Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) expects competition and participation from wholesale value-added partners for its High Speed Broadband (HSBB) to offer more variety and choice to consumers. HSBB is an open access network that promises opportunities via dual and triple-play services for consumers. This will be further enhanced as value-adding content and application third-party providers and partners roll out their services together with TM. " Internet Protocol television (IPTV), video-on-demand (VoD), voice and high bandwidth data services will be part of all TM consumer retail services subscriber packages.

" TM is committed to make HSBB open to all qualified players and intends to work together with access seekers to ensure premium quality to customers," the company said in a statement after briefing industry players and service providers on its HSBB Access Indicative Terms and Conditions (ITC). The ITC document was made available to the industry earlier this month. The HSBB-A wholesale ports are being competitively priced for all access seekers, between RM52 and RM55 per port, depending on volume and contract duration. " Availability to access seekers is on a first-come-first-served basis," it said, adding that the ports are open to access seekers who plan to offer at least dual-play services such as data and video to consumers. " This is to protect consumers from service providers that only plan to resell bandwidth at a higher price without adding value to the network," said TM.

Meanwhile, group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa was quoted as saying in the statement that TM was keeping its promise of a level playing field and open access to all qualified seekers. He also encouraged all licensed access seekers and value-added service providers to become its partners. The statement said HSBB wholesale access services would be opened to access seekers, together with HSBB consumer retail service which would be launched later, in Bangsar, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya and Taman Tun Dr Ismail. It said value-added service providers interested in the HSBB wholesale services can begin negotiations with TM then, and can launch their services soon after. TM's total capital expenditure related to the HSBB project as of Dec 31, 2009 reached RM1.9 billion, covering last mile access, IP core deployment and capacity expansion for international links. -- Bernama

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