they will get direct international connectivity and faster speed," he added.

Teh said: "People (from the industry) that we have spoken to are enthusiastic about the idea. They think that it is the right thing to do. It is an expensive solution but it is for the long-term to cater to our growing demand for speedier connections. We are looking ahead."

He added that if things go well, there could possibly be a new cable connecting Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah, Sarawak and Hong Kong first by end-2012, then to the US in the following year.

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Maxis and DiGi to launch iPhone 4 packages
Thursday September 23, 2010
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...8&sec=business



This file photo taken June 7, 2010, shows a white version of the new Apple
iPhone 4 in San Francisco. Black models of the iPhone went on sale in late
June. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

PETALING JAYA: The battle is on!

Maxis Bhd will be launching the iPhone 4 at midnight while DiGi.Com Bhd will announce its price packages hours ahead of the former.

Maxis is all set to launch the iPhone on Sept 24, 12am and had disclosed its price packages two days ago.

However, Maxis will not be hogging all the limelight.

DiGi has also been sending out press invites for an event to announce its iDiGi plans for the much anticipated iPhone 4 at 6pm today, just before the grand launch from Maxis.

These developments will definitely spice up the local smartphone scene as consumers await manoeuvres from DiGi given that Maxis had already released their pricing.

Industry observers expect DiGi and Maxis to go head-to-head and there could still be surprises to come prior to the official announcement.

“This is not surprising. Some people are already speculating that DiGi could beat Maxis to the launch by several hours,” an observer said.

Maxis chief executive officer Sandip Das will be at the launch while DiGi head of marketing Albern Murty will be announcing iDiGi plans for iPhone 4.

Both DiGi and Maxis have been accepting pre-orders from customers.

Maxis has also introduced contract upgrades which would allow existing customers on a contract to purchase a new iPhone while retaining their existing mobile number.

DiGi is expected to announce its price plan today while the launch cum roadshow would kick-start on Saturday to promote its latest offering.

Subsequently, without disclosing details, iPhone 4 is expected to be available at DiGi stores and the roadshow this weekend, a source said.

Although there are no details from the DiGi side as yet, analysts expect DiGi to live up to its reputation to be innovative in their pricing packaging and marketing.

Sept 24 is believed to be the date given by Apple Inc for iPhone 4 to be launched in Malaysia.

The iPhone 4 will be launched simultaneously or at about the same time in several countries, including China, the Philippines, Thailand and Turkey.

In a press release dated Sept 19, Apple announced that the iPhone 4 will be available to customers in China on Sept 25 at 8 am.

The Philippines is reportedly getting the iPhone 4 on Sept 26 and Turkey on Sept 24.

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Maxis and DiGi start selling iPhone 4 in M'sia
By SHARIDAN M. ALI LEONG HUNG YEE Friday September 24, 2010
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...5&sec=business



Launch of Iphone 4 on Thursday by Digi.
On the right is Renee Gan and left Eloise Low.

PETALING JAYA: DiGi.Com Bhd and Maxis Bhd will begin selling iPhone 4 from today, with DiGi.Com expecting encouraging iPhone 4 sales based on the 30,000 inquiries received prior to its launch in Malaysia.

“We are thrilled to bring iPhone 4 to our customers where Malaysians are fast becoming regular users of mobile Internet,” said DiGi head of marketing Albern Murty.

“Now, with the phone already available in the market, we expect to see strong uptrend,” told reporters after the launching of iPhone 4 monthly commitment packages yesterday.

“All the buzz of the iPhone 4 on many social media sites may also help to promote it,” Murty added.

In a separate event early this morning, Maxis held a grand ceremony to launch the much anticipated iPhone 4 at midnight.

Maxis chief operating officer Jean-Pascal van Overbeke said the company strove to bring the latest technology to its customers.

“Over the past 12 months, Maxis has more than doubled the data-carrying capacity of its mobile network, ensuring a truly optimised iPhone 4 experience with better speed and coverage.”

To date, mobile Internet users registered with DiGi stands at 2.8 millions.

On the iPhone 4 antenna-attenuation issue, Murty said Apple had addressed the problem and DiGi did not expect it to dampen the demand of the phones.

The newly launched iconic phone from Apple Inc features FaceTime for video calling and new retina display – the highest resolution display ever built into a phone – resulting in super crisp text, images and video.

The iPhone 4 also features a five-megapixel camera with LED flash, high-definition video recording and up to 40% longer talk time.

It also comes with iOS 4, the newest version of Apple’s mobile operating system.

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Wi-Net plans RM1bil expansion
By EDY SARIF Friday September 24, 2010
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...0&sec=business

KUALA LUMPUR: Wi-Net Telecoms Sdn Bhd, a networking and communications company plans to invest RM1bil in the next five years to expand its business, says chief executive officer Lee Wai Tuck.

“This is the allocation that we have made to come out with more better products for our business and consumer market,” he said yesterday after the launch of the group’s new product range.

Lee also said the group which was also a licensed Internet Service Provider plans to expand its coverage towards major city nationwide by the end of the year.

“We have planned an extensive product roadmap for the rest of 2010, 2011 and 2012. You can expect many more advanced business-focused products from us,” he said.

At the launch yesterday, the group introduced five new products to help businesses to transport, share, process and store their vital business data 24/7.

“Wi-Net is focusing 100% on serving the business community and will be launching four more products designed to help productivity in the next six months, with more to follow suit in the second half of 2011,” he said.

Based on an advanced and secure data delivery platform, Wi-net’s new product portfolio includes Winet Business Broadband (business grade internet delivered via Ethernet on fibre), Winet VPLS (virtual private LAN product delivered via Ethernet on fibre), Winet Secure (business grade network security product) and Winet Application Aware Networking (WAN optimisation/traffic management product).

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Maxis iPhone 4 Midnight Release Event
Gardens Hotel, Mid Valley City, KL
http://www.flickr.com/photos/multipl...th/5018377311/
image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

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DiGi, Maxis mula pasar telefon pintar iPhone 4
2010/09/24

DUA pengendali perkhidmatan mudah alih utama negara, DiGi.com dan Maxis Bhd masing-masing mula memasarkan telefon pintar iPhone 4 di pasaran Malaysia mulai hari ini dan Ahad depan menerusi pelbagai pakej harga menarik kepada pelanggan masing-masing.

Maxis menawarkan empat pakej menerusi iValue Plans dengan yuran bulanan serendah RM100 untuk mendapatkan iPhone 4 dengan kapasiti 32 gigabait (GB) atau 16 GB.

Harga ditawarkan bergantung kepada jenis pakej, kapasiti telefon dan tempoh kontrak yang dipilih pengguna iaitu bermula dari RM490 hingga RM1,990.
Pelanggan Maxis juga boleh mendapatkan telefon pintar itu secara percuma jika melanggan pakej iValue 4 untuk kontrak selama dua tahun dengan bayaran bulanan sebanyak RM375.

Kadar panggilan ditawarkan pakej iValue Plans ialah serendah 10 sen seminit, manakala kadar SMS adalah 10 sen.

Maxis turut menawarkan dua pakej data bagi iPhone 4 iaitu pelan iData 2 dan iData 3 dengan yuran serendah RM50 sebulan.

Pelanggan Maxis boleh melayari pautan www.maxis.com.my/iphone untuk mendapatkan perkembangan terkini mengenai iPhone 4.
Maxis akan mula menjual iPhone 4 kepada pelanggannya pada Ahad ini di Pusat Maxis terpilih sekitar Lembah Klang iaitu KLCC, Pavilion, The Gardens, Taman Tun Dr Ismail dan Sunway Pyramid. Ia akan dijual ke seluruh negara pada Isnin.

Sementara itu, DiGi pula secara keseluruhan menawarkan iPhone 4 pada harga RM2,490 untuk 32GB dan RM2,090 bagi 16GB, namun pengguna boleh memilih kemudahan pembayaran yang disediakan DiGi di bawah pelan pembayaran ansuran mudah tanpa faedah selama 24 bulan atau 36 bulan.

DiGi turut menyediakan tiga pelan utama untuk langganan iPhone 4 dengan kontrak selama 24 bulan iaitu iDiGi 88, iDiGi 138 dan iDiGi 238 dengan masing-masing membabitkan komitmen bayaran bulanan sebanyak RM63, RM93 dan RM168.

Bagi pelanggan yang mendaftar dalam tempoh promosi, DiGi menawarkan tawaran istimewa tambahan iaitu rebat sehingga RM5 sebulan menerusi Auto Billing sekali gus membolehkan pengguna menikmati bayaran bulanan yang
lebih rendah sehingga tempoh ditetapkan.

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Maxis to submit plan for 4G spectrum
Published: 2010/09/24
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Maxis Bhd says it needs to submit its business plan quickly to get the 20 megahertz (MHz) block of 4G spectrum.

"We have all been asked to submit our business case to justify the spectrum. There is no deadline mentioned, but I believe very fairly quickly we have to submit to justify our plan to have the spectrum," said chief executive officer Sandip Das.

Das was speaking to reporters after the launch of iPhone 4, the fourth-generation iPhone and successor to iPhone 3GS at the stroke of midnight.

It was reported that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had issued the long-term evolution or 4G licences which could only be used after Jan 1, 2013.


Nine companies were informed by the regulator that they might receive 20Mhz each of 2.6 gigahertz (Ghz) spectrum for 4G services, but the location of the block would be decided later. -- Bernama

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REDtone to submit 4G business plan soon
Published: 2010/09/28
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...edton/Article/

REDtone International Bhd (0032) plans to submit a detailed business plan to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission soon on how it plans to use new bandwidth that allows even faster services than what's available now.

The 20Mhz block of the 4G spectrum will be available to the industry after January 1 2013 and REDtone has been allocated a share.

The spectrum is made up of airwaves under the 2.5 gigahertz (Ghz) and 2.6Ghz bandwidth and REDtone has been informed that a 20Mhz block on the 2.6Ghz bandwidth will be allocated to the company.

The 4G spectrum allocation will allow the broadband service provider, which specialises in broadband solutions to the corporate sector, to roll out high-speed broadband services and further enhance its offerings.
Apart from REDtone, Maxis Bhd is the only other wireless operator that had officially announced it plans to submit its business case to MCMC for the 4G spectrum amidst speculation that the government would soon allocate nine blocks of the spectrum to nine wireless players.

The 4G networks will allow users to enjoy mobile downloads up to 10 times faster than the 3G networks. The rollout of the spectrum is also expected to put Malaysia ahead of many countries as many are still grappling with 3G spectrum awards.

Currently, REDtone utilises a suite of last-mile technologies such as satellite, Metro E, microwave, 3G, wi-fi, wireless point-to-point and ADSL to offer customised solutions to large corporations as well as SMEs and SMIs, which has helped it build up a reputation as the "broadband expert for offices".

It holds the 2.3Ghz WiMAX broadband wireless access spectrum for Sabah and Sarawak and has been offering its broadband WiMAX services there since 2008.

RELATED LINK: www.redtone.com/

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DUA orang model menunjukkan telefon mudah alih Blackberry Torch 9800 pada majlis pelancaran model terbaru Blackberry itu dan sistem operasi Blackberry6 di Westin Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, 1 Okt. - Utusan/ABD RAHMAN SALEH

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YTL Comms to launch wireless hybrid TV
Published: 2010/10/11
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

YTL Communications Sdn Bhd will launch an all-wireless hybrid television (TV) service by end-2011, making Malaysia the first in the world to offer the next-generation service.

This is made possible with the signing of the licence and services agreement between YTL Communications and next-generation TV innovator, Sezmi Corp, he said.

"The agreement gives YTL Communications the rights to deploy hybrid TV service in Malaysia and throughout Asia-Pacific," said its executive chairman, Tan Sri Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, at the signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today.

Also present were Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and chairman of Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Tan Sri Khalid Ramli.

The new service will bring together TV, video-on-demand and Internet content in one converged platform that is personalised to the specific needs of the users and is seamlessly accessible on a fourth generation (4G) mobile network.

Yeoh, however, declined to unveil details of the investment to deploy the service in Malaysia as well as the partnership with Sezmi.

California-based Sezmi, a four-year-old Silicon Valley start-up, offers an Internet-connected set-top box with a digital aerial.

Sezmi is working with service providers and content partners around the world to deliver a transformative TV choice for all TV consumers.

As for Malaysia, Yeoh said, there would also be local content.

"When we launch our 4G mobile Internet service next month we will deliver to Malaysia a wireless dual-play service -- broadband and voice on our 4G network," YTL Communications' chief executive officer, Wing K. Lee, said.

Earlier, Mustapa said with the venture, content and technology know-how would be delivered from Malaysia to the rest of the world.

"This will create a vibrant and healthy ecosystem of content, application and devices that will drive the growth of high-skilled, high-income jobs, in line with the government's drive towards high-income economy," he said.

The "quad-play", as the industry calls it, would require new devices and equipment to be developed and manufactured in Malaysia, he said.

"We will be able to attract manufacturers of these high-technology devices and equipment to meet the local demand and serves as a springboard to drive regional and global export opportunities," he said. -- Bernama

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YTL Communications to launch wireless hybrid TV service end-2011

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Sembilan syarikat guna alat 4G
ARKIB : 16/10/2010
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info...i&pg=ek_02.htm

CYBERJAYA 15 Okt. - Kerajaan hanya menawarkan penggunaan alat (AA) dan bukan penggunaan spektrum (SA) kepada sembilan syarikat bagi memberi laluan kepada penggunaan awal evolusi jangka panjang (LTE) atau perkhidmatan mudah alih teknologi 4G, kata Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia, Tan Sri Khalid Ramli.

Semasa menjelaskan terdapat perbezaaan antara penggunaan alat (AA) dan penggunaan spektrum (SA), beliau berkata, MCMC hanya memperuntukkan AA berdasarkan kepada peruntukan Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia (CMA) 1998 bagi mereka menggunakan jalur spektrum 2600MHz untuk melancarkan perkhidmatan jalur lebar tanpa wayar 4G mereka dan pemilikan spektrum masih kekal dengan kerajaan.

"Keputusan memberikannya kepada sembilan syarikat dibuat selepas perundingan dan proses pertimbangan yang panjang lebar dengan pelbagai kumpulan teknikal yang bermula lebih dua tahun lalu. Ia bukan dilakukan sebulan lalu," kata beliau dalam satu temu bual di sini. Hadir sama ialah Pegawai Perancangan dan Pembangunan MCMC Toh Swee Hoe.

Khalid berkata, sembilan syarikat itu yang diperuntukkan berdasarkan kepada pengalaman, kemampuan teknologi dalam menggalakkan inovasi dan kekuatan kewangan mereka, telah diminta mengemukakan pelan perniagaan terperinci pada akhir tahun mengenai bagaimana mereka dapat memenuhi terma dan syarat yang ditawarkan.

AA biasanya diberikan pada dasar tahunan yang boleh diperbaharui dan memberikan hak kepada syarikat untuk menggunakan spektrum untuk menjalankan kemudahan rangkaian seperti 4G pada frekuensi khusus di lokasi yang diluluskan.

Ini memberi kawalan atur kepada MCMC untuk menguruskan dan memastikan penggunaan efisen dan pematuhan oleh syarikat-syarikat untuk keperluan kepada syarat tawaran itu.

4G, yang menawarkan generasi keempat teknologi selular tanpa wayar, merupakan pengganti kepada standard 3G dan 2G. Teknologi 4G boleh memberikan 100 Mbps atau megabit sesaat, yang membolehkan album muzik dimuat turun sepantas lima saat atau sejam siaran TV dalam masa kira-kira 30 saat.

Syarikat yang telah diberikan AA oleh MCMC termasuk syarikat 3G dan WiMAX sedia ada, dan sebuah syarikat baru.

Syarikat itu ialah Celcom Axiata Bhd., Maxis Broadband Sdn. Bhd., DiGi Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd., U-Mobile Sdn. Bhd., Asiaspace Sdn. Bhd., Packet One Networks (M) Sdn. Bhd., RedTone Marketing Sdn. Bhd., YTL Communications Sdn. Bhd. dan Puncak Semangat Sdn. Bhd.

Khalid berkata, MCMC mengambil pendekatan AA memandangkan ia mengadakan kawal atur untuk menguruskan dan memastikan pematuhan pelangan perniagaan dan keperluan pelancaran perkhidmatan.

Syarikat-syarikat ini juga dikehendaki membayar bayaran tahunan kepada MCMC bagi menggunakan AA untuk melancarkan perkhidmatan 4G mereka dan tidak akan menerima geran daripada MCMC atau daripada Dana Peruntukan Perkhidmatan Universal (USP) yang khusus untuk membangunkan kemudahan komunikasi di kawasan luar bandar, katanya.

"Jika mereka mahu mengambil bahagian dalam industri, mereka perlu membayar untuk perkhidmatan rangkaian dilancarkan," katanya.

"Kami mungkin memutuskan mengenai penukaran kemudiannya. Sebelum ini, kami memberikan penggunaan spektrum dan ia pada harga yuran yang lebih tinggi.

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Two more companies offer 4G broadband
By Kamarul Yunus Published: 2010/10/26
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...mob4g/Article/



TWO companies have started offering the 4G wireless broadband service on a trial basis, with eventual speed hitting 100Mbps (mega bytes per second) by the first quarter of next year.

"There are already several companies offering an almost 100Mbps Internet connectivity service. Such speed should be looked upon as an extra reach," Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said.

"A speed of 42Mbps is already considered fast but we see the future need of increasing the speed to 100Mbps, especially for downloading lengthy streaming of videos," Rais told reporters after the launch of U-Mobile Sdn Bhd's 42Mbps mobile broadband services in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He declined to name the two companies but said that they are among nine companies that are offering the new 4G long-term evolution (LTE) technology.

"These companies are still undertaking trials to test the latest wireless broadband network," he added.

Earlier news reports said that Maxis Bhd and Celcom Axiata Bhd were undertaking trials to test the new 4G LTE technology.

Maxis was working with Huawei, while Celcom was teaming up with Huawei and Ericsson on the trials.

Reports also said that Maxis planned to submit its business plan to Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to get a 20 megahertz (MHz) block of the 4G spectrum.

The SKMM was reported to have assigned nine companies the 2600MHz spectrum band to roll out wireless broadband services using the 4G technology.

The companies included existing 3G and WiMAX players, and a new entrant.

Apart from Celcom and Maxis, the other seven companies assigned to roll out the 2600MHz spectrum band are Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, U-Mobile, Asiaspace Sdn Bhd, Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd, RedTone Marketing Sdn Bhd, YTL Communications Sdn Bhd and Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd.

4G refers to the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to 3G and 2G families of standards.

On the U-Mobile 42Mbps broadband service, Rais said the company was the first service provider in Malaysia and among a handful in the world, to begin deployment of a commercial mobile broadband service capable of delivering speeds of up to 42Mbps using HSPA+ (high speed packet access).

"This is a step towards offering Malaysia better quality and faster Internet connectivity. I hope U-Mobile would be able to offer Internet connectivity of up to 100Mbps," he said.

Rais said U-Mobile had agreed to support the government's "Kampung Wi-fi" programme, and will identify areas and villages that it intend to provide such Internet services.

Under the "Kampung Wi-fi" programme, Rais said the government hoped to provide the service in 500 villages throughout the country by next year.

"The SKMM has put aside a budget for this programme. It is not expensive to provide such service in these villages. It would cost between RM15,000 and RM20,000 a village to have such facility and services under this programme," he said.

Meanwhile U-Mobile chief executive officer Dr Kaizad Heerjee said the company plans to expand its 42Mbps mobile broadband services to Penang and Johor by the year-end.

"The first setup point will be in Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur. This will be followed by the commercial deployment of the service within Klang Valley starting with Subang Jaya and Sunway area and followed by Penang and Johor by end of the year," he said.

U-Mobile is a 3G service provider in Malaysia that offers comprehensive postpaid, prepaid mobile services and a range of flexible broadband packages for customers in both the consumer and enterprise segments.

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New mobile phone service coming up in M'sia
By LEONG HUNG YEE Wednesday October 27, 2010
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...1&sec=business

Firm will also launch its 4G mobile Internet services soon

KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YTL Comms), which is gearing up for the launch of its 4G mobile Internet services next month, is expected to unveil its own mobile phones soon.

“We are working on our own Android platform phones and it is likely to be introduced in three months,” said executive director Datuk Yeoh Seok Hong.

He said this at a signing ceremony to appoint ECS ICT Bhd as a distributor of YTL Comms’ 4G devices.

Although details on the mobile phones remain sketchy, market talk has it that YTL Comms was working on a number of WiMAX devices and had outsourced the production of its mobile phones to a smartphone manufacturer.

It is not known if the mobile phones will be under the YTL brand.

YTL Comms is expected to launch the name for its 4G mobile Internet services early next month, to be followed by the launch of the services on Nov 18. The group will embark on a series of roadshows later.

Yeoh remained tight-lipped on pricing, saying the services would be “affordable”.

However, he hinted that YTL Comm’s pricing plan might do away with the usual monthly commitment packages currently available in the market.

YTL Comms chief executive officer Wing K. Lee said the group had acquired some 2,500 base stations from Samsung and had about 1,000 yet to be deployed.

He said it may complete the deployment of all the base stations next year.

However, Lee said YTL Comms would review the density of the usage from time to time and add more base stations if needed.

ECS managing director Foo Sen Chin expects the distributorship agreement would contribute significantly to the company’s earnings.

ECS has about 2,500 information and communications technology-related resellers comprising retailers, system integrators and dealers.

For the six months ended June 30, ECS posted a net profit of RM13.5mil on revenue of RM626.2mil.

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Most Malaysians online are from KL, Selangor and Negri Sembilan
Written by Emily Tan Tuesday, 09 November 2010 12:38
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/media...-sembilan.html

comScore study shows northern region Internet users are the most engaged

Selangor, Negri Sembilan and the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur accounted for more than half of the total Internet audience for the month of August, according to a recent report by comScore.

The Internet marketing research company said in its first geographic region-based report for Malaysia that these two states and KL had a 54.4% audience share. Users from these states also accounted for over half of pages viewed and time spent online, at 51.3% and 52.6% respectively. The report was released on Oct 7.

However, the most engaged users were not from this region but from the northern region of Kedah, Perak, Perlis and Pulau Pinang. Although they made up only 15% of the Internet audience in August, the average visitor from these states spent 16.6 hours online and consumed an average of about 1,390 pages.

comScore segmented the nation into six regions: central, southern, East Coast, northern, Sabah and Sarawak.

“Regions within Malaysia vary dramatically in their demographic composition and online behaviours, including content consumption and brand loyalty, making regional audience metrics an important part of media planners’ toolkits,” said Joe Nguyen, comScore vice-president for Southeast Asia in a statement accompanying the report’s release.

For example, comScore’s analysis found that online users in Sabah were 28% more likely to visit a travel site than the average Malaysian Internet user, while visitors from Sarawak were 48% more likely to surf to a gambling site. The study also found that Internet users in the East Coast surf to online news sites more frequently than the rest of Malaysia — who in general are keen newshounds.

An earlier study by comScore released in August found that over half of Malaysians online (more than 5.5 million) visited a news or information site in July. The most popular was Yahoo! News.

“News sites combine both significant reach and user engagement, making them an ideal destination for many brand advertisers,” said Nguyen in a media release in August. “Similar to offline news-reading habits, online readers displayed strong brand loyalty to their preferred news sources.”

The demographic composition of visitors to news or information sites show a strong skew towards the older male segment. All male age groups, with the exception of the 15- to 24 year-old age segment, reported above average consumption, with males aged 45 to 54 consuming 114% more pages of content than an average Malaysian Internet user, and males aged 55 and older consuming 183% more content than average. Although females consumed significantly less content than males (only 37% of total pages were consumed by females), females aged 55 and older consumed more than twice as many pages of content as the average Internet user, said the August report.

comScore’s region-based report published in October also found that Malaysians living in all six regions were equally keen on social networking. Facebook garnered 8.4 million unique visitors from Malaysia in June, compared with 3.1 million visitors for the same month last year, according to a report by comScore released in July.

Online shopping is also an increasingly popular pastime with Malaysians, with all regions more or less equally engaged, said comScore’s October report.

In July, online marketplace Mudah.my was the only locally hosted site to rank in the top 10 most frequented sites at No 7 with 1.9 million visitors, said comScore. Mudah.my, a joint venture between Singapore Press Holdings Ltd and Schibsted ASA, is an online classifieds service — like US-based Craigslist.com and UK-based Gumtree.com. The portal has increased its popularity by 77% over the past year from 1.1 million visitors in June last year.

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Coming up Friday 4G service, five times faster than current 3G
By TEE LIN SAY Thursday November 18, 2010
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...3&sec=business

Launch set to make big impact on high-tech market

KUALA LUMPUR: It will be five times faster than the current 3G network but the price will be compatible ... very affordable and the best price.

That is all YTL Communications Sdn Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Francis Yeoh will say for now about the rates of the much-anticipated 4G wireless broadband service or Yes to be launched Friday.

It will have the lowest rate in the industry with no monthly commitment and conditions, he said, in an interview with StarBiz, adding that the product line-up for the launch would include a 4G smartphone developed with Samsung (called Yes Buzz), USB dongle, MiFi device and a desktop WiFi router.

Yes, the next generation high-speed data service, is expected to have a coverage of up to 65% of the peninsula from day one while the states or areas which are not yet included will be covered not too long from now, according to Yeoh. The company has spent some RM2.5bil for the Yes 4G infrastructure.

[nazrey]

Numbers that tell of exciting growth ahead
By Hamisah Hamid Published: 2010/11/18
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...3RYAZ/Article/



ELECTRONICS giant Intel is upbeat on its growth in Malaysia with the widespread broadband penetration in the country and the emergence of Internet-connected non-personal computer (PC) devices.

Intel Malaysia country manager Ryaz Patel said the company projects global shipment of PCs to double from the current 360 million PCs an annum to 750 million PCs in the next five years.

"Over the same period, a large number of other non-PC devices will be Internet enabled. Some of the Intel plants will play a significant role in enabling and growing those new segments and devices," he said in an interview with Business Times in Kuala Lumpur.

Patel said despite the huge jump in PC shipments globally, the PC penetration rate worldwide is less than 20 per cent, meaning 80 per cent of the global population have no access to computers.

At the same time, notebook computers grow 50 per cent more than PCs. However, desktops are still a huge business, he added.

Besides, great potential lies in global PC penetration, the development of Internet-connected non-PC devices is opening up a whole new game for players in the industry, including Intel, which makes micro-processors for Internet capability.

"IDC is targeting an 18 per cent increase in PC shipments to Malaysia, but I think the number will exceed the IDC projection.

"The government has already surpassed its targeted broadband penetration of 50 per cent by year-end ... the new numbers will be exciting for Intel and other industries," Patel said.

He said Intel believes that all communication devices will converge. The company wants to integrate more communication capabilities into PCs in the years to come.

"In the next few years, a huge number of devices will emerge from vendors out there, with phones becoming more smarter and capable and more will be packed into PCs," he said, adding that ability to access the Internet in the car will be possible in the next three to five years.

Patel said works on micro-processors for desktops, notebook computers, netbooks and non-PC devices are being done at all sites of the company globally.

"The mainstream atom micro-processors in netbooks and PCs are done by Malaysian engineers in Penang. A lot of work to support non-PC devices is also done at the Penang plant," he said.

According to him, Intel is preparing for where the Internet is going.

That is why Intel is acquiring Infineon's Wireless Solutions Business (WLS) for about US$1.4 billion (RM4.39 billion).

The acquired technology will be used in Intel core processor-based laptops and various Intel atom processor-based devices, including smartphones, netbooks, tablets and embedded computers.

Patel said the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.

"Today, Intel does not play a huge part in phone segment, but with the acquisition of Infineon wireless segment and its integration with our technology, Intel will be significant player in mobile phone business," he said.

ASIA INTERNET USAGE AND POPULATION 2010
Top Penetration (% Population)

Asia Population ( 2010 Est.) Penetration (% Population)
Korea, South 48,636,068 81.1 %
Brunei Darussalem 395,027 80.7 %
Japan 126,804,433 78.2 %
Singapore 4,701,069 77.8 %
Taiwan 23,024,956 70.1 %
Hong Kong 7,089,705 68.8 %
Malaysia 26,160,256 64.6 %
Macao 567,957 49.5 %
Azerbaijan 8,303,512 44.4 %
Kyrgystan 5,508,626 39.8 %
Kazakhstan 15,460,484 34.3 %
China 1,330,141,295 31.6 %
Philippines 99,900,177 29.7 %
Georgia 4,600,825 28.3 %
Vietnam 89,571,130 27.1 %
Thailand 66,404,688 26.3 %
Maldives 395,650 22.2 %
Uzbekistan 27,865,738 16.8 %
Indonesia 1,173,108,018 12.3 %
Mongolia 3,086,918 11.3 %
Pakistan 177,276,594 10.4 %
Tajikistan 7,487,489 9.3 %
Sri Lanka 21,513,990 8.3 %
Laos 6,993,767 7.5 %
Bhutan 699,847 7.1 %
Armenia 2,966,802 7.0 %
India 1,173,108,018 6.9 %
Afganistan 29,121,286 3.4 %
Nepal 28,951,852 2.2 %
Turkmenistan 4,940,916 1.6 %
Cambodia 14,753,320 0.5 %
Bangladesh 158,065,841 0.4 %
Myanmar 53,414,374 0.2 %
Timor-Leste 1,154,625 0.2 %

Source: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm

[nazrey]

iPad & 4G in Malaysia

Maxis to offer data plans for iPad
Published: 2010/11/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Maxis today announced it will offer dedicated data plans for iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G in Malaysia in the coming months.

iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.

Users can browse the Web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface.

YTL Comms to launch 'Yes 4G Network'
Published: 2010/11/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, a unit of YTL Power International Bhd, has launched what it claims to be the "most affordable" 4G Mobile Internet service with voice via the "Yes 4G network".

Users just have to "pay-as-you-go(use)" of nine sen for 3mb of data, one minute of calls or one short message service.

"Yes" also offers a rebate of up to 30 per cent to power users who consume high amounts of data, it said in a statement released in conjunction with the launch here on Friday.

This will effectively reduce the already attractive rates to as low as two sen per MB or RM20 per GB while offering users the power to self-manage by setting temporary data caps.

At the launching, YTL Communications and Samsung also introduced the world's first all 4G mobile phone called the "Yes Buzz." - Bernama

[nazrey]

Google in Malaysia

Google Instant now in Malaysia
Published: 2010/11/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Google Inc, an innovative search technology that connect millions of people around the world with information, today introduced Google Instant in Malaysia after its official launch in United States two months ago.

In a statement today, it said Google Instant makes searching more interactive and can help users find information more quickly and easily.

Combined with three core features which is dynamic results, autocomplete predictions and "scroll-to-search" functionality, it is aimed to deliver smart and predictive results.
Google Instant is available on google.com.my and users can access it within several days.

"Since its initial launch, it has been incredibly exciting to see how people are using Google Instant in the "wild"," it said. - Bernama

Digital infrastructure

Digital infrastructure 'critical' for knowledge and innovation
2010/11/19
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/D...ation/Article/

KUALA LUMPUR: Digital infrastructure and the digital superhighway are critical enablers during this age of a knowledge-based and innovation-led economy, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said global studies have shown a strong direct co-relation between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate and Internet broadband penetration.

The World Economic Forum 2009 indicated that a 10 per cent rise in Internet broadband penetration will increase GDP growth between one and two per cent.

"YTL's 4G network and the whole eco-system built around it will certainly help provide the country with part of the critical enabler," he said at the launch of the 4G network service here Friday.

YTL Communications Sdn Bhd's "Yes,", the world's first 4G network launch was broadcast simultaneously in the United Kingdom and Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister had a five minute live chat with Malaysian students over there.

Also present were Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim and Tun Lim Keng Yaik, former Energy, Water and Communications Minister.

Muhyiddin was confident the launching of "Yes" broadband service would reach more households and help establish high quality and affordable broadband network that will reach 95 per cent of the population by 2020.

Recently, the government announced that the nation has exceeded its household broadband penetration target of 50 per cent this year.

A nationwide penetration, nonetheless, faces distinct challenges due to dissimilar requirements in urban and rural roll out.

Hence, in the long-run it would be critical for the nation to balance market friendly environment to drive private investments, with maintaining its inclusive policy aims, particularly on affordability of access and quality of service in rural areas.

Muhyiddin also took the opportunity to urge companies like YTL to not only assume a bigger role in various programmes planned by the government but also support the growth of domestic talent base.

He said to achieve the target of tripling the content and communications sectors' Gross National Income to RM62.7 billion in 2020, from RM22.4 billion in 2009, Malaysia would require 49,000 additional skilled employees. - BERNAMA

[Zulhelmi]

I'm very amazed with the initial coverage offer by YES. Very wide for a first-timer

http://coverage.yes.my