PETALING JAYA: After the excitement of Telekom Malaysia unveiling UniFi, its high-speed broadband service that offers Internet speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps), the bubble burst for many consumers here.
Some are disappointed over what they feel are expensive charges for the packages for home users: RM149 for 5Mbps, RM199 for 10Mbps, and RM249 for 20Mbps.
In Singapore, a 100Mbps service – which is 5 times the speed of a 20Mbps connection – only costs about RM200.
But the real disappointment is the realisation that the UniFi packages have a cap on the amount of data that can be downloaded.
The consumers bristled when they learned that the 5Mbps service is capped at 60GB of data per month. The 10Mbps service is capped at 90GB while the 20Mbps service has a 120GB cap.
They were even more disappointed to learn that the data download caps are calculated on a daily basis.
Consumers were further horrified to learn that if they exceeded their daily download limit, their high-speed broadband connections would be throttled down to about 10% of the purchased speed.
Telekom Malaysia CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said at a press conference to announce the UniFi pricing yesterday that the measures were part of its Fair Usage Policy.
“This policy is a standard industry practice to ensure that all subscribers get to enjoy the same web surfing quality,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched UniFi at the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night.
From The Star
Friday March 26, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
The price for fast Internet connection
IS RM149 a month for 5-megabits per second (Mbps) a steal or pricey?
It comes with free voice calls, some TV channels and other stuff. That is UniFi, Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s latest offering in high speed broadband (HSBB).
In the fast lane of broadband, speed is king. Without speeds of 5-50Mbps, and capacity, don’t call it HSBB.
Your waiting time to surf and download with 5Mbps is lower than 1Mbps. It is as though you are driving a Mercedes sports at top speed. If you want faster speed, say 10Mbps, pay RM199 a month and you may feel you are at the wheel of a Ferrari or Porsche.
But if you are one of those speed-hungry surfers, fork out RM249 a month for 20Mbps and you can tell Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes that your speed may surpass his Lotus 1 car.
In comparison, Time dotCom Bhd’s (TdC) offer is RM149 for 2Mbps, RM249 for 5Mbps and RM329 for 10Mbps per month and all come with a 50Mbps booster.
Today, high speed is here on fixed networks, from TM and rivals TdC and Maxis Communications Bhd in some areas. However, only a small pocket of the population can enjoy speeds of up to 50Mbps. The majority still has a long time to wait as they still have to contend with 256-, 512-kilobits per second or 1Mbps.
But change has come, and TM and TdC’s efforts for bringing that change should be lauded.
TM is probably the only player globally that sped up the entire process of bringing fibre-to-the-home (FTTH). It also marks the beginning of the end of the copper wire era although the entire phasing out of copper may take up to two decades.
What is important the first step has been taken.
Even rival TdC CEO Afzal Abdul Rahim is singing praises of TM as to him, a “lethargic and slow moving organisation is able to bring FTTH in record speed time. It says a lot of the thinking that went into it and this is cutting-edge.’’
Both Afzal and REDtone Interna-tional Bhd chief executive Zainal Amanshah were surprised at the competitive pricing. They are not the only two that had expected TM to outprice itself like it normally does. However, those tweeting on Twitter do not think TM’s pricing is reasonable.
Whatever the strategy that went into packaging UniFi, it is a clever one; bundling a lot of things without IPTV is not enough for TM to fully monetise its fixed line assets.
The assets have been left parked for too long and fixed line voice revenue is flat so this new broadcasting business or triple play, if done right, can be one of TM’s revenue generators. That may bode well for TM but an analyst feels that since the pricing is very competitive, the “endgame may be in sight for over-eager wireless broadband start-ups.”
Zainal also believes it would be tough for players to compete with TM on the retail end if they do not have value-add, including IPTV as TM offers a lot of free stuff for its UniFi packages. But he believes there is hope for those who want to offer high speed using TM’s network to corporate users.
Expect teething problems with UniFi over the next six to nine months. But let’s just hope the era of complaints and disgruntled users of TM service will be truly over from now, and TM keeps to its promise of quality and speed.
B.K. SIDHU is deputy news editor and hopes the government will intervene to bring down broadband prices for the benefit of the consumers.
From The Star
Friday March 26, 2010
It comes with free voice calls, some TV channels and other stuff. That is UniFi, Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s latest offering in high speed broadband (HSBB).
In the fast lane of broadband, speed is king. Without speeds of 5-50Mbps, and capacity, don’t call it HSBB.
Your waiting time to surf and download with 5Mbps is lower than 1Mbps. It is as though you are driving a Mercedes sports at top speed. If you want faster speed, say 10Mbps, pay RM199 a month and you may feel you are at the wheel of a Ferrari or Porsche.
But if you are one of those speed-hungry surfers, fork out RM249 a month for 20Mbps and you can tell Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes that your speed may surpass his Lotus 1 car.
In comparison, Time dotCom Bhd’s (TdC) offer is RM149 for 2Mbps, RM249 for 5Mbps and RM329 for 10Mbps per month and all come with a 50Mbps booster.
Today, high speed is here on fixed networks, from TM and rivals TdC and Maxis Communications Bhd in some areas. However, only a small pocket of the population can enjoy speeds of up to 50Mbps. The majority still has a long time to wait as they still have to contend with 256-, 512-kilobits per second or 1Mbps.
But change has come, and TM and TdC’s efforts for bringing that change should be lauded.
TM is probably the only player globally that sped up the entire process of bringing fibre-to-the-home (FTTH). It also marks the beginning of the end of the copper wire era although the entire phasing out of copper may take up to two decades.
What is important the first step has been taken.
Even rival TdC CEO Afzal Abdul Rahim is singing praises of TM as to him, a “lethargic and slow moving organisation is able to bring FTTH in record speed time. It says a lot of the thinking that went into it and this is cutting-edge.’’
Both Afzal and REDtone Interna-tional Bhd chief executive Zainal Amanshah were surprised at the competitive pricing. They are not the only two that had expected TM to outprice itself like it normally does. However, those tweeting on Twitter do not think TM’s pricing is reasonable.
Whatever the strategy that went into packaging UniFi, it is a clever one; bundling a lot of things without IPTV is not enough for TM to fully monetise its fixed line assets.
The assets have been left parked for too long and fixed line voice revenue is flat so this new broadcasting business or triple play, if done right, can be one of TM’s revenue generators. That may bode well for TM but an analyst feels that since the pricing is very competitive, the “endgame may be in sight for over-eager wireless broadband start-ups.”
Zainal also believes it would be tough for players to compete with TM on the retail end if they do not have value-add, including IPTV as TM offers a lot of free stuff for its UniFi packages. But he believes there is hope for those who want to offer high speed using TM’s network to corporate users.
Expect teething problems with UniFi over the next six to nine months. But let’s just hope the era of complaints and disgruntled users of TM service will be truly over from now, and TM keeps to its promise of quality and speed.
B.K. SIDHU is deputy news editor and hopes the government will intervene to bring down broadband prices for the benefit of the consumers.
From The Star
Friday March 26, 2010
TM to maintain Streamyx pricing
KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM), which has just launched it high speed broadband (HSBB), UniFi, is maintaining the pricing for most of the packages offered under its current broadband service, Streamyx.
Group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said although TM had introduced the 5Mbps basic pacakage for UniFi, it was maintaining the prices for its current 1Mbps and 2Mbps by Streamyx.
“Broadband packages have never been on an uptrend,” he told a media briefing yesterday.
However, TM is offering new and existing 4Mbps Streamyx combo and non-combo customers a rate of RM140 a month effective immediately regardless of their location.
The current fastest available broadband speed for the general public offered by TM is 4Mbps. According to the Streamyx website, the 4Mbps package which includes Streamyx hotspot, e-browse (online newspaper) and BB Phone (voice over broadband) is currently priced at RM268 per month.
“This (price revision) is to encourage 4Mbps Streamyx subscribers in areas where UniFi is available to upgrade to UniFi and for those outside to switch to the blockbuster package,” Zamzamzairani said.
TM’s UniFi packages comprise triple-play services of high-speed Internet, video (IPTV) and phone, with speeds of 5Mbps, 10Mbps and 20Mbps.
The 5Mbps package is priced at RM149 per month, the 10Mbps at RM199, and the 20Mbps at RM249 with a two-year contract.
According to HSBB project programme director Ahmad Azhar Yahya, all the packages include a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications phone, a set-top box for IPTV (Internet Protocol television), Streamyxzone ID for wireless web access and a 2GB e-mail box.
He added that the IPTV offered 22 linear channels, video-on-demand and interactive channels. “There’ll be 20 to 25 new titles every month in window earlier than pay-per view and pay-TV.”
Ahmad said these channels would be delivered via an 8Mbps connection exclusively and in addition to the data speeds of 5, 10 and 20Mbps subscribers subscribed to.
TM was waiving over RM1,000 worth of installation and equipment fees to install UniFi, he said, adding that the installation process could take two to eight hours depending on subscribers’ premises.
“UniFi will be focusing on Zone 1, which is the high economic impact areas, industrial parks and free trade zones,” Zamzamzairani said, adding that all other areas not covered by UniFi would be covered in one form or another by other technologies.
From The Star
Friday March 26, 2010
Group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said although TM had introduced the 5Mbps basic pacakage for UniFi, it was maintaining the prices for its current 1Mbps and 2Mbps by Streamyx.
“Broadband packages have never been on an uptrend,” he told a media briefing yesterday.
However, TM is offering new and existing 4Mbps Streamyx combo and non-combo customers a rate of RM140 a month effective immediately regardless of their location.
The current fastest available broadband speed for the general public offered by TM is 4Mbps. According to the Streamyx website, the 4Mbps package which includes Streamyx hotspot, e-browse (online newspaper) and BB Phone (voice over broadband) is currently priced at RM268 per month.
“This (price revision) is to encourage 4Mbps Streamyx subscribers in areas where UniFi is available to upgrade to UniFi and for those outside to switch to the blockbuster package,” Zamzamzairani said.
TM’s UniFi packages comprise triple-play services of high-speed Internet, video (IPTV) and phone, with speeds of 5Mbps, 10Mbps and 20Mbps.
The 5Mbps package is priced at RM149 per month, the 10Mbps at RM199, and the 20Mbps at RM249 with a two-year contract.
According to HSBB project programme director Ahmad Azhar Yahya, all the packages include a digital enhanced cordless telecommunications phone, a set-top box for IPTV (Internet Protocol television), Streamyxzone ID for wireless web access and a 2GB e-mail box.
He added that the IPTV offered 22 linear channels, video-on-demand and interactive channels. “There’ll be 20 to 25 new titles every month in window earlier than pay-per view and pay-TV.”
Ahmad said these channels would be delivered via an 8Mbps connection exclusively and in addition to the data speeds of 5, 10 and 20Mbps subscribers subscribed to.
TM was waiving over RM1,000 worth of installation and equipment fees to install UniFi, he said, adding that the installation process could take two to eight hours depending on subscribers’ premises.
“UniFi will be focusing on Zone 1, which is the high economic impact areas, industrial parks and free trade zones,” Zamzamzairani said, adding that all other areas not covered by UniFi would be covered in one form or another by other technologies.
From The Star
Friday March 26, 2010
Telekom Malaysia suspends download cap for UniFi
PETALING JAYA: Good news. The download cap on Telekom Malaysia’s UniFi high speed broadband service packages has been suspended.
The telco made the announcement on the Twitter microblogging site today and said it made the decision after taking into account public feedback on the cap.
“NO volume cap 4 all #unifi packages 4 now. Decision due to public feedback. TM will only monitor usage pattern 4 time being (sic),” read the tweet.
A spokesman for Telekom Malaysia told In.Tech that the telco, however, does still reserve the right to enforce a download limit to ensure all UniFi subscribers receive equal service quality.
Yesterday, many Malaysians complained on Twitter about the cap. They were disappointed because the cap would restrict the daily amount of data they can download via the high speed broadband service.
They were also disappointed to learn that if the cap was exceeded, their connections would be throttled down to about 10% of the purchased speed. UniFi is available in 5Mbps (megabits per second), 10Mbps and 20Mbps packages.
With the latest announcement by Telekom Malaysia, many people are rejoicing. Among them is communications consultant Justin Then, who said he’s happy to note that Telekom Malaysia listens to consumers.
“Capping our high speed Internet access doesn’t make sense, if the Government wants Malaysians to seek out knowledge and be innovative,” he said.
A Twitter user, who asked to be identified only as Flo, said she’s glad Telekom Malaysia has decided not to employ the cap for now.
“We are paying a premium for technology that offers super high bandwidth, so a daily cap shouldn’t be applied. There’s no value in that; we would be better off with regular broadband,” she said.
From The Star
March 26, 2010
The telco made the announcement on the Twitter microblogging site today and said it made the decision after taking into account public feedback on the cap.
“NO volume cap 4 all #unifi packages 4 now. Decision due to public feedback. TM will only monitor usage pattern 4 time being (sic),” read the tweet.
A spokesman for Telekom Malaysia told In.Tech that the telco, however, does still reserve the right to enforce a download limit to ensure all UniFi subscribers receive equal service quality.
Yesterday, many Malaysians complained on Twitter about the cap. They were disappointed because the cap would restrict the daily amount of data they can download via the high speed broadband service.
They were also disappointed to learn that if the cap was exceeded, their connections would be throttled down to about 10% of the purchased speed. UniFi is available in 5Mbps (megabits per second), 10Mbps and 20Mbps packages.
With the latest announcement by Telekom Malaysia, many people are rejoicing. Among them is communications consultant Justin Then, who said he’s happy to note that Telekom Malaysia listens to consumers.
“Capping our high speed Internet access doesn’t make sense, if the Government wants Malaysians to seek out knowledge and be innovative,” he said.
A Twitter user, who asked to be identified only as Flo, said she’s glad Telekom Malaysia has decided not to employ the cap for now.
“We are paying a premium for technology that offers super high bandwidth, so a daily cap shouldn’t be applied. There’s no value in that; we would be better off with regular broadband,” she said.
From The Star
March 26, 2010
Consumers let down by cap on UniFi packages
PETALING JAYA: After the excitement of Telekom Malaysia unveiling UniFi, its high-speed broadband service that offers Internet speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps), the bubble burst for many consumers here.
Some are disappointed over what they feel are expensive charges for the packages for home users: RM149 for 5Mbps, RM199 for 10Mbps, and RM249 for 20Mbps.
In Singapore, a 100Mbps service – which is 5 times the speed of a 20Mbps connection – only costs about RM200.
But the real disappointment is the realisation that the UniFi packages have a cap on the amount of data that can be downloaded.
The consumers bristled when they learned that the 5Mbps service is capped at 60GB of data per month. The 10Mbps service is capped at 90GB while the 20Mbps service has a 120GB cap.
They were even more disappointed to learn that the data download caps are calculated on a daily basis.
Consumers were further horrified to learn that if they exceeded their daily download limit, their high-speed broadband connections would be throttled down to about 10% of the purchased speed.
Telekom Malaysia CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said at a press conference to announce the UniFi pricing yesterday that the measures were part of its Fair Usage Policy.
“This policy is a standard industry practice to ensure that all subscribers get to enjoy the same web surfing quality,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched UniFi at the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night
From The Star
Friday March 26, 2010
Some are disappointed over what they feel are expensive charges for the packages for home users: RM149 for 5Mbps, RM199 for 10Mbps, and RM249 for 20Mbps.
In Singapore, a 100Mbps service – which is 5 times the speed of a 20Mbps connection – only costs about RM200.
But the real disappointment is the realisation that the UniFi packages have a cap on the amount of data that can be downloaded.
The consumers bristled when they learned that the 5Mbps service is capped at 60GB of data per month. The 10Mbps service is capped at 90GB while the 20Mbps service has a 120GB cap.
They were even more disappointed to learn that the data download caps are calculated on a daily basis.
Consumers were further horrified to learn that if they exceeded their daily download limit, their high-speed broadband connections would be throttled down to about 10% of the purchased speed.
Telekom Malaysia CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said at a press conference to announce the UniFi pricing yesterday that the measures were part of its Fair Usage Policy.
“This policy is a standard industry practice to ensure that all subscribers get to enjoy the same web surfing quality,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched UniFi at the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night
From The Star
Friday March 26, 2010
Pricing for high speed broadband unveiled
PETALING JAYA: UniFi — Telekom Malaysia’s just launched high speed broadband service — comes in three packages.
Residential subscribers can opt for a 5-megabits per second (Mbps), 10Mbps or 20Mbps connection to the Internet.
The 5Mbps package is priced at RM149 per month, the 10Mbps at RM199, and the 20Mbps at RM249. The subscribers will have to sign on for two years.
Each package also comes with a Dect (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) phone, a set-top box for IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), Streamyxzone ID for wireless web access, and a 2GB e-mail box.
Subscribers will also enjoy synchronous upload and download speeds, unlike with the ADSL service now where upload speeds are slower than download speeds.
Telekom Malaysia has also capped the amount of data that can be downloaded using each of the packages, in an effort to maintain high surfing speeds.
The 5Mbps package has a 60GB monthly cap on downloads; the 10Mbps package has a 90GB cap, and the 20Mbps package has a 120GB cap. To compare, a typical two-hour high-definition movie is about 8GB in size.
However, some industry pundits have pointed out that the caps are calculated on a daily basis, which restricts the amount of data that can be downloaded each day in a month.
UniFi is now available in Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Bangsar, in the Klang Valley. It will be rolled out to more areas nationwide over the next two years.
There are business packages available for corporate subscribers. As with the home user service, these are also divided into 5Mbps, 10Mbps and 20Mbps packages.
There are no caps on the corporate packages, but prices are much higher. Companies will have to pay RM199 a month for 5Mbps, RM599 for 10Mbps, and RM899 for 20Mbps.
Telekom Malaysia is holding a press conference at its headquarters this afternoon. More details after this event.
From The Star
Thursday March 25, 2010
Residential subscribers can opt for a 5-megabits per second (Mbps), 10Mbps or 20Mbps connection to the Internet.
The 5Mbps package is priced at RM149 per month, the 10Mbps at RM199, and the 20Mbps at RM249. The subscribers will have to sign on for two years.
Each package also comes with a Dect (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) phone, a set-top box for IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), Streamyxzone ID for wireless web access, and a 2GB e-mail box.
Subscribers will also enjoy synchronous upload and download speeds, unlike with the ADSL service now where upload speeds are slower than download speeds.
Telekom Malaysia has also capped the amount of data that can be downloaded using each of the packages, in an effort to maintain high surfing speeds.
The 5Mbps package has a 60GB monthly cap on downloads; the 10Mbps package has a 90GB cap, and the 20Mbps package has a 120GB cap. To compare, a typical two-hour high-definition movie is about 8GB in size.
However, some industry pundits have pointed out that the caps are calculated on a daily basis, which restricts the amount of data that can be downloaded each day in a month.
UniFi is now available in Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Bangsar, in the Klang Valley. It will be rolled out to more areas nationwide over the next two years.
There are business packages available for corporate subscribers. As with the home user service, these are also divided into 5Mbps, 10Mbps and 20Mbps packages.
There are no caps on the corporate packages, but prices are much higher. Companies will have to pay RM199 a month for 5Mbps, RM599 for 10Mbps, and RM899 for 20Mbps.
Telekom Malaysia is holding a press conference at its headquarters this afternoon. More details after this event.
From The Star
Thursday March 25, 2010
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