TELECOMMUNICATION & BROADBAND News

[nazrey]

YTL hoping Malaysians will say YES to new converged 4G mobile Click on the picture for specifications
by Aimie Pardas Published Date : 19 November 2010
http://www.mygadgets.my/product.php?...cle/index_html



Yes Huddle RM 399
Price Updated 19 Nov 2010

The latest 4G service in Malaysia, Yes by YTL Communications, is hoping to entice Malaysians with a pay-as-you-go converged 4G mobile Internet service that includes data, voice and SMS, and doesn´t come with a contract or data throttling in place.

Yes will be based on the utility model, where consumers will pay just for what they use, like water or electricity, said Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, Executive Chairman of YTL Communciations.

Consumers will simply pay 9 sen for either every 3MB of data or for every one minute of calls or for each SMS. According to YTL Communications, the data speeds will be three to five times faster than regular 3G speeds.

"Every Yes account comes with high speed Internet access and a mobile phone number, making the convergence of data and voice seamless. Our subscribers will not only have high speed mobile data access but will also enjoy voice, online chat and SMS services," he said.



Yes Go RM 99
Price Updated 19 Nov 2010

Consumers will have to buy credit to use the services but there is no expiration date for the credit. Users will only have to reload when they run out of credit.

Additionally, instead of enforcing a data cap or reducing speeds for heavy data users, Yes will also offer rebates to users who consume at high amounts of data. There´s a RM9 rebate for 2.5GB of data usage, a RM23 rebate for 3GB of data usage and for 4GB of data usage or more, Yes is offering a 30 percent rebate for every GB used.

Besides the service, YTL Communications and Samsung also announced the introduction of a 4G mobile phone called Yes Buzz. The SIM-less phone that has a keypad and slide-out keyboard can also be used as a modem for your laptop and all contact details are synchronised with the 4G network. It is expected to be available in December 2010 and priced at RM499.



Yes Zoom

Other Yes 4G devices include the Yes Huddle, a 4G mobile wireless router that can connect up to five devices simultaneously, Yes Go, a 4G USB dongle and Yes Zoom, a 4G WiFi router designed for home and office use.

The Yes Go 4G dongle is available for RM99 and includes the device, RM100 worth of Yes credit and access to Yes Life and Yes Mail.

Meanwhile, the Yes Huddle 4G mobile hotspot is available for RM399 for the device only. Alternatively, a package that includes RM1,200 of Yes credit, Yes Life and Yes Mail is available for RM1,199.

However, like the Yes Buzz phone, the Yes Zoom 4G gateway is also expected to be available in December.

Besides the 4G devices, data and voice services, Yes will also offer Yes Life, a unified communications application that turns any Internet device into a phone.

Yes Life can be accessed via phone or computer and synchronises your contacts into one address book anywhere you sign in. It also synchronises your Yes email account and can be used for instant messaging.

The application also enables you to make voice calls and SMS, as well as video calls at local Malaysian rates.

And starting next month, the new release of Yes Life will be able to support six-way audio calls and four-way video calls.

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MIMOS launches hybrid WiMAX-WiFi router
Published: 2010/11/22
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Mimos Bhd, Malaysia's premier applied research centre in frontier technologies, today launched its WiWi Outdoor Access Point -- the world's first hybrid wireless access router for WiMAX-WiFi customer premises equipment (CPE) as a replacement for last mile connectivity.

President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdul Wahab Abdullah said the solution offered a hybrid network approach by implementing open architecture to support any compatible off-the-shelf WiMAX (Backhaul) and WiFi (access) modules.

The solution can also be used to counter connection problems in poor coverage areas such as in rural areas, he said after launching the solution at the inaugural WiMAX Forum Southeast Asia Regional Focus 2010 here today.

Mimos WiWi Outdoor Access Point enables quadruple play (VoIP, data and video) with seamless mobility through its enhanced multicasting feature which in turn enables network operators to offer internet protocol television (IPTV) services by leveraging and optimising existing backend infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Mimos also announced its collaboration with Indonesian-based company, PT Xirka Silicon Technology, and Taiwan-based company, Tatung Co, as part of its efforts to accelerate WiMAX industry growth in the region and penetrating the initiative towards bigger market globally. -- Bernama

[nazrey]

Malaysia to be WiMAX biz hub
Published: 2010/11/22
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

The government believes Malaysia will become a major hub for the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) and related business going forward.

This is given the country's positive investment climate, says Information Communications and Culture Deputy Minister, Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz.

He said in just two years, the providers of the technology in the country such as Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (P1), Asiapspace, REDtone and YTL Communications had contributed to a more robust WiMAX landscape.

"The government has been working very hard to provide opportunity and incentives for WiMAX and other broadband service providers to establish and deploy networks quickly and
efficiently," he said at the launch of the inaugural WiMAX Forum Southeast Asia Regional Focus 2010 here today.

On the update of broadband penetration in Malaysia, Maglin said 53.5 per cent of the population had access to it at the moment.

"With the latest figure, we have surpassed our target of achieving a 50 per cent household broadband penetration by year-end," he added.

Maglin said a strong broadband infrastructure is of utmost important.

He said that it has been proven that every 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration would lead to an increase of about 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

"I urge all players to work harder to provide quality broadband services and affordable packages to Malaysians, to narrow the digital divide in the country," he highlighted.

The WiMAX Forum Southeast Asia Regional Focus 2010, which began today and ends on Nov 25, is co-organised by Mimos Bhd, P1, Sirim Bhd and YTL Communications.

The forum aims to provide essential updates on the latest technological advances and emerging trends across the WiMAX ecosystem. -- Bernama

[nazrey]

Apple’s iPad on sale in Malaysia from today
Tuesday November 30, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...465&sec=nation



In demand: Cheng rolling out the iPads
which will go on sale in Malaysia Tuesday.

KUALA LUMPUR: After months of waiting, the iPad will be sold at selected stores in Malaysia today at a rate that is said to be one of the cheapest in the world.

The official price list provided to The Star by authorised reseller Machines, via Apple, showed iPads in US stores going at RM1,573.10 to RM2,613.42 (US$499 to US$829).

The price range for the iPads in Malaysia is RM1,549 to RM2,599.

Long queues are expected at all Apple premium reseller stores in major shopping malls in the country.

Machines director Andrew Cheng said the “lifestyle changing” device was expected to sell like hot cakes, along with the wide range of accessories available for the iPad.

“The iPad had been sold in small-time booths at IT centres over the past few months – mostly brought in from overseas.

“Now, consumers can buy the iPads at official Apple-commissioned stores,” Cheng said.

“By doing so, users can enjoy better customer service and warranties by Apple Malaysia, making their buy a much safer and assured experience.”Cheng said the light and portable device had been significant in changing the way he worked as well as his entertainment experience.

“I can easily do an impressive business presentation with this device. When I go for short working trips, my laptop, which I used to lug around, is now left at the office. I just take my iPad out,” he said.

Telcos in the country will also begin to roll out various dedicated data plans for iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G with the launch of the iPad.

DiGi, Maxis and Celcom have introduced the micro SIM card, made 52% smaller for both the iPhone 4 and the iPad.

With a 3G connection, users can browse the Web, read and send e-mail, and enjoy and share photos from anywhere in the country with network coverage.

The official price list for the iPad with Wi-Fi only is RM1,549 (16GB); RM1,849 (32GB); RM2,149 (64GB); iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G RM1,999 (16GB); RM2,299 (32GB) and RM2,599 (64GB).

Maxis Bhd said it was offering data plans for iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G in Malaysia from today.

All data plans would be available without a contract and users would have the freedom to activate or cancel a plan at any time, the company said in a statement here yesterday.

“The plans are designed to enable Maxis customers to enjoy more Internet connectivity and the growing number of applications for the rich interface in a more affordable way,” Maxis chief operating officer Jean-Pascal van Overbeke said.

The iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G models is 1.27cm thick and weighs just 0.726kg. It has a single-charge battery life of 10 hours for surfing the Web on Wi-Fi, watching videos or listening to music and up to nine hours of surfing the Web using a 3G data network.

[nazrey]

Telekom beefs up WiFi service
By JEEVA ARULAMPALAM Thursday December 2, 2010



Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa …
‘We are strong in the fixed network, both in copper and fibre.’

It intends to increase Streamyx hotspots and hotzones to 10,000 by year-end

KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) will focus on strengthening its wireless solution by growing its WiFi hotspots as market competition intensifies in the mobile broadband space.

We are strong in the fixed network, both in copper and fibre, but alongside this network, we will need some form of a wireless solution to help our customers enhance their experience when they buy services from us, TM group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa told StarBiz in an interview on Tuesday.

He said TM would focus on increasing its TM Streamyx hotspots and hotzones to 10,000 from 8,800 by the year-end.

Eighty per cent of the time when people are mobile and want to access the Internet, they would be seated somewhere, either in a cafe, hotel lobby or at an airport, Zamzamzairani said. This means these people are located in a building and that gives us the opportunity to serve those customers using our WiFi solutions.

More: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...5&sec=business

[nazrey]

1100 more Wi-fi Kampungs in 2011
2010/12/11
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/1...n2011/Article/

MIRI: A total of 1,100 kampungs, 600 in Sarawak and 500 in Sabah, will be turned into "Wi-fi Kampungs" next year, said Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum.

He said funds from the Universal Service Provider (USP) facility would be
enlisted for the purpose.

He told this to reporters after attending a 1Malaysia gathering held at
Beluru town about 90 kilometres from here, today.

The function was opened by Sarawak Palnning and Resources Management II,
Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is state execuitve councillor for
information.

"Wi-fi Kampungs" are a government initiative to provide high-speed broadband access to people living in rural areas. - Bernama

[nazrey]

Originally Posted by 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

Rais: Broadband penetration has exceeded 55 pct
Posted on December 15, 2010, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=80425

KUALA LUMPUR: Household broadband penetration in the country has exceeded the 55 per cent mark as of Dec 8, said Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

The percentage was five per cent more than the target set last year, which was 50 per cent by year end, he said.

Rais said cell phone usage had also surpassed 32 million or 109 per cent in terms of penetration level while 3G mobile phone users have reached 3.9 million throughout the country.

“In line with the progress the Malaysian Communications

and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) must provide more innovative products to achieve the objective of the country’s development through telecommunication,” he said at the 1Malaysia Broadband Appreciation Night here yesterday.

Among companies that won awards last night were Telekom Malaysia for the Best Broadband Package Category, Celcom for the Highest Number of Broadband Users and DiGi for the Best Broadband Ad on TV.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the WikiLeaks saga, Rais warned Internet users and Internet service providers to be careful when expressing their views or confidential information.

“It is important for the government to be careful and monitor the development since countries have faced embarrassment due to leaks in official secret, including Singapore, Australia, India and could reach our shores.

“If that happens, the people must be careful and cautious to not just believe or accept accusations thrown by some irresponsible people,” he said. — Bernama

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Maxis Invests Over RM80 Million To Enhance Network Coverage In Sabah, Sarawak
December 14, 2010 16:12 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state...549884&cat=sbe

KOTA KINABALU, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Maxis Bhd, Malaysia's leading integrated communications provider, has invested over RM80 million over the past year to establish and enhance network coverage in Sabah and Sarawak.

Chief Operating Officer Jean Pascal Van Overbeke said this was in response to the call by the government to narrow the digital divide in the two states.

He said the extension of broadband networks to Sabah and Sarawak was also in line with the government's Universal Service Provider (USP) fund initiative which strives to provide telecoms facilities and internet access to underserved areas.

Speaking at the launch of Maxis broadband expansion programme involving five major towns -- Labuan, Keningau, Sandakan, Lahad Datu dan Tawau -- by State Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai here today, Van Overbeke said this rollout was part of Maxis' assurance to build more new network sites in Sabah by the end of this year.

He said the investment benefitted the local community and supported agricultural development by extending coverage in secondary towns and remote sites such as those within oil palm plantation areas.

It helped to fund infrastructure that provides new coverage in remote areas such as Keningau, Pitas, Kota Marudu and Kota Belud, he said.

"Maxis has also helped to provide coverage enhancements in the interior of Nambawan, Sook and Sapulut and network quality enhancements in all key towns and suburban areas such Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Sandakan.

"Additionally, broadband coverage was expanded to industrial and commercial areas in Kota Kinabalu such as Putatan, Penampang and the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park," he said.

Van Overbeke said Maxis' commitment to network developments and improvements in Sabah and Sarawak underlined its firm support of the government's vision of bridging communities and narrowing the digital divide through greater e-inclusiveness, particularly in underserved segments and rural regions.

"Through these initiatives, Maxis hopes to help further the Prime Minister's 1Malaysia concept by improving communication and connectivity between and within the communities in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia," he added.

Meanwhile, Yee said Sabah was getting closer to reaching its target of achieving a 30 per cent penetration rate in domestic broadband sector.

As for now, he said, the state reached 26 per cent in broadband penetration and hoped, with the cooperation of all telecommunication players including Maxis, the targeted mark would be achieved in the near future, particularly in the rural areas.

-- BERNAMA

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Maxis signs broadband pact with Telekom
Published: 2010/12/14
http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/20...74223/Article/

Maxis Bhd, Malaysia’s biggest mobile-phone operator, said it signed a 10-year wholesale Internet access agreement with Telekom Malaysia Bhd.

Telekom will provide Maxis with high-speed access connectivity, according to a statement to the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange today. -- Bloomberg

DiGi, Celcom Axiata may ink tie-up next month
By B.K. SIDHU Thursday December 16, 2010
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...6&sec=business



DiGi CEO says both make good progress since MoU signing in June

SHAH ALAM: DiGi.Com Bhd chief executive officer Henrik Clausen believes the company will be able to ink a definitive agreement on network collaboration with Celcom Axiata Bhd next month and this tie -up will help both companies save over RM150mil each yearly.

We have made good progress and I have a pretty good feeling this will happen in January,'' he told StarBiz in an interview.

Both Celcom and DiGi had in June entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in various areas to save cost. The MoU is to focus on sharing in three areas: operations and maintenance; transmission and site sharing; and radio access network. They were scheduled to ink a definitive agreement by year-end but announced a three-month extension last week to hammer out the details.

If all goes as planned, this tie-up would the biggest for a celco in terms of network collaboration. It would also pave the way for more of such collaborations as such efforts will help reduce redundancies in network infrastructure in the country.

[nazrey]

Malaysia telcos' 2011 spending to hit US$7.3b
Published: 2010/12/25

The telecommunication sector spending in Malaysia is expected to experience a 5.3 per cent growth to hit US$7.3 billion next year, says International Data Corporation (IDC).

Research Manager, Telecommunications, IDC Malaysia, Eugene Lau said data would be the prime driver for the telecommunications sector.

Be it from a fixed or mobile channel, he said, subscribers would look into ways to use their bandwidth to receive content.

Web 2.0 applications and streaming services would continue to drive the constantly evolving market, Lau said recently.

READ MORE: http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

[nazrey]

Maxis introdues first wireless M2M
Published: 2011/02/07
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Malaysia's leading integrated communications services provider, Maxis Bhd recently introduced the Maxis Managed M2M, the country's first wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) service.

The Managed M2M is a set of networking and information technology (IT) technologies that are set to drive innovative wireless capabilities into a wide variety of devices beyond the traditional handsets for businesses.

"A thriving date centre industry in Malaysia will provide the critical infrastructure needed to make M2M work, in particular low latency data communications from devices to the cloud," said Multimedia Development Corporation's Chief Operating Officer Ng Wan Peng at the launch of the service during a one-day seminar entitled Wireless M2M-Emerging Market and Business Opportunities, here recently.

The M2M service includes a web-based self-service platform which enables bulk SIM customers to manage their own M2M solutions. The website will service as an entry point for businesses interested in connecting devices to Maxis's nationwide wireless network at competitive rates.

Meanwhile, Maxis' Senior Vice President and Head of Maxis Business Services Fitri Abdullah said, the M2M would offer business owners more information about their business processes.

He said the service would also provide more automation in managing assets and will enable enterprises to offer customers a new generation of services with a lower cost to serve.

M2M is a set of networking and IT technologies connecting the world's physical systems including handheld devices, buildings, computers and much more with billions of possible endpoints awaiting connection, with current estimation of more than 1.5 billion M2M nodes by 2015.--BERNAMA

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YTL to boost 4G spending
By Marina Emmanuel Published: 2011/02/26
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New.../foji/Article/



YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, a unit of YTL Power International Bhd, is ready to invest more in base stations in Penang to expand coverage for its 4G mobile Internet service and voice "Yes" offering.

"As of today, 'Yes' has the most extensive 4G coverage in Penang, encompassing most of the populated areas of the island and the state's mainland.

"We have one third of the state already covered via our digital infrastructure investment of base stations and ready to invest more," YTL Communications Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Wing K. Lee told reporters in Penang yesterday.

Wing said YTL is in talks with the Penang government to extend its 4G footprint in the state and conceded that public awareness on the issue is also needed.

He said the commercial availability of "Yes" in Penang is a continuation of YTL's promise to deliver the most advanced 4G network throughout West Malaysia.

"The network has extensive coverage, including for the very first time in Malaysian history, the North-South Expressway. No other network has enabled the whole stretch of the country's longest highway for mobile Internet on the scale that 'Yes' has deployed," he added.

Earlier this year, "Yes" announced that its 4G network has been activated across the 240 hectares of Universiti Sains Malaysia's main campus on Penang island.

The move, which is part of the company's Education Partner Programme, allows all 20,000 USM students to connect to the 4G network, with each student getting 300 megabytes free usage for three years.

"Penang is an island state that takes pride in being at the forefront of technology and innovation," Wing noted.

"It is therefore only befitting that its people have the most advanced, converged 4G mobile Internet and communications technology in the world," he concluded.

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Celcom to spend RM1b to boost coverage
Published: 2010/03/02
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Celcom Axiata Bhd plans to invest RM1 billion in 2011 towards enhancing network coverage, capacity and quality to meet customers' demand for better access and faster connectivity.

Of the allocated capital expenditure, 60 per cent would be spent to enhance its data network while 40 per cent would be used to maintain its current operating network.

The company's network modernisation exercise will eventually move Celcom towards an all-IP infrastructure, migrating all its sites to a single-RAN (radio access network) architecture and be ready to deploy future LTE (long term evolution) services.

"We will embark on a aggressive network transformation exercise and the major single-RAN migration will be taken into execution as quickly as this quarter," chief executive officer Datuk Shazalli Ramly told reporters today.


He said the transition of this network migration would be much more aggressive as the company moves further into 2011, and the company might spend RM700 million to RM800 million over a period of three years to be LTE ready.

Operating on the single-RAN network will enable operators to build additional capacity in GSM and 3G networks and to ensure a smooth transition to LTE-based service when the need arises in the future.

However in 2010, Celcom customers will still suffer from intermittent network services due to the high rate of vandalism it experienced last year.

"We suffer rampant vandalism on our sites where more than 2,000 cases were reported, and 1,010 of these cases resulted in immediate intermitted service throughout the country," he said.

He added the vandalism cases cost Celcom losses close to RM40 million in equipment cost alone.

The telecommunications provider's largely touted widest coverage in the country may be its Achilles'' heel, where its sites in remote areas are prone to vandalism. - Bernama

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Nation’s broadband penetration rate at 57.1 pct in mid-Feb
Posted on March 3, 2011, Thursday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=98422



Datuk Joseph Salang

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s broadband penetration rate reached 57.1 per cent in mid-February this year, said Deputy Minister of Information Communication and Culture, Datuk Joseph Salang.

“It included both fixed and mobile broadband connectivity.

“(Hence) I would imagine, it is not difficult for us to achieve our target of 60 per cent penetration rate this year,” he told reporters after delivering his speech at the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) seminar here yesterday.

Under the National Broadband Initiative, the government has set a target of 50 per cent household broadband penetration rate by end-2010.

Salang said although the target was important, the government would not compromise on the quality of service and was working hard at it.

He said the usage of broadband and internet was envisaged to be much higher with the realisation of IoT under the current ‘Digital Lifestyle Malaysia’ initiative.

“The Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) has identified 12 key economic areas, with two – telecommunications and information technology – focusing on enabling technologies for the IoT,” he said.

Salang said some of these projects, which had already been presented to the Economic Council, were well-received and accepted.

“It includes radio-frequency identification container tracking for the Royal Malaysian Customs.

“Many more, including swiftlet nest tracking for the Department of Veterinary Services, near field communications phones for authentication, e-wallet and micro-payment systems are to follow,” Salang said.

The IoT would see a new boundary be set and extended further to encompass inanimate objects or things like household items, industrial appliances and even other living things like trees and plants.

The IoT will push the Internet boundary and will enable all things to communicate, in other words, the internet is extending its reach to the real physical world. — Bernama

[nazrey]

Maxis Wireless Broadband Speed Tests In Penang 2011
image hosted on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sapiens/5492235558/

[adiyon84]

U Mobile fastest network broadband in Malaysia..
up to 42Mbps.. now available in Penang & Johor Bahru..
http://u.com.my/broadband/42mbps-promo

[adiyon84]

YES has now launched Valuepacks RM68 & RM150
http://www.yes.my/v2/say-yes/buy-yes-valuepack-68.do

[nazrey]

Malaysia's broadband initiatives among best in world: Salang
2011/03/13
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/M...alang/Article/

SARIKEI: The country's National Broadband Initiative(NBI) is among the best in the world, said Deputy Information, Communication and Culture Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum.

"It is recognised not only by computing giant Microsoft now but also by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which is the world body.

"The NBI is one of the extremely important initiatives started by the government about five years ago to give continuous Internet accessibility to the
people,"he told the media after closing a three-day Kelab Setia 1 Malaysia

workcamp at the Sebangkoi Recreational Park near here.

Some 100 hundred students from 11 secondary schools in the Rajang Basin

attended the workcamp organised by the Information Department.

"We have often been quoted at international forums as a leading example of a country and government that is very committed to promote the highest usage of
ICT," said Salang.

He added that the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission Act 1998 was also perhaps the oldest of its kind in the world and is also often used as term of reference by others. -- Bernama

RELATED LINK: http://www.skmm.gov.my/index.php?c=p...view&art_id=36

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Maxis first to surpass 5,000 sites
Published: 2011/04/14
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Maxis Bhd has become the first service provider in Malaysia to surpass 5,000 sites across Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak.

In a statement today, Maxis said it would be able to deliver high-speed wireless broadband and mobile data capabilities to 21 million Malaysians covering over 80 per cent of the population.

Its chief executive officer, Sandip Das, said the leadership position in wireless broadband would complement Maxis'' leadership in fibre footprint and strategically position the company as an integrated player.

"It provides us with the capability to offer seamless experience regardless of the delivery and access network to our customers," he said. -- Bernama

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Maxis has big plans for remote areas
By Presenna Nambiar Published: 2011/03/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html



Maxis Bhd (6012)will spend "hundreds of millions" of ringgit to use different technologies such as satellite technology, to bring 3G (third generation) and voice network to remote areas.

"We have special plans for using technologies like satellite for very, very remote areas, like in East Malaysia which is difficult to get to with fibre.

"So we use different technologies, like V-Sat. It's a technology which allows you to cover some plantations, which are not covered by cable," Maxis chief operating officer Jean-Pascal Van Overbeke told reporters yesterday after the launch of the much-awaited the Google Nexus S, the latest Android smart phone with the operating system Gingerbread OS.

Maxis will also use the technology to connect some places in the east coast.

The much-awaited Nexus S marks Google's re-entry into the phone production market and was co-developed with Samsung.
Maxis has exclusive rights to the distribution of the handset in Malaysia.

The smart phone goes at a retail price of RM2,499, with the cheapest unit tied to a contract data plan priced at RM1,499.

The device boasts existing Android features such as portable WiFi as well as Near Field Communication (NFC), a main selling point of the smart-phone in other markets.

NFC allows a device, usually a mobile phone, to collect data from another device or NFC tag at close range.

The technology will allow among other things, for NFC-enabled phone users to pay for goods and services by simply waving their handset across a special contactless reader in a store on the highways, much like Touch'n Go now.

Users in Malaysia will probably have a long wait before they can use the NFC feature though, as there are currently no applications in the Malaysian market.

"It will be around a year, before you see mass penetration (of NFC-enabled Android phones) which will excite the imagination and creativity of other third party developers to create applications," Van Overbeke said.

Maxis first introduced NFC into the Malaysian market two to three years ago, through Nokia 6212. It did not catch on however, due to the limited number of devices which was able to use the technology.

"Indeed it almost died, because of lack of choice of devices, but what is interesting now is that every manufacturer and software developer is now confirming that NFC is coming back big time..,

"Androids are using it as a default and other operating systems going to do the same,... probably in the coming months you will see more launches of such devices," Van Overbeke said.

He said the company was banking on the NFC becoming a default feature on Android smart phones, just like how Global Positioning System (GPS) is now a default feature for many operating systems.