Friday May 14, 2010
By LEONG HUNG YEE
hungyee@thestar.com.my
CEO: Higher handset subsidies to impact EBITDA margin
KUALA LUMPUR: DiGi.Com Bhd’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin for 2010 may face some pressure due to its higher level of handset subsidies.
Chief executive officer Johan Dennelind said the handset subsidies, which were given out to customers to capture data traffic growth, was expected to have some impact on its EBITDA margin.
“We had a strong first quarter with EBIDTA margin of about 45%. We expect this to go to last year’s level mainly due to handset subsidies,” he said after the company’s AGM which lasted for two hours yesterday.
Last year, the telco achieved an EBITDA margin of 43.3%. For the first quarter, it achieved a net profit of RM278.2mil, or 35.80 sen per share on revenue of RM1.29bil.
Johan Dennelind (right) and DiGi CFO Stefan Carlsson at a press conference after the AGM
He said the subsidies were coming more into play as DiGi drove smartphones sales not just for the iPhone but also other phones such as the Android.
Dennelind, in its CEO review, said while its EBITDA margin would continue to be under some pressure but it targeted to improve the margin with further cost optimisation measures.
“We are confident of achieving an absolute operating cash flow higher than that of 2009. Operational efficiency will continue to be an important focus area to ensure we remain competitive,” said the outgoing CEO.
Overall, Dennelind said DiGi was optimistic of its growth. “The industry is still growing. Industry-wise, we anticipate revenue growth to be around 5% this year but DiGi aims to grow its revenue above this level.”
He said the group was in a great position in terms of capital management. He said its yield over the last five to six years was “superior”. He added that the accumulated dividend payout over the last five years was some RM6bil and its shareholders were very happy with the fact.
Dennelind said DiGi would “not compromise” on dividend and was looking to maintain its dividend policy of distributing a minimum 80% of annual net profit to shareholders.
On the sales of its iPhone, he said the takeup rate was “very encouraging”, but he did provide any numbers.
He said DiGi continued to see intense competition, its new business model being attacked and the rise of Internet usage. “There are many (challenges) but we rather see it as opportunities.”
On its 3G network coverage, he said the group was playing catch up. DiGi’s 3G network currently covers some 30% of populated areas. By year-end the coverage will be about 50%.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/14/business/6258570&sec=business
Sunday, May 30, 2010
DiGi units terminate MVNO agreements
Saturday May 15, 2010
PETALING JAYA: DiGi.Com Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary DiGi Tel and Baraka Telecom Sdn Bhd have terminated their mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement.
DiGi told Bursa Malaysia that this was due to Baraka “re-considering its MVNO business in Malaysia.”
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/15/business/6269255&sec=business
PETALING JAYA: DiGi.Com Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary DiGi Tel and Baraka Telecom Sdn Bhd have terminated their mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement.
DiGi told Bursa Malaysia that this was due to Baraka “re-considering its MVNO business in Malaysia.”
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/15/business/6269255&sec=business
Chairman: DiGi board not a rubber stamp of Telenor
Monday May 31, 2010
DiGi chairman Sigve Brekke shares with StarBiz his thoughts on the company’s board composition and decisions as well as Telenor’s plans for India. Brekke is also executive vice-president of Telenor
STARBIZ: The Employees Provident Fund has a 16.06% stake in DiGi and no board seat. Has it asked for one?
Sigve Brekke: No, we haven’t received a request from them. We have met them and this question did not come up.
»We see benefits from changing CEOs at every different stage the company goes through« SIGVE BREKKE
How independent are your independent directors?
Datuk Abdul Halim Mohyiddin is the chairman of our audit committee. They go through all the financials, so there are checks and balances. (The other independent director is Tan Sri Leo Moggie.)
It is said the three Norwegian representatives decide on matters before any board meetings and the meeting is only to endorse these decisions. Your comments, please.
Telenor has a majority but the way the board operates is that there is a consensus way of deciding matters and there is seldom voting. I discuss with board members in and out of boardrooms. But we have real discussions at our board meetings.
Telenor’s worry is whether we are doing things that can be criticised by the minorities, so we have rules. We also do not give out sensitive information to Telenor or minorities. We are very focused as a board.
The board is certainly not a rubber stamp of Telenor; if we were, we would not have got away with it. We would have got into trouble as the analyst community tracks us and so does the Securities Commission. I must say, during the last AGM, we got a lot of credit for what we have done at DiGi.
Is is true that a rebranding of DiGi is in the offing and the Telenor’s propeller logo may replace DiGi’s existing logo.
We have no propeller (Telenor’s logo) for our operations in Ukraine and Russia. There will be no change now (for DiGi) but I can’t say for the future. It is not important but we have value and leadership expectations and ethics, so the graphical expression in branding is not so important.
But if there is a need to refresh and change over time, we could opt for it. But not now. We did that in Thailand when the brand became old, so we added the propeller to give it a fresher look.
Any update on your request for additional spectrum 900 megahertz spectrum from the Government?
We are still in discussions.
The dividends earned by Telenor from its operations in Malaysia is used for the Indian operations and there is talk that the higher dividend is meant to help Telenor pump money into India. Your comments, please?
DiGi’s dividend policy is driven by debt gearing of the company and not to help Telenor (earn more dividends). If the balance sheet looks better, the policy is to give better dividends. We are not over-leveraging the company by paying out more dividends. That’s a fact and we do not take additional dividends to fund India and that policy is very clear.
Of course someone is funding India. It comes from DiGi, Thailand, and other markets and indirectly go to India but that is how it has been.
We go in the early phase, grow a company, follow the development and pay out dividends and use that money to invest in emerging markets.
(DiGi declared an interim dividend of 35 sen per share, which is close to 100% of its first-quarter profit. The telco paid 138% of its net profit in 2009. For the past five years, it had paid total dividends of about RM6bil.)
Why didn’t Telenor bid for 3G spectrum in India?
We believe the whole bid pricing had become very expensive and there was no way we could raise that kind of money. We also need to focus on 2G right now and we don’t want the management and shareholders to think of 3G for now. There will be more opportunities later.
Does this in any way jeopardise your business in India?
No. Our business plan is to build on 2G and the main growth area is voice calls and SMS. It will take another six to seven years before 3G is really needed there. There will be more opportunities and more licences in the future and we can also share.
The industry will also consolidate at some point. That is why we are not worried about missing out in the first round. In any case, 3G is not meant for rural areas or mass market, it is mainly for the metro areas.
This is the same strategy deployed by DiGi when 3G spectra were offered in the early 2000s. Did DiGi feel it missed the boat in the first round?
As for Malaysia, we should have got in (the first round) but we decided not to go. It is less important than getting it in Malaysia than India.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/31/business/6359392&sec=business
DiGi chairman Sigve Brekke shares with StarBiz his thoughts on the company’s board composition and decisions as well as Telenor’s plans for India. Brekke is also executive vice-president of Telenor
STARBIZ: The Employees Provident Fund has a 16.06% stake in DiGi and no board seat. Has it asked for one?
Sigve Brekke: No, we haven’t received a request from them. We have met them and this question did not come up.
»We see benefits from changing CEOs at every different stage the company goes through« SIGVE BREKKE
How independent are your independent directors?
Datuk Abdul Halim Mohyiddin is the chairman of our audit committee. They go through all the financials, so there are checks and balances. (The other independent director is Tan Sri Leo Moggie.)
It is said the three Norwegian representatives decide on matters before any board meetings and the meeting is only to endorse these decisions. Your comments, please.
Telenor has a majority but the way the board operates is that there is a consensus way of deciding matters and there is seldom voting. I discuss with board members in and out of boardrooms. But we have real discussions at our board meetings.
Telenor’s worry is whether we are doing things that can be criticised by the minorities, so we have rules. We also do not give out sensitive information to Telenor or minorities. We are very focused as a board.
The board is certainly not a rubber stamp of Telenor; if we were, we would not have got away with it. We would have got into trouble as the analyst community tracks us and so does the Securities Commission. I must say, during the last AGM, we got a lot of credit for what we have done at DiGi.
Is is true that a rebranding of DiGi is in the offing and the Telenor’s propeller logo may replace DiGi’s existing logo.
We have no propeller (Telenor’s logo) for our operations in Ukraine and Russia. There will be no change now (for DiGi) but I can’t say for the future. It is not important but we have value and leadership expectations and ethics, so the graphical expression in branding is not so important.
But if there is a need to refresh and change over time, we could opt for it. But not now. We did that in Thailand when the brand became old, so we added the propeller to give it a fresher look.
Any update on your request for additional spectrum 900 megahertz spectrum from the Government?
We are still in discussions.
The dividends earned by Telenor from its operations in Malaysia is used for the Indian operations and there is talk that the higher dividend is meant to help Telenor pump money into India. Your comments, please?
DiGi’s dividend policy is driven by debt gearing of the company and not to help Telenor (earn more dividends). If the balance sheet looks better, the policy is to give better dividends. We are not over-leveraging the company by paying out more dividends. That’s a fact and we do not take additional dividends to fund India and that policy is very clear.
Of course someone is funding India. It comes from DiGi, Thailand, and other markets and indirectly go to India but that is how it has been.
We go in the early phase, grow a company, follow the development and pay out dividends and use that money to invest in emerging markets.
(DiGi declared an interim dividend of 35 sen per share, which is close to 100% of its first-quarter profit. The telco paid 138% of its net profit in 2009. For the past five years, it had paid total dividends of about RM6bil.)
Why didn’t Telenor bid for 3G spectrum in India?
We believe the whole bid pricing had become very expensive and there was no way we could raise that kind of money. We also need to focus on 2G right now and we don’t want the management and shareholders to think of 3G for now. There will be more opportunities later.
Does this in any way jeopardise your business in India?
No. Our business plan is to build on 2G and the main growth area is voice calls and SMS. It will take another six to seven years before 3G is really needed there. There will be more opportunities and more licences in the future and we can also share.
The industry will also consolidate at some point. That is why we are not worried about missing out in the first round. In any case, 3G is not meant for rural areas or mass market, it is mainly for the metro areas.
This is the same strategy deployed by DiGi when 3G spectra were offered in the early 2000s. Did DiGi feel it missed the boat in the first round?
As for Malaysia, we should have got in (the first round) but we decided not to go. It is less important than getting it in Malaysia than India.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/31/business/6359392&sec=business
DiGi focused on wireless services
Monday May 31, 2010
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
It aims to win bigger share of broadband for small-screen market
KUALA LUMPUR: DiGi.Com Bhd wants to concentrate on wireless services rather than venture into Internet protocol television (IPTV) or broadcast so as not to spread its risks, says chairman Sigve Brekke.
He said the company would strive to achieve higher margins and win a bigger share of the broadband for the small-screen market.
“We will not be at a disadvantage if we did not go into the IPTV or broadcast business. We have to stay focused on wireless services and not spread into too many areas,’’ he told StarBiz in an interview.
“We believe there is enough growth for us to remain in data and voice business,’’ he said.
Telcos and celcos globally are increasingly venturing into broadcast to diversify their earnings and while that requires big investments, the returns can be lucrative if content is compelling.
»We see benefits from changing CEOs at every different stage the company goes through« SIGVE BREKKE
As for DiGi, it prefers to stick to what it knows best. And it is unwilling to invest millions to lay fibre because it doesn’t foresee credible returns if it were to make such an investment.
“We need to have an attacker’s mindset, bring in value propositions and segmentise the market further. That will allow us to take a fair share of the broadband market for small screens,” Brekke said.
“We are also coming to a situation where the industry growth is in the single digit. It will become more competitive and managing costs will become more crucial for us to improve our margins,’’ he said.
The mobile-phone industry is expected to grow by 5% this year.
Brekke did not give any targets but for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, DiGi’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) margin was at 44% compared with 43.3% a year earlier.
The company could face some pressure on margins due to its higher level of handset subsidy for iPhone sales but it is working on other areas to offset any shortfalls.
In contrast, Maxis’ EBITDA margin as at December last year was 50.4%, while for Axiata Group Bhd it was 39.3%.
For its fiscal first quarter ended March 31, DiGi reported net profit of RM278.2mil on revenue of RM1.29bil. In that period, data services made up 20.6% of mobile revenue.
DiGi recently saw a change at the helm. Henrik Clausen, who has worked in markets that thrive on broadband, took over from Johan Dennelind on May 17. Clausen is the sixth CEO for DiGi, in which Telenor has a 49% stake.
“We see benefits from changing CEOs at every different stage the company goes through. DiGi has had six CEOs in 11 years and all have different characters and expertise and each one has taken DiGi to a new level,’’ Brekke said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/31/business/6359397&sec=business
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
It aims to win bigger share of broadband for small-screen market
KUALA LUMPUR: DiGi.Com Bhd wants to concentrate on wireless services rather than venture into Internet protocol television (IPTV) or broadcast so as not to spread its risks, says chairman Sigve Brekke.
He said the company would strive to achieve higher margins and win a bigger share of the broadband for the small-screen market.
“We will not be at a disadvantage if we did not go into the IPTV or broadcast business. We have to stay focused on wireless services and not spread into too many areas,’’ he told StarBiz in an interview.
“We believe there is enough growth for us to remain in data and voice business,’’ he said.
Telcos and celcos globally are increasingly venturing into broadcast to diversify their earnings and while that requires big investments, the returns can be lucrative if content is compelling.
»We see benefits from changing CEOs at every different stage the company goes through« SIGVE BREKKE
As for DiGi, it prefers to stick to what it knows best. And it is unwilling to invest millions to lay fibre because it doesn’t foresee credible returns if it were to make such an investment.
“We need to have an attacker’s mindset, bring in value propositions and segmentise the market further. That will allow us to take a fair share of the broadband market for small screens,” Brekke said.
“We are also coming to a situation where the industry growth is in the single digit. It will become more competitive and managing costs will become more crucial for us to improve our margins,’’ he said.
The mobile-phone industry is expected to grow by 5% this year.
Brekke did not give any targets but for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010, DiGi’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) margin was at 44% compared with 43.3% a year earlier.
The company could face some pressure on margins due to its higher level of handset subsidy for iPhone sales but it is working on other areas to offset any shortfalls.
In contrast, Maxis’ EBITDA margin as at December last year was 50.4%, while for Axiata Group Bhd it was 39.3%.
For its fiscal first quarter ended March 31, DiGi reported net profit of RM278.2mil on revenue of RM1.29bil. In that period, data services made up 20.6% of mobile revenue.
DiGi recently saw a change at the helm. Henrik Clausen, who has worked in markets that thrive on broadband, took over from Johan Dennelind on May 17. Clausen is the sixth CEO for DiGi, in which Telenor has a 49% stake.
“We see benefits from changing CEOs at every different stage the company goes through. DiGi has had six CEOs in 11 years and all have different characters and expertise and each one has taken DiGi to a new level,’’ Brekke said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/31/business/6359397&sec=business
Axiata upgraded to 'buy' from 'hold'
Published: 2010/05/31
Axiata Group Bhd was upgraded to “buy” from “hold” at HwangDBS Vickers Sdn Bhd, with a raised share forecast of RM4.50.
The research house said in a report today it also increased the mobile phone company’s earnings estimate by 46 per cent for its 2010 financial year and by 39 per cent for 2011.
Its shares climbed 1.1 per cent to RM3.73 at 9:04 am local time, set for their highest close
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100531093353/Article/index_html
Axiata Group Bhd was upgraded to “buy” from “hold” at HwangDBS Vickers Sdn Bhd, with a raised share forecast of RM4.50.
The research house said in a report today it also increased the mobile phone company’s earnings estimate by 46 per cent for its 2010 financial year and by 39 per cent for 2011.
Its shares climbed 1.1 per cent to RM3.73 at 9:04 am local time, set for their highest close
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100531093353/Article/index_html
TM rises on Q1 net income leap
Published: 2010/05/31
Telekom Malaysia Bhd, a fixed-line phone and internet operater, rose its highest level in almost two weeks in Kuala Lumpur trading after saying first-quarter net income jumped to RM242.9 million from RM27.7 million a year ago.
The stock rose 2.8 per cent to RM3.35 at 9:14 a.m. local time, set for its highest close since May 18. -- Bloomberg
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100531093018/Article/index_html
Telekom Malaysia Bhd, a fixed-line phone and internet operater, rose its highest level in almost two weeks in Kuala Lumpur trading after saying first-quarter net income jumped to RM242.9 million from RM27.7 million a year ago.
The stock rose 2.8 per cent to RM3.35 at 9:14 a.m. local time, set for its highest close since May 18. -- Bloomberg
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100531093018/Article/index_html
TM net profit surges in Q1
Published: 2010/05/29
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TELEKOM Malaysia Bhd's (TM) (4863) first quarter net profit for the period ended March 31 2010 jumped to RM242.9 million from only RM27.7 million a year ago, backed by strong growth from Internet, data and other related telecommunication services.
Revenue for the quarter rose by 0.9 per cent to RM2.12 billion from RM2.11 billion in the same quarter in 2009.
In a statement, the telecommunication company said Internet revenue grew by 9.8 per cent to turn in RM422.6 million from RM385 million previously.
Data and leased services revenue increased by 8.4 per cent to RM397.7 million from RM366.9 million a year before.
Other telecom services grew by 16.1 per cent to RM296.7 million from RM255.5 million.
The strong growth in these non voice revenue streams was partially offset by lower voice revenue and international inpayment.
TM group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Isa said Internet continues to be a strong revenue-driver for the company.
As at end-March 2010, its customer base stood at 1.48 million.
The strong growth for the first quarter period was also boosted by favourable foreign exchange currency translation.
TM recorded an unrealised exchange gain on translation of foreign currency borrowings of RM166.6 million as compared to a loss of RM175.5 million in the period of 2009.
Zamzamzairani said TM has been aggressively introducing new and innovative products over the last six months, to cater for the ever changing demand pattern as well as competition from other players in the broadband space.
The notable ones are Super Upgrade Deals and the Blockbuster Deals.
The Super Upgrade Deals has so far registered about 55,000 existing broadband customers moving into higher Internet speed packages while the Blockbuster Deals has 24,000 new customers.
TM, however, registered a lower earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) in the first three months of 2010 of RM715.3 million as compared to RM816.2 million previously.
This was due to, among others, higher advertising and promotion expenses for product promotion and UniFi related activities, higher international outpayment due to increase in traffic minutes, higher supplies and materials cost, as well as higher customer premises equipment and parts cost in line with increased Internet installations.
Zamzamzairani said Ebitda margin of 33.2 per cent for the first quarter of 2010, however, remains in line with key performance indicator of 33 per cent set for this year.
Moving forward, he said TM was set to benefit from the economic recovery, especially in the broadband space.
"Penetration rate in the broadband market is still low at 34.2 per cent of households as of end-March 2010," he said, adding this gives TM the opportunity to further enhance its leading role in the industry.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/teleup/Article/
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TELEKOM Malaysia Bhd's (TM) (4863) first quarter net profit for the period ended March 31 2010 jumped to RM242.9 million from only RM27.7 million a year ago, backed by strong growth from Internet, data and other related telecommunication services.
Revenue for the quarter rose by 0.9 per cent to RM2.12 billion from RM2.11 billion in the same quarter in 2009.
In a statement, the telecommunication company said Internet revenue grew by 9.8 per cent to turn in RM422.6 million from RM385 million previously.
Data and leased services revenue increased by 8.4 per cent to RM397.7 million from RM366.9 million a year before.
Other telecom services grew by 16.1 per cent to RM296.7 million from RM255.5 million.
The strong growth in these non voice revenue streams was partially offset by lower voice revenue and international inpayment.
TM group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Isa said Internet continues to be a strong revenue-driver for the company.
As at end-March 2010, its customer base stood at 1.48 million.
The strong growth for the first quarter period was also boosted by favourable foreign exchange currency translation.
TM recorded an unrealised exchange gain on translation of foreign currency borrowings of RM166.6 million as compared to a loss of RM175.5 million in the period of 2009.
Zamzamzairani said TM has been aggressively introducing new and innovative products over the last six months, to cater for the ever changing demand pattern as well as competition from other players in the broadband space.
The notable ones are Super Upgrade Deals and the Blockbuster Deals.
The Super Upgrade Deals has so far registered about 55,000 existing broadband customers moving into higher Internet speed packages while the Blockbuster Deals has 24,000 new customers.
TM, however, registered a lower earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) in the first three months of 2010 of RM715.3 million as compared to RM816.2 million previously.
This was due to, among others, higher advertising and promotion expenses for product promotion and UniFi related activities, higher international outpayment due to increase in traffic minutes, higher supplies and materials cost, as well as higher customer premises equipment and parts cost in line with increased Internet installations.
Zamzamzairani said Ebitda margin of 33.2 per cent for the first quarter of 2010, however, remains in line with key performance indicator of 33 per cent set for this year.
Moving forward, he said TM was set to benefit from the economic recovery, especially in the broadband space.
"Penetration rate in the broadband market is still low at 34.2 per cent of households as of end-March 2010," he said, adding this gives TM the opportunity to further enhance its leading role in the industry.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/teleup/Article/
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Overseas sales, one-off gain help lift Axiata profit
Published: 2010/05/28
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MOBILE phone network operator Axiata (6888) yesterday reported better-than-expected first-quarter net profit, helped by higher sales from overseas units and a one-off gain.
Axiata, which owns telco assets in fast-growing Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India, net profit rose 14-fold to RM921.5 million for January-March, versus RM63.9 million a year ago.
Axiata's earnings were bolstered by net gains of RM307.5 million from the partial disposal of Indonesia's PT XL Axiata. The ringgit's depreciation against the rupiah also helped to boost revenue, it said.
First-quarter net profit accounted for about half of the RM1.96 billion consensus estimate for the full year.
Axiata said it was on track to meet its financial performance targets for the year ending December 2010.
"A prudent approach focusing on cost management and operational improvements will continue to be the key focus as the group sees execution benefits of such a strategy amid an uncertain environment," the company said in a statement.
Indonesia's XL Axiata and Colombo-listed Dialog Telekom recorded strong revenue growth in the first-quarter.
Axiata owns 67 per cent of XL and 84 per cent of Dialog.
XL expects to overtake rival Indosat this year as the No. 2 mobile phone operator in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, driven by strong subscriber and revenue growth, a senior executive said in March.
Some analysts say high capital requirement demands from Axiata's regional operations may delay its plan to pay out its first dividend since it was demerged from fixed-line operator Telekom Malaysia Bhd in 2008.
India's Idea Cellular, a 20 percent-owned associate, this month won third-generation (3G) spectrum in 11 circles for US$1.3 billion (RM4.3 billion). Idea, India's fifth-biggest mobile operator, currently operates a total 22 circles in India.
Prior to the earnings, 14 of 23 analysts tracked by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S rated Axiata as a "buy", with seven calling it a hold.
Shares of Axiata have gained 21 per cent so far in 2010, compared to the 0.3 per cent loss in the benchmark FBM KLCI. - Reuters
Read more: Overseas sales, one-off gain help lift Axiata profit http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/zata/Article/#ixzz0pBMYUIPk
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MOBILE phone network operator Axiata (6888) yesterday reported better-than-expected first-quarter net profit, helped by higher sales from overseas units and a one-off gain.
Axiata, which owns telco assets in fast-growing Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh and India, net profit rose 14-fold to RM921.5 million for January-March, versus RM63.9 million a year ago.
Axiata's earnings were bolstered by net gains of RM307.5 million from the partial disposal of Indonesia's PT XL Axiata. The ringgit's depreciation against the rupiah also helped to boost revenue, it said.
First-quarter net profit accounted for about half of the RM1.96 billion consensus estimate for the full year.
Axiata said it was on track to meet its financial performance targets for the year ending December 2010.
"A prudent approach focusing on cost management and operational improvements will continue to be the key focus as the group sees execution benefits of such a strategy amid an uncertain environment," the company said in a statement.
Indonesia's XL Axiata and Colombo-listed Dialog Telekom recorded strong revenue growth in the first-quarter.
Axiata owns 67 per cent of XL and 84 per cent of Dialog.
XL expects to overtake rival Indosat this year as the No. 2 mobile phone operator in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, driven by strong subscriber and revenue growth, a senior executive said in March.
Some analysts say high capital requirement demands from Axiata's regional operations may delay its plan to pay out its first dividend since it was demerged from fixed-line operator Telekom Malaysia Bhd in 2008.
India's Idea Cellular, a 20 percent-owned associate, this month won third-generation (3G) spectrum in 11 circles for US$1.3 billion (RM4.3 billion). Idea, India's fifth-biggest mobile operator, currently operates a total 22 circles in India.
Prior to the earnings, 14 of 23 analysts tracked by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S rated Axiata as a "buy", with seven calling it a hold.
Shares of Axiata have gained 21 per cent so far in 2010, compared to the 0.3 per cent loss in the benchmark FBM KLCI. - Reuters
Read more: Overseas sales, one-off gain help lift Axiata profit http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/zata/Article/#ixzz0pBMYUIPk
Celcom to play bigger role in enterprise segment
Published: 2010/05/28
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CELCOM Axiata Bhd foresees good growth in its enterprise segment with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with SME Corp Malaysia to promote a range of customised wireless products and services to its members.
To date, there are about 40,000 SMEs registered under the agency.
"The enterprise segment alone contributes more than 10 per cent to our revenue. We can grow it bigger as the machine-to-machine segment in Malaysia has yet to progress compared with other countries," Celcom Axiata chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly said.
Celcom, he said aims to play a major role in the country's enterprise sector as the segment is far behind than countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
"We also hope to grow the sector as quickly as possible to contribute naturally to our total numbers," he said after the signing ceremony.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
The objective of the MOU was to establish the common desired economy operation in Malaysia and to help the SME community close their communication technology gaps.
Shazalli said this is where Celcom fits in providing SMEs with the best business solutions and services, and at affordable prices.
Meanwhile chairman of SME Corp Datuk Ir Dr Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid said through this private sector collaboration, the communication advantage that had long been held by the bigger players within the industry is now made available to SMEs.
"One of the effects of e-commerce is the leveling of strength among competitors, as smaller companies are able to compete with larger firms in terms of quality and access ibility," he said. - Bernama
Read more: Celcom to play bigger role in enterprise segment http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/celpie/Article/#ixzz0pBKwP7Rg
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CELCOM Axiata Bhd foresees good growth in its enterprise segment with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with SME Corp Malaysia to promote a range of customised wireless products and services to its members.
To date, there are about 40,000 SMEs registered under the agency.
"The enterprise segment alone contributes more than 10 per cent to our revenue. We can grow it bigger as the machine-to-machine segment in Malaysia has yet to progress compared with other countries," Celcom Axiata chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly said.
Celcom, he said aims to play a major role in the country's enterprise sector as the segment is far behind than countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
"We also hope to grow the sector as quickly as possible to contribute naturally to our total numbers," he said after the signing ceremony.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
The objective of the MOU was to establish the common desired economy operation in Malaysia and to help the SME community close their communication technology gaps.
Shazalli said this is where Celcom fits in providing SMEs with the best business solutions and services, and at affordable prices.
Meanwhile chairman of SME Corp Datuk Ir Dr Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid said through this private sector collaboration, the communication advantage that had long been held by the bigger players within the industry is now made available to SMEs.
"One of the effects of e-commerce is the leveling of strength among competitors, as smaller companies are able to compete with larger firms in terms of quality and access ibility," he said. - Bernama
Read more: Celcom to play bigger role in enterprise segment http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/celpie/Article/#ixzz0pBKwP7Rg
Apple passes Microsoft as world's biggest tech co.
Published: Thursday May 27, 2010 MYT 9:08:00 AM
SEATTLE: Apple has surpassed Microsoft as the largest technology company in the world by market capitalization.
Apple's move comes as the company's iPhone, and now its iPad tablet computer, take on more of the personal computing tasks once handled by computers running Microsoft programs.
Market cap is the dollar value of a company's outstanding shares.
During afternoon trading Wednesday, Apple Inc.'s shares rose to $248.47, pushing its market cap up to about $226 billion.
Microsoft Corp.'s stock slipped to $25.49, for market cap of about $223 billion. The only U.S. business with a higher market value is Exxon Mobile Corp.
The oil company's market cap is about $281 billion. - AP
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/27/business/20100527091351&sec=business
SEATTLE: Apple has surpassed Microsoft as the largest technology company in the world by market capitalization.
Apple's move comes as the company's iPhone, and now its iPad tablet computer, take on more of the personal computing tasks once handled by computers running Microsoft programs.
Market cap is the dollar value of a company's outstanding shares.
During afternoon trading Wednesday, Apple Inc.'s shares rose to $248.47, pushing its market cap up to about $226 billion.
Microsoft Corp.'s stock slipped to $25.49, for market cap of about $223 billion. The only U.S. business with a higher market value is Exxon Mobile Corp.
The oil company's market cap is about $281 billion. - AP
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/27/business/20100527091351&sec=business
Apple rampas takhta Microsoft peneraju syarikat teknologi AS
2010/05/27
NEW YORK: Pembangun produk komputer Macintosh, Apple, merampas takhta syarikat teknologi terbesar Amerika Syarikat (AS) dari segi nilai pasarannya daripada gergasi pembangun perisian, Microsoft.
Saham Microsoft merosot 4.07 peratus hari ini, ditutup pada AS$25.01 sehingga menyebabkan penurunan permodalan pasarannya; iaitu jumlah saham tidak berbayar didarabkan dengan harga saham, kepada AS$219.18 bilion. Saham Apple jatuh 0.45 peratus, ditutup AS$244.05, memberikan nilai pasaran kepada AS$222.07 bilion. Satu-satunya syarikat yang memiliki modal pasaran lebih besar berbanding Apple adalah Exxonmobil iaitu pada AS$278.64 bilion.
Saham Apple meningkat dengan stabil beberapa tahun ini, dan sebagai ketua eksekutifnya, Steve Jobs, yang kembali ke Apple pada 1997, menjadi perintis kepada kemunculan produk yang digemari ramai, bermula dengan kemunculan iPod pada 2001, diikuti iPhone pada 2007 dan iPad tahun ini. - AFP
http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/ApplerampastakhtaMicrosoftpenerajusyarikatteknologiAS/Article
NEW YORK: Pembangun produk komputer Macintosh, Apple, merampas takhta syarikat teknologi terbesar Amerika Syarikat (AS) dari segi nilai pasarannya daripada gergasi pembangun perisian, Microsoft.
Saham Microsoft merosot 4.07 peratus hari ini, ditutup pada AS$25.01 sehingga menyebabkan penurunan permodalan pasarannya; iaitu jumlah saham tidak berbayar didarabkan dengan harga saham, kepada AS$219.18 bilion. Saham Apple jatuh 0.45 peratus, ditutup AS$244.05, memberikan nilai pasaran kepada AS$222.07 bilion. Satu-satunya syarikat yang memiliki modal pasaran lebih besar berbanding Apple adalah Exxonmobil iaitu pada AS$278.64 bilion.
Saham Apple meningkat dengan stabil beberapa tahun ini, dan sebagai ketua eksekutifnya, Steve Jobs, yang kembali ke Apple pada 1997, menjadi perintis kepada kemunculan produk yang digemari ramai, bermula dengan kemunculan iPod pada 2001, diikuti iPhone pada 2007 dan iPad tahun ini. - AFP
http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/ApplerampastakhtaMicrosoftpenerajusyarikatteknologiAS/Article
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Green Packet up on SK Telecom deal
Published: 2010/05/27
Share
Green Packet Bhd, a Malaysian wireless Internet services provider, rose the most in almost three months after SK Telecom Co plans to acquire a 25.8 per cent stake in its broadband unit.
The stock climbed 5.3 per cent to 90 sen at 9.47 am local time in Kuala Lumpur trading, set for its steepest gain since March 1. - Bloomberg
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100527100741/Article/index_html
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Green Packet Bhd, a Malaysian wireless Internet services provider, rose the most in almost three months after SK Telecom Co plans to acquire a 25.8 per cent stake in its broadband unit.
The stock climbed 5.3 per cent to 90 sen at 9.47 am local time in Kuala Lumpur trading, set for its steepest gain since March 1. - Bloomberg
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100527100741/Article/index_html
SK Telecom to buy 25pc of Packet One
Published: 2010/05/27
SEOUL: SK Telecom, South Korea’s top mobile carrier, will invest US$100 million in Malaysian wireless broadband firm Packet One (P1) Networks as it seeks overseas expansion in new growth businesses.
SK said in a statement on today it would acquire an about 25 per cent stake in Packet One, a unit of Green Packet Bhd, pending a final contract signing in June.
After seeing little success in its earlier drive to directly enter the mobile business in the United States and China, SK Telecom is shifting focus to business-to-business network services and seeking alliances with Asian operators to tap corporate clients in the region.
Earlier this month the firm agreed to set up a joint venture with Indonesia’s biggest phone company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia.
P1, which pioneered mobile WiMAX broadband service in Malaysia, had 175,000 subscribers as of end-March, according to SK.
DBS Bank was the exclusive financial advisor to SK Telecom on the deal.
Shares in SK Telecom were up 0.32 per cent versus the broader market’s 0.42 per cent. - Reuters
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100527092418/Article/index_html
SEOUL: SK Telecom, South Korea’s top mobile carrier, will invest US$100 million in Malaysian wireless broadband firm Packet One (P1) Networks as it seeks overseas expansion in new growth businesses.
SK said in a statement on today it would acquire an about 25 per cent stake in Packet One, a unit of Green Packet Bhd, pending a final contract signing in June.
After seeing little success in its earlier drive to directly enter the mobile business in the United States and China, SK Telecom is shifting focus to business-to-business network services and seeking alliances with Asian operators to tap corporate clients in the region.
Earlier this month the firm agreed to set up a joint venture with Indonesia’s biggest phone company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia.
P1, which pioneered mobile WiMAX broadband service in Malaysia, had 175,000 subscribers as of end-March, according to SK.
DBS Bank was the exclusive financial advisor to SK Telecom on the deal.
Shares in SK Telecom were up 0.32 per cent versus the broader market’s 0.42 per cent. - Reuters
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100527092418/Article/index_html
Asiaspace: High TM charges prompt network re-engineering
Thestaronline:Thursday May 27, 2010
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Asiaspace Sdn Bhd says Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s (TM) backhaul charges are expensive and as such it is forced to build its own microwave facilities. It expects the shift will cause some instability in its services.
“We are replacing all our metro-E link or backhaul with microwave link, which is much more cheaper and serves the same purpose, so why should we pay more to TM?” Asiaspace chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Abdullah said.
“The re-engineering of our network will cause service interruptions for our users but we have informed them,’’ he said.
The company will not charge users of its Amax service from May 1 till the completion of the network re-engineering. It is spending RM20mil for the backhaul facilities and the vendor is Huawei. It has so far spent RM90mil for its network build-up.
Ghani had in March written to the Information, Communications and Culture Minister to complain about TM’s backhaul rates.
In the letter, he said: “It was inevitable for new players to use TM’s facilities. Here is where the problem is. If TM wants to kill the new players for fear that the newcomers are a threat to TM’s business, TM will impose exorbitant charges. TM is also a wholesaler and retailer.’’
In April, he wrote to the Government, urging it to be forceful in ensuring that the incumbent reduced the cost of backhaul charges to facilitate growth of broadband in the country.
And on May 20, the industry regulator reminded players that access needs to be provided on reasonable terms and they should work towards concluding access agreements and not delay them any further.
Almost all operators in the country have some form of access agreement with the incumbent player, given its vast network.
Asiaspace is not a big player compared with many others but it is one of four players with the prized WiMAX spectrum. It only has 2,000 users and coverage is to limited areas in the Klang Valley. However, Ghani said, 15,000 users had registered with the company pending the coverage expansion to indoor areas.
But why is Asiaspace complaining now when it had earlier agreed to partner TM for backhaul facilities?
“We really did not have a choice when we were negotiating as they are an incumbent and no other player has that kind of network.
“It is something about the way TM’s wholesale department sells the backhaul facilities. Even if we are using half the facilities, we still have to pay full,’’ Ghani said.
TM, in response to queries from StarBiz, said it had “entered into a commercial arrangement with Asiaspace to provide backhaul services (wholesale ethernet). As in all commercial arrangements with other service providers, the price was negotiated and agreed by both parties.
“The backhaul capacity to Asiaspace was provisioned based on their retail service take-up forecast and were arranged on modular basis.
“As the backhaul service provider, TM fulfilled its obligation as set out in the agreement. Unfortunately, Asiaspace failed to honour its obligation on payment to TM. It is unfair to accuse TM of charging high rates when the price has been agreed upon by Asiaspace through proper negotiation process.’’
Asked why Asiaspace had not paid TM, Ghani said: “We were so frustrated with the charges but we will be paying TM for what we have agreed upon.’’
He also denied the company was in trouble.
“We are just re-engineering our network so that our customers will be assured of better quality of services. It is also not true that we have only three people in our office; in fact we have 42 people.
“Yes, we had to let go of some staff with our network configuration programme as we are slowing down but that does not mean we are out of business,’’ Ghani said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/27/business/6348784&sec=business
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Asiaspace Sdn Bhd says Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s (TM) backhaul charges are expensive and as such it is forced to build its own microwave facilities. It expects the shift will cause some instability in its services.
“We are replacing all our metro-E link or backhaul with microwave link, which is much more cheaper and serves the same purpose, so why should we pay more to TM?” Asiaspace chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Abdullah said.
“The re-engineering of our network will cause service interruptions for our users but we have informed them,’’ he said.
The company will not charge users of its Amax service from May 1 till the completion of the network re-engineering. It is spending RM20mil for the backhaul facilities and the vendor is Huawei. It has so far spent RM90mil for its network build-up.
Ghani had in March written to the Information, Communications and Culture Minister to complain about TM’s backhaul rates.
In the letter, he said: “It was inevitable for new players to use TM’s facilities. Here is where the problem is. If TM wants to kill the new players for fear that the newcomers are a threat to TM’s business, TM will impose exorbitant charges. TM is also a wholesaler and retailer.’’
In April, he wrote to the Government, urging it to be forceful in ensuring that the incumbent reduced the cost of backhaul charges to facilitate growth of broadband in the country.
And on May 20, the industry regulator reminded players that access needs to be provided on reasonable terms and they should work towards concluding access agreements and not delay them any further.
Almost all operators in the country have some form of access agreement with the incumbent player, given its vast network.
Asiaspace is not a big player compared with many others but it is one of four players with the prized WiMAX spectrum. It only has 2,000 users and coverage is to limited areas in the Klang Valley. However, Ghani said, 15,000 users had registered with the company pending the coverage expansion to indoor areas.
But why is Asiaspace complaining now when it had earlier agreed to partner TM for backhaul facilities?
“We really did not have a choice when we were negotiating as they are an incumbent and no other player has that kind of network.
“It is something about the way TM’s wholesale department sells the backhaul facilities. Even if we are using half the facilities, we still have to pay full,’’ Ghani said.
TM, in response to queries from StarBiz, said it had “entered into a commercial arrangement with Asiaspace to provide backhaul services (wholesale ethernet). As in all commercial arrangements with other service providers, the price was negotiated and agreed by both parties.
“The backhaul capacity to Asiaspace was provisioned based on their retail service take-up forecast and were arranged on modular basis.
“As the backhaul service provider, TM fulfilled its obligation as set out in the agreement. Unfortunately, Asiaspace failed to honour its obligation on payment to TM. It is unfair to accuse TM of charging high rates when the price has been agreed upon by Asiaspace through proper negotiation process.’’
Asked why Asiaspace had not paid TM, Ghani said: “We were so frustrated with the charges but we will be paying TM for what we have agreed upon.’’
He also denied the company was in trouble.
“We are just re-engineering our network so that our customers will be assured of better quality of services. It is also not true that we have only three people in our office; in fact we have 42 people.
“Yes, we had to let go of some staff with our network configuration programme as we are slowing down but that does not mean we are out of business,’’ Ghani said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/27/business/6348784&sec=business
Celcom tewaskan Softbank
KUALA LUMPUR 26 Mei - Kemampuan luar biasa Celcom Axiata Bhd. (Celcom) kekalkan prestasi pertumbuhan 15 sukuan tahun secara berturut-turut, berjaya mengatasi rekod yang dipegang oleh syarikat telekomunikasi Jepun, Softbank.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly berkata, pencapaian itu meletakkan Celcom bukan sahaja penyedia telekomunikasi nombor satu di Malaysia tetapi juga di rantau ini.
''Kami bukan sekadar mencatatkan pertumbuhan keuntungan semata-mata tetapi berjaya merekodkan pertumbuhan perolehan dan keuntungan selepas cukai dan kepentingan minoriti (PATAMI).
''Bukan semua syarikat mampu mencatatkan prestasi kewangan sebegini tetapi kakitangan Celcom berjaya membuktikannya,'' katanya ketika menyampaikan ucaptama pada Forum Fortune World's Most Admired Companies 2010 di sini hari ini.
Di sebalik kejayaan itu, Shazalli menyifatkan Celcom baru sahaja 'keluar daripada keadaan sukar' dan melaksanakan inisiatif-inisiatif yang dirancang untuk memastikan syarikat telekomunikasi itu meninggalkan jauh para pesaingnya dari seluruh aspek.
Ketika berkongsi pengalamannya dalam mentransformasikan Celcom pada 2005, Shazalli menyifatkan ia merupakan satu tugas yang cukup berat dan mencabar keupayaannya.
Katanya, ketika beliau menerima arahan memimpin syarikat itu, harga saham Celcom bukan sahaja mengalami kejatuhan tetapi tinjauan mendapati 70 peratus daripada 3,800 kakitangannya mahu meninggalkan syarikat berkenaan.
''Cuba bayangkan kalau silap percaturan, saya juga boleh tersingkir,'' ujar beliau.
Bagaimanapun, beliau mengakui inisiatif yang diperkenalkan untuk mentransformasikan Celcom telah berjaya dilaksana dengan pemantauan yang begitu terperinci.
Walaupun syarikat sudah berada pada landasannya, Celcom akan terus memperbaiki momentum untuk memperbaiki prestasi semasa.
Ini kerana, beliau percaya, para pesaingnya turut melaksanakan langkah agresif untuk merampas kedudukan nombor satu yang dipegangnya kini.
''Sebab itu, saya sering menyatakan kepada kakitangan Celcom bahawa syarikat ini masih dalam keadaan 'berperang'.
''Dan untuk memastikan Celcom berjaya dalam peperangan tersebut, kita akan terus memperkenalkan inovasi, seiring dengan keperluan semasa dan memenuhi jangkaan para pelanggan kami,'' tambahnya.
Shazalli menyifatkan kemudahan dan inovasi mudah alih sekarang seumpama 'rokok' yang sentiasa ditagih oleh para penggunanya.
Berikutan itu, tambah beliau, Celcom perlu pantas dalam memperkenalkan inovasi baru bukan sahaja untuk mengekalkan pelanggan sedia ada sebaliknya 'merampas' pelanggan para pesaingnya.
Celcom kini merupakan pemimpin dalam penyedia jalur lebar dengan unjuran pengguna sebanyak 1.2 juta menjelang akhir tahun ini berbanding 600,000 sekarang.
Malah, Shazalli berkata, jualan bagi perkhidmatan kad prabayarnya juga meningkat dengan begitu baik kepada RM11 juta sehari berbanding RM3 juta pada 2005.
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0527&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Korporat&pg=ko_03.htm
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly berkata, pencapaian itu meletakkan Celcom bukan sahaja penyedia telekomunikasi nombor satu di Malaysia tetapi juga di rantau ini.
''Kami bukan sekadar mencatatkan pertumbuhan keuntungan semata-mata tetapi berjaya merekodkan pertumbuhan perolehan dan keuntungan selepas cukai dan kepentingan minoriti (PATAMI).
''Bukan semua syarikat mampu mencatatkan prestasi kewangan sebegini tetapi kakitangan Celcom berjaya membuktikannya,'' katanya ketika menyampaikan ucaptama pada Forum Fortune World's Most Admired Companies 2010 di sini hari ini.
Di sebalik kejayaan itu, Shazalli menyifatkan Celcom baru sahaja 'keluar daripada keadaan sukar' dan melaksanakan inisiatif-inisiatif yang dirancang untuk memastikan syarikat telekomunikasi itu meninggalkan jauh para pesaingnya dari seluruh aspek.
Ketika berkongsi pengalamannya dalam mentransformasikan Celcom pada 2005, Shazalli menyifatkan ia merupakan satu tugas yang cukup berat dan mencabar keupayaannya.
Katanya, ketika beliau menerima arahan memimpin syarikat itu, harga saham Celcom bukan sahaja mengalami kejatuhan tetapi tinjauan mendapati 70 peratus daripada 3,800 kakitangannya mahu meninggalkan syarikat berkenaan.
''Cuba bayangkan kalau silap percaturan, saya juga boleh tersingkir,'' ujar beliau.
Bagaimanapun, beliau mengakui inisiatif yang diperkenalkan untuk mentransformasikan Celcom telah berjaya dilaksana dengan pemantauan yang begitu terperinci.
Walaupun syarikat sudah berada pada landasannya, Celcom akan terus memperbaiki momentum untuk memperbaiki prestasi semasa.
Ini kerana, beliau percaya, para pesaingnya turut melaksanakan langkah agresif untuk merampas kedudukan nombor satu yang dipegangnya kini.
''Sebab itu, saya sering menyatakan kepada kakitangan Celcom bahawa syarikat ini masih dalam keadaan 'berperang'.
''Dan untuk memastikan Celcom berjaya dalam peperangan tersebut, kita akan terus memperkenalkan inovasi, seiring dengan keperluan semasa dan memenuhi jangkaan para pelanggan kami,'' tambahnya.
Shazalli menyifatkan kemudahan dan inovasi mudah alih sekarang seumpama 'rokok' yang sentiasa ditagih oleh para penggunanya.
Berikutan itu, tambah beliau, Celcom perlu pantas dalam memperkenalkan inovasi baru bukan sahaja untuk mengekalkan pelanggan sedia ada sebaliknya 'merampas' pelanggan para pesaingnya.
Celcom kini merupakan pemimpin dalam penyedia jalur lebar dengan unjuran pengguna sebanyak 1.2 juta menjelang akhir tahun ini berbanding 600,000 sekarang.
Malah, Shazalli berkata, jualan bagi perkhidmatan kad prabayarnya juga meningkat dengan begitu baik kepada RM11 juta sehari berbanding RM3 juta pada 2005.
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0527&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Korporat&pg=ko_03.htm
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Yahoo! beli firma internet Indonesia
2010/05/26
FIRMA enjin carian Yahoo! mengambil alih Koprol, iaitu perkhidmatan internet Indonesia yang membolehkan orang ramai menggunakan telefon mudah alih untuk mengesan individu dan tempat dengan segera.
“Pengguna semakin bergantung kepada peralatan mudah alih untuk berkomunikasi serta mengakses internet dan mereka kini melihat integrasi lancar antara peralatan itu dan komputer,” kata Naib Presiden Kanan Rantau Asia Yahoo!, Rose Tsou. “Koprol dibangunkan secara unik untuk telefon mudah alih dan dalam tempoh setahun sudah mempunyai asas pengguna yang kukuh,” katanya. Yahoo! merancang menggunakan kehadiran globalnya untuk memperkenalkan Koprol yang berpangkalan di Jakarta ke bahagian lain di dunia.
Terma kewangan bagi pengambilalihan itu bagaimanapun tidak didedahkan.
Koprol membolehkan pengguna ‘masuk’ ke beberapa lokasi menggunakan pelayar web di telefon mudah alih dan kemudian melihat sama ada pengguna lain berada berhampiran serta apa yang sedang dilakukan.
Fungsinya adalah serupa dengan rangkaian sosial berpangkalan di Amerika Syarikat, Foursquare dan Gowalla.
Pengguna Koprol boleh berkongsi tips, reviu, gambar dan maklumat lain pada masa sebenar dengan pengguna lain yang berhampiran.
Koprol menyediakan tips mengenai perniagaan tempatan seperti kedai atau restoran popular berdasarkan penarafan yang diberi oleh pengguna termasuk ciri-ciri ‘cemerlang’ yang meletakkan tempat digemari ke kedudukan teratas dalam senarai.
Pengguna perkhidmatan itu juga boleh memulakan atau menyertai perbincangan berdasarkan lokasi tertentu dan menjemput rakan untuk menyertainya.
“Kami gembira untuk menyertai Yahoo! dan melihat ke depan peluang menjadi sebahagian daripada peneraju internet global,” kata pengasas bersama Koprol, Fajar Budiprasetyo. – AFP
http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/Yahoo_belifirmainternetIndonesia/Article
FIRMA enjin carian Yahoo! mengambil alih Koprol, iaitu perkhidmatan internet Indonesia yang membolehkan orang ramai menggunakan telefon mudah alih untuk mengesan individu dan tempat dengan segera.
“Pengguna semakin bergantung kepada peralatan mudah alih untuk berkomunikasi serta mengakses internet dan mereka kini melihat integrasi lancar antara peralatan itu dan komputer,” kata Naib Presiden Kanan Rantau Asia Yahoo!, Rose Tsou. “Koprol dibangunkan secara unik untuk telefon mudah alih dan dalam tempoh setahun sudah mempunyai asas pengguna yang kukuh,” katanya. Yahoo! merancang menggunakan kehadiran globalnya untuk memperkenalkan Koprol yang berpangkalan di Jakarta ke bahagian lain di dunia.
Terma kewangan bagi pengambilalihan itu bagaimanapun tidak didedahkan.
Koprol membolehkan pengguna ‘masuk’ ke beberapa lokasi menggunakan pelayar web di telefon mudah alih dan kemudian melihat sama ada pengguna lain berada berhampiran serta apa yang sedang dilakukan.
Fungsinya adalah serupa dengan rangkaian sosial berpangkalan di Amerika Syarikat, Foursquare dan Gowalla.
Pengguna Koprol boleh berkongsi tips, reviu, gambar dan maklumat lain pada masa sebenar dengan pengguna lain yang berhampiran.
Koprol menyediakan tips mengenai perniagaan tempatan seperti kedai atau restoran popular berdasarkan penarafan yang diberi oleh pengguna termasuk ciri-ciri ‘cemerlang’ yang meletakkan tempat digemari ke kedudukan teratas dalam senarai.
Pengguna perkhidmatan itu juga boleh memulakan atau menyertai perbincangan berdasarkan lokasi tertentu dan menjemput rakan untuk menyertainya.
“Kami gembira untuk menyertai Yahoo! dan melihat ke depan peluang menjadi sebahagian daripada peneraju internet global,” kata pengasas bersama Koprol, Fajar Budiprasetyo. – AFP
http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/Yahoo_belifirmainternetIndonesia/Article
Google reveals more about its income
Published: Wednesday May 26, 2010 MYT 7:33:00 AM
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California: Google has pulled back another curtain and revealed the size of its lucrative Internet ad network in the U.S.
It spans more than 1.5 million advertisers and Web sites.
The Associated Press calculated the figure from a state-by-state breakdown of Google Inc.'s operations that the company released Tuesday.
It marks the second time in two days that Google has shared previously unknown details about the marketing channel that generates most of its revenue.
The Internet search leader spelled out the commissions that it pays its ad partners for the first time Monday.
The greater transparency is occurring amid increasing regulatory, political and legal scrutiny of the power that Google has amassed while building the Internet's most profitable ad network around the Web's most popular search engine.
Tuesday's breakdown came as part of Google's attempt to quantify its economic impact in the U.S.
The snapshot also revealed that Google has at least 12,200 workers in the U.S., primarily in California, New York and Washington state.
The company employs 20,600 people worldwide.
Google's U.S. work force is probably even larger than what was listed in the report because the company didn't specify how many employees it has in offices or data centers in six states: Iowa, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina and Wisconsin. - AP
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/26/business/20100526073759&sec=business
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California: Google has pulled back another curtain and revealed the size of its lucrative Internet ad network in the U.S.
It spans more than 1.5 million advertisers and Web sites.
The Associated Press calculated the figure from a state-by-state breakdown of Google Inc.'s operations that the company released Tuesday.
It marks the second time in two days that Google has shared previously unknown details about the marketing channel that generates most of its revenue.
The Internet search leader spelled out the commissions that it pays its ad partners for the first time Monday.
The greater transparency is occurring amid increasing regulatory, political and legal scrutiny of the power that Google has amassed while building the Internet's most profitable ad network around the Web's most popular search engine.
Tuesday's breakdown came as part of Google's attempt to quantify its economic impact in the U.S.
The snapshot also revealed that Google has at least 12,200 workers in the U.S., primarily in California, New York and Washington state.
The company employs 20,600 people worldwide.
Google's U.S. work force is probably even larger than what was listed in the report because the company didn't specify how many employees it has in offices or data centers in six states: Iowa, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina and Wisconsin. - AP
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/26/business/20100526073759&sec=business
China Telecom expects lower revenue
Wednesday May 26, 2010
HONG KONG: China Telecom, the country’s largest fixed-line operator, says it expects this year’s fall in fixed-line revenue to be similar to what it saw in 2009, as users continue to migrate to mobile services.
Like many of their peers in developed economies, telecommunications operators in China have been trying to attract new users to their mobile and data services as voice income falls in an increasingly saturated market.
China Telecom’s overall wire-line revenue fell 3.2% last year to 172.6 billion yuan (US$25bil), led by an 18.5% fall in wire-line voice services, which accounted for 45% of the total. — Reuters
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/26/business/6336029&sec=business
HONG KONG: China Telecom, the country’s largest fixed-line operator, says it expects this year’s fall in fixed-line revenue to be similar to what it saw in 2009, as users continue to migrate to mobile services.
Like many of their peers in developed economies, telecommunications operators in China have been trying to attract new users to their mobile and data services as voice income falls in an increasingly saturated market.
China Telecom’s overall wire-line revenue fell 3.2% last year to 172.6 billion yuan (US$25bil), led by an 18.5% fall in wire-line voice services, which accounted for 45% of the total. — Reuters
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/26/business/6336029&sec=business
Analysts: No surprises seen in Q1 telco results
Wednesday May 26, 2010
By LEONG HUNG YEE
hungyee@thestar.com.my
FIFA World Cup likely to boost earnings in the third quarter
PETALING JAYA: Amid intense competition in the local telecommunications industry, telcos' upcoming first-quarter results are likely to be within analysts' expectations.
Analysts said Axiata Group Bhd may report better net profit in the first quarter of 2010, helped by its subsidiaries in Indonesia and Celcom Axiata Bhd, while Maxis Bhd's performance would be mostly within expectations.
So far, only DiGi.Com Bhd has reported its results. DiGi achieved a net profit of RM278.2mil, or 35.80 sen per share, on revenue of RM1.29bil for the first quarter ended March 31.
Axiata and Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) are due to release their financial results for the three months ended March 31 on Thursday. Maxis is expected to announce its results on May 31.
An analyst said DiGi's results indicated that despite the stiff competition, profit margin was still healthy although it was being squeeze.
“We believe the telcos enjoyed higher profits in the first quarter of 2010, thanks to festivities and wireless broadband on the back of an improving economy.
“We do not expect nasty surprises and also do not rule out a better-than-expected results from Axiata,” the analyst said.
RHB Research Institute said in a report Axiata was likely to report a strong first-quarter performance.
“We believe Axiata's first quarter to March 31 result is likely to come in stronger on a year-on-year basis, underpinned by stronger-than-expected first-quarter performances at XL Axiata and Dialog; rupiah that has strengthened against ringgit and its low base effect.”
The brokerage expects Axiata's first-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) margin to improve marginally year-on-year, underpinned by a higher ebitda margin at XL Axiata that is likely to be partly offset by lower ebitda margin at Celcom.
Another analyst, who said Axiata was a regional growth story, expects telcos' results to come largely within market expectations.
He said the telcos were in stiff competition for new customers as the market was approaching maturity and expects net subscriber addition to be marginal.
The analyst was less optimistic on TM in light of surging competition in broadband market, erosion of fixed-line revenue and uncertainty over the take up of high-speed broadband.
However, he said the newly launched UniFi service would see some net subscriber addition for TM.
The analyst said the FIFA World Cup was expected to boost telcos' earnings in the third quarter due to potential rise in call minutes, SMS traffic and demand for data services during the football season.
On Maxis, analysts generally believe the telco's first-quarter results will be within expectations.
They expect Maxis to maintain its ebitda margins due to ongoing cost-control measures. However, they said the risk for Maxis would be a weaker-than-expected net subscriber addition.
According to Bloomberg analysts consensus, Axiata's and Maxis' estimated net profit for the current financial year ending Dec 31 may rise to RM1.9bil and RM2.4bil respectively. TM is expected to report RM535mil for the full year.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/26/business/6336601&sec=business
By LEONG HUNG YEE
hungyee@thestar.com.my
FIFA World Cup likely to boost earnings in the third quarter
PETALING JAYA: Amid intense competition in the local telecommunications industry, telcos' upcoming first-quarter results are likely to be within analysts' expectations.
Analysts said Axiata Group Bhd may report better net profit in the first quarter of 2010, helped by its subsidiaries in Indonesia and Celcom Axiata Bhd, while Maxis Bhd's performance would be mostly within expectations.
So far, only DiGi.Com Bhd has reported its results. DiGi achieved a net profit of RM278.2mil, or 35.80 sen per share, on revenue of RM1.29bil for the first quarter ended March 31.
Axiata and Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) are due to release their financial results for the three months ended March 31 on Thursday. Maxis is expected to announce its results on May 31.
An analyst said DiGi's results indicated that despite the stiff competition, profit margin was still healthy although it was being squeeze.
“We believe the telcos enjoyed higher profits in the first quarter of 2010, thanks to festivities and wireless broadband on the back of an improving economy.
“We do not expect nasty surprises and also do not rule out a better-than-expected results from Axiata,” the analyst said.
RHB Research Institute said in a report Axiata was likely to report a strong first-quarter performance.
“We believe Axiata's first quarter to March 31 result is likely to come in stronger on a year-on-year basis, underpinned by stronger-than-expected first-quarter performances at XL Axiata and Dialog; rupiah that has strengthened against ringgit and its low base effect.”
The brokerage expects Axiata's first-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) margin to improve marginally year-on-year, underpinned by a higher ebitda margin at XL Axiata that is likely to be partly offset by lower ebitda margin at Celcom.
Another analyst, who said Axiata was a regional growth story, expects telcos' results to come largely within market expectations.
He said the telcos were in stiff competition for new customers as the market was approaching maturity and expects net subscriber addition to be marginal.
The analyst was less optimistic on TM in light of surging competition in broadband market, erosion of fixed-line revenue and uncertainty over the take up of high-speed broadband.
However, he said the newly launched UniFi service would see some net subscriber addition for TM.
The analyst said the FIFA World Cup was expected to boost telcos' earnings in the third quarter due to potential rise in call minutes, SMS traffic and demand for data services during the football season.
On Maxis, analysts generally believe the telco's first-quarter results will be within expectations.
They expect Maxis to maintain its ebitda margins due to ongoing cost-control measures. However, they said the risk for Maxis would be a weaker-than-expected net subscriber addition.
According to Bloomberg analysts consensus, Axiata's and Maxis' estimated net profit for the current financial year ending Dec 31 may rise to RM1.9bil and RM2.4bil respectively. TM is expected to report RM535mil for the full year.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/26/business/6336601&sec=business
Monday, May 24, 2010
Online - Speed Rules
thestaronline: Saturday April 10, 2010
By LEONG HUNG YEE
hungyee@thestar.com.my
CONSUMERS demand Internet services but generally they do not care how it is delivered.
The technology can be GSM, WiMax, CDMA, WCDMA or HSDPA, but what they want is a steady and reliant broadband connection without any interruption, while at the same time, one that comes with some speed for downloads. Most Internet users would be content with that.
While none of those around me uses dial-up or narrowband anymore, just flashback to the old school connection, 56kbps dial-up which is noisy during dialling. It can be a very frustrating experience as one might need to make several attempts to get connected.
Broadband, however, is generally all about the synergy displayed by a modem and a high speed copper or cable line to realise faster Internet access speeds.
An industry player says another advantage of the advanced broadband service over the older dial-up service is its splitting of the voice and data (phone and Internet) services using a splitter to enable the consumer to use both the services at the same time.
“Above all, broadband Internet connections give faster delivery starting from 256kbps, which is ideal for downloading heavy files such as music and video and online games. On the other hand, dial-up connections are sufficient for just surfing the Internet or checking emails,” he says.
Using the highway as an analogy, he says, narrowband is like a one-lane highway whereby only one car can travel at a time. However, with broadband, it is like having a highway with four or six lanes, allowing more traffic to pass concurrently.
Today, we have far more newer technology that equips us with faster and better Internet access than a decade ago. Consumers have even greater choices to access the Internet that prompted service providers to compete against each other to capture more market share. All local service providers are having one promotion after another, to attract users.
There are a few types of broadband connections available, some are faster than others, and some are more expensive.
There are various technologies behind broadband access. Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL), cable and wireless are some of the of broadband connection types available in the country. Other new technologies such as Telekom Malaysia Bhd's (TM) UniFi fibre-optic broadband and Time dotCom's Time Fibre Broadband, are now adding to consumer's choice for higher-speed Internet connections.
TM group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa says technology will keep advancing and the latest technology is fibre-optics. He adds that copper cable will still be used in other places.
“Basically, it provides us with better Internet connection especially with the high speed broadband as well as better user experience,” an industry player says when asked what all these technologies meant to us.
“They (consumers) don't care if it's Maxis Bhd's wireless broadband, Celcom Axiata Bhd's broadband, DiGi.Com Bhd's broadband, PI Wimax or TM's UniFi, only that it is available and affordable,” he adds.
He says the average Internet users do not care whether it is only 1Mbps, and not 20Mbps, or that the latency is 250 milliseconds instead of 60, unless they do a lot of heavy downloads.
The current fastest available broadband speed for the general public offered by TM is 4Mbps.
“The 4Mbps is still high speed Internet in my book, and most Internet users would be content with that. However, consumers may take a look at the latest 5Mbps basic package for UniFi. The whole package does look very attractive to a lot of users who have been subscribing to the 4Mbps or 2Mbps packages,” the analyst says.
Currently, all 3G players like Maxis, Celcom, DiGi and U Mobile Sdn Bhd offer affordable broadband services starting from RM38 a month. The rate can be as low as RM6 on a daily basis.
An industry player says wireless broadband coverage varies by region. “Just like phone coverage, it will be weaker or even unavailable if you're accessing Internet in rural areas and in underground locations.”
Another industry player says even if you have the most advanced modem or if you are living in an area where broadband coverage is at its peak, it is unlikely that you will receive the maximum speed advertised by your provider.
“The distance from your house to the mobile pole, trees, buildings and other structures between your location and the pole, as well as the number of 3G network users within your neighbourhood will affect the speed of your connection,' he explains.
Apart from the mobile players, WiMax providers like Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd (P1), REDtone International Bhdand Asiaspace Sdn Bhd offer wireless broadband services.
Currently, P1 has the widest WiMax rollout nationwide, while REDtone has services in parts of Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Asiaspace has coverage of 70 to 80 locations in the Klang Valley.
YTL Communications Bhd is planning for a commercial nationwide rollout of a 4G WiMax wireless service in July.
Analysts says the more popular option among the youth are wireless broadband as they could move about and yet stay connected.
An analyst says the true battle isn't between the competing existing connection type, but between wireless and wired broadband. He wonders if TM will provide free dial-up service to the nation given that the telco is now moving to a higher speed.
“The performance and capabilities of new technology will only get better over time, and will represent a direct competitive threat to the existing broadband services.
“People will make a choice, just like today when people are disconnecting their wired lines for voice opting for mobile phone,” he says, adding that all service providers need to beef up their services and coverage given the extensive choice consumers have now.
Zamzamzairani believes that it is vital to educate the general public of the benefits of the Internet.
“Internet is a window to make the world smaller,” he says.
With today's modern world where businesses rely on the Internet for everyday communications and worldwide access, broadband and other high-speed technologies present consumers and businesses an expedient way to hook up to the Internet.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/10/business/6020350&sec=business
By LEONG HUNG YEE
hungyee@thestar.com.my
CONSUMERS demand Internet services but generally they do not care how it is delivered.
The technology can be GSM, WiMax, CDMA, WCDMA or HSDPA, but what they want is a steady and reliant broadband connection without any interruption, while at the same time, one that comes with some speed for downloads. Most Internet users would be content with that.
While none of those around me uses dial-up or narrowband anymore, just flashback to the old school connection, 56kbps dial-up which is noisy during dialling. It can be a very frustrating experience as one might need to make several attempts to get connected.
Broadband, however, is generally all about the synergy displayed by a modem and a high speed copper or cable line to realise faster Internet access speeds.
An industry player says another advantage of the advanced broadband service over the older dial-up service is its splitting of the voice and data (phone and Internet) services using a splitter to enable the consumer to use both the services at the same time.
“Above all, broadband Internet connections give faster delivery starting from 256kbps, which is ideal for downloading heavy files such as music and video and online games. On the other hand, dial-up connections are sufficient for just surfing the Internet or checking emails,” he says.
Using the highway as an analogy, he says, narrowband is like a one-lane highway whereby only one car can travel at a time. However, with broadband, it is like having a highway with four or six lanes, allowing more traffic to pass concurrently.
Today, we have far more newer technology that equips us with faster and better Internet access than a decade ago. Consumers have even greater choices to access the Internet that prompted service providers to compete against each other to capture more market share. All local service providers are having one promotion after another, to attract users.
There are a few types of broadband connections available, some are faster than others, and some are more expensive.
There are various technologies behind broadband access. Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL), cable and wireless are some of the of broadband connection types available in the country. Other new technologies such as Telekom Malaysia Bhd's (TM) UniFi fibre-optic broadband and Time dotCom's Time Fibre Broadband, are now adding to consumer's choice for higher-speed Internet connections.
TM group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa says technology will keep advancing and the latest technology is fibre-optics. He adds that copper cable will still be used in other places.
“Basically, it provides us with better Internet connection especially with the high speed broadband as well as better user experience,” an industry player says when asked what all these technologies meant to us.
“They (consumers) don't care if it's Maxis Bhd's wireless broadband, Celcom Axiata Bhd's broadband, DiGi.Com Bhd's broadband, PI Wimax or TM's UniFi, only that it is available and affordable,” he adds.
He says the average Internet users do not care whether it is only 1Mbps, and not 20Mbps, or that the latency is 250 milliseconds instead of 60, unless they do a lot of heavy downloads.
The current fastest available broadband speed for the general public offered by TM is 4Mbps.
“The 4Mbps is still high speed Internet in my book, and most Internet users would be content with that. However, consumers may take a look at the latest 5Mbps basic package for UniFi. The whole package does look very attractive to a lot of users who have been subscribing to the 4Mbps or 2Mbps packages,” the analyst says.
Currently, all 3G players like Maxis, Celcom, DiGi and U Mobile Sdn Bhd offer affordable broadband services starting from RM38 a month. The rate can be as low as RM6 on a daily basis.
An industry player says wireless broadband coverage varies by region. “Just like phone coverage, it will be weaker or even unavailable if you're accessing Internet in rural areas and in underground locations.”
Another industry player says even if you have the most advanced modem or if you are living in an area where broadband coverage is at its peak, it is unlikely that you will receive the maximum speed advertised by your provider.
“The distance from your house to the mobile pole, trees, buildings and other structures between your location and the pole, as well as the number of 3G network users within your neighbourhood will affect the speed of your connection,' he explains.
Apart from the mobile players, WiMax providers like Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd (P1), REDtone International Bhdand Asiaspace Sdn Bhd offer wireless broadband services.
Currently, P1 has the widest WiMax rollout nationwide, while REDtone has services in parts of Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Asiaspace has coverage of 70 to 80 locations in the Klang Valley.
YTL Communications Bhd is planning for a commercial nationwide rollout of a 4G WiMax wireless service in July.
Analysts says the more popular option among the youth are wireless broadband as they could move about and yet stay connected.
An analyst says the true battle isn't between the competing existing connection type, but between wireless and wired broadband. He wonders if TM will provide free dial-up service to the nation given that the telco is now moving to a higher speed.
“The performance and capabilities of new technology will only get better over time, and will represent a direct competitive threat to the existing broadband services.
“People will make a choice, just like today when people are disconnecting their wired lines for voice opting for mobile phone,” he says, adding that all service providers need to beef up their services and coverage given the extensive choice consumers have now.
Zamzamzairani believes that it is vital to educate the general public of the benefits of the Internet.
“Internet is a window to make the world smaller,” he says.
With today's modern world where businesses rely on the Internet for everyday communications and worldwide access, broadband and other high-speed technologies present consumers and businesses an expedient way to hook up to the Internet.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/10/business/6020350&sec=business
Voice, video and data convergence has finally arrived in Malaysia
Saturday April 10, 2010
By YVONNE TAN
yvonne@thestar.com.my
FINALLY, all that convergence is here. There will be more as technology moves along. Malaysia has finally caught on the global trend and joined a handful of countries on a platform that has been much hyped and talked about, where voice, video and data converge.
Last month, Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) made its foray into the triple play scene with its offering known as UniFi. This makes it the first “official” triple-play player in the country.
A triple-play network is one in which voice, video and data are all provided in a single access subscription, where the house telephone provides the voice, and when connected to the computer, serves as a TV and at the same time, provides the data. In short, a three-in-one.
Globally, telecommunication companies have been moving into triple play typically to mitigate the flat revenues from fixed-line networks and to retain customers as competition heats up.
In 2003, the Hong Kong Broadband Network, the broadband subsidiary of Hong Kong telecoms upstart City Telecom launched its pay-TV service marking the completion of its planned triple-play strategy of offering voice, video and broadband Internet access services.
In Singapore, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) opted for triple play in January 2007.
TM recently signed agreements with 20 content providers to offer content for its soon-to-be launched IPTV or Internet protocol TV, which is basically TV on the Internet.
IPTV's strength is its ability to offer services with high availability, quality and interactivity, says TM group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa in a recent interview with StarBizWeek.
A quick recap. UniFi's recently unveiled packages are priced at RM149, RM199 and RM249 per month and come with high-speed broadband, IPTV, free voice calls and some other offerings.
But because the packages cannot come “unbundled”, meaning consumers have to take what is offered without an a la carte option, some analysts have said that they are expecting limited take-up.
But that remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, while TM is the official incumbent, some of the other celcos are also well positioned to offer triple play services.
For example, Maxis Communications Bhd, the country's largest celco by subscriber base, currently offers Maxis TV via its tie- up with Astro TV. It has the makings of a triple play service provider.
At Celcom Axiata Bhd, the potential to offer triple play is there by virtue of its link to sister company TM.
Axiata president and CEO Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim, commenting on triple play, says: “The jury's still out on its potential.
Currently, the potential is still much focused on mobile broadband. TV is not critical, but TV content via mobile 3G is,” he says.
Newest 3G kid on the block, U Mobile Sdn Bhd which is controlled by tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, is another potential triple play candidate, given that Tan had once owned a TV station via his U Mobile (formerly MiTV Corp Sdn Bhd),
YTL Corp Bhd managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh says its subsidiary YTL Communications is on track for the rollout of its 4G services, by year-end.
“We are beta-testing it now,” Yeoh tells StarBizWeek.
Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd recently said it would use its newly-obtained RM50mil loan to further roll out its 4G network infrastructure nationwide
The 4G network is broadband connection with speed of up to one gigabyte per second and will enable speedier access for downloads and so on.
Such networks will enhance the advent of triple play services.
TM's Zamzamzairani says he believes “a lot more companies” can be its competitor due to the rapid changes in the broadband ecosystem and technology sphere.
“I think a lot of people can be our competitor now ... because of the convergence; the entire industry is an ecosystem,” he says.
Analysts, meanwhile, are all-out for encouraging triple play in Malaysia.
“The future is in triple play, the prospects of pure play providers appear limited as customers become more sophisticated and price-discerning, ” says one senior telco analyst.
In a September 2009 industry report released by India's Aarkstore Enterprises, a global market research provider, it is forecast that there would be 64 million IPTV subscribers by the end of 2012, an almost six-fold increase over 2007 levels, a reflection of the growing sophisticated trend globally. Zamzamzairani says the level of content in Malaysia is evolving.
“There won't be an end game. We'll be bringing in more interactive content. So long as Hollywood and Bollywood still spin, we'll add more content.
“One of the main challenges is to make sure consumers get what we promised. Customer expectations are changing fast and they are becoming very sophisticated,” adds Zamzamzairani.
For now, consumers should sit back, relax and wait for the competition to create a lot more offerings.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/10/business/6021983&sec=business
By YVONNE TAN
yvonne@thestar.com.my
FINALLY, all that convergence is here. There will be more as technology moves along. Malaysia has finally caught on the global trend and joined a handful of countries on a platform that has been much hyped and talked about, where voice, video and data converge.
Last month, Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) made its foray into the triple play scene with its offering known as UniFi. This makes it the first “official” triple-play player in the country.
A triple-play network is one in which voice, video and data are all provided in a single access subscription, where the house telephone provides the voice, and when connected to the computer, serves as a TV and at the same time, provides the data. In short, a three-in-one.
Globally, telecommunication companies have been moving into triple play typically to mitigate the flat revenues from fixed-line networks and to retain customers as competition heats up.
In 2003, the Hong Kong Broadband Network, the broadband subsidiary of Hong Kong telecoms upstart City Telecom launched its pay-TV service marking the completion of its planned triple-play strategy of offering voice, video and broadband Internet access services.
In Singapore, Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) opted for triple play in January 2007.
TM recently signed agreements with 20 content providers to offer content for its soon-to-be launched IPTV or Internet protocol TV, which is basically TV on the Internet.
IPTV's strength is its ability to offer services with high availability, quality and interactivity, says TM group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa in a recent interview with StarBizWeek.
A quick recap. UniFi's recently unveiled packages are priced at RM149, RM199 and RM249 per month and come with high-speed broadband, IPTV, free voice calls and some other offerings.
But because the packages cannot come “unbundled”, meaning consumers have to take what is offered without an a la carte option, some analysts have said that they are expecting limited take-up.
But that remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, while TM is the official incumbent, some of the other celcos are also well positioned to offer triple play services.
For example, Maxis Communications Bhd, the country's largest celco by subscriber base, currently offers Maxis TV via its tie- up with Astro TV. It has the makings of a triple play service provider.
At Celcom Axiata Bhd, the potential to offer triple play is there by virtue of its link to sister company TM.
Axiata president and CEO Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim, commenting on triple play, says: “The jury's still out on its potential.
Currently, the potential is still much focused on mobile broadband. TV is not critical, but TV content via mobile 3G is,” he says.
Newest 3G kid on the block, U Mobile Sdn Bhd which is controlled by tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, is another potential triple play candidate, given that Tan had once owned a TV station via his U Mobile (formerly MiTV Corp Sdn Bhd),
YTL Corp Bhd managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh says its subsidiary YTL Communications is on track for the rollout of its 4G services, by year-end.
“We are beta-testing it now,” Yeoh tells StarBizWeek.
Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd recently said it would use its newly-obtained RM50mil loan to further roll out its 4G network infrastructure nationwide
The 4G network is broadband connection with speed of up to one gigabyte per second and will enable speedier access for downloads and so on.
Such networks will enhance the advent of triple play services.
TM's Zamzamzairani says he believes “a lot more companies” can be its competitor due to the rapid changes in the broadband ecosystem and technology sphere.
“I think a lot of people can be our competitor now ... because of the convergence; the entire industry is an ecosystem,” he says.
Analysts, meanwhile, are all-out for encouraging triple play in Malaysia.
“The future is in triple play, the prospects of pure play providers appear limited as customers become more sophisticated and price-discerning, ” says one senior telco analyst.
In a September 2009 industry report released by India's Aarkstore Enterprises, a global market research provider, it is forecast that there would be 64 million IPTV subscribers by the end of 2012, an almost six-fold increase over 2007 levels, a reflection of the growing sophisticated trend globally. Zamzamzairani says the level of content in Malaysia is evolving.
“There won't be an end game. We'll be bringing in more interactive content. So long as Hollywood and Bollywood still spin, we'll add more content.
“One of the main challenges is to make sure consumers get what we promised. Customer expectations are changing fast and they are becoming very sophisticated,” adds Zamzamzairani.
For now, consumers should sit back, relax and wait for the competition to create a lot more offerings.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/10/business/6021983&sec=business
Connectivity to Speed Up National Growth
thestaronline:Saturday April 10, 2010
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
IS your broadband service really as fast as advertised? In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), equivalent to our industry regulator the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has a new tool that allows users to test the download and upload speeds of their broadband connections, which is then reported back to the FCC.
This is for both landline-based broadband connections and those with smartphones, the iPhone and Androids. A week after FCC announced the new gadget, about 150,000 people in the United States had stories to tell how their connections were doing. The purpose of the tool and the project to consolidate the information was to educate consumers about whether they are getting the service they are paying for, and hopefully to highlight areas where advertised speeds may fall short, the FCC said.
This is a process of transparency and a move to eliminate confusion, and since it is real time information, it is a channel for the regulator to track the services across the country.
Broadband speed tests have been around for a long time. Back here in Malaysia, Internet speeds may not be as promised.
And so let's be honest. Speed, pricing and quality are the three big issues affecting our broadband industry.
Nonethessless, we have recently moved up a few notches with the entry of high speed broadband (HSBB) services. Should we then take it that the era of short-changing users, choked networks and users suffering downtime is a thing of the past?
Enter fast speed broadband
A dream pipe that can carry more data, voice and images that was conceptualised a few years ago is now firmly planted in the ground. Unfortunately only a small pocket of users can access it for now. This new pipe or fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connection, which carries HSBB services, is able to deliver fast down- and uplink connectivity with data speeds from 1Megabits per second (Mbps) to 50 Mbps. In a blink of an eye you can download heavy files and even a movie!
The landmark launch of UniFi was on March 24.
The connectivity is via fibre-optics and that marks the beginning of the end of the copper era. The pipe opens new opportunities for new and old players, and expands revenue streams for existing players. The once-flat revenue of fixed line voice business is expected to change with fast speed broadband.
With Malaysia trying to turn into a k-economy, the pipe is vital. The business sector gets a lift with faster connectivity and that makes Malaysia more competitive.
In essence, this dream pipe heralds a new era of fast connectivity and a change in the broadband landscape. With that, comes a host of challenges and opportunities, which excite Telekom Malaysia Bhd group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa. For one, he can expect fixed line broadband revenues to rise and TM gets entry into new areas of business which it could have only dreamed about a decade ago.
“This is the first time we can have triple play in this country,'' he says. Triple play is essentially a single access subscription that provides video, voice and data.
For him the “transformation process for TM'' has begun. But it is not just TM. The transformation gives the country the needed push in speeds from 1-50Mbps.
When UniFi roll-out is complete, Zamzamzairani says TM will have a single IP (Internet protocol) platform that is more efficient, capable for delivery of a variety of new services and fast speeds. UniFi is TM's branding for its HSBB.
Even the Government wanted a share of the pie and committed the RM2.4bil investment in UniFi. Thus far, it has put in RM990mil into the project and TM RM1.9bil.
TM's portion of the UniFi is RM8.9bil, bringing the total cost to RM11.3bil, where 1.3 million premises passed gets the fast access over three years ending 2011. TM says it already has 900 customers on its UniFi network.
But let's not forget that TM's rival, Time dotCom Bhd (TDC) was the first to roll out FTTH in Mont Kiara weeks before UniFi was launched. It is only one area but TM's UniFi is available in four areas - Bangsar, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam - in the Klang Valley.
TM and TDC are not the only two players in the game. Over on the east coast, Kuantan seems to be a favourite spot for Jalur Lebar Nasional Sdn Bhd (Jalenas), which is rolling FTTH too. Jalenas claims to be the first to offer an open-access FTTH HSBB project in Putra Square. The truth is, they should not stay in Kuantan forever. They should move to the Klang Valley and other areas so that there is big time competition in the fast speed broadband sector and to give consumers a choice.
Co-existence of fixed and wireless
Competition exists but there is room for both mobile and fixed broadband players as the market is big enough for both even though TDC CEO Afzal Abdul Rahim is of the view that novelty of mobility is gone and essentially margins for mobile will start to come down while that of fixed broadband will rise.
“There is clear division of what fixed and wireless can do and as fixed become more ubiquitous, wireless will become less prevalent. There will be clear distinguishing factors between the two,'' Afzal says.
However, DiGi.Com Bhd outgoing CEO Johan Dennelind believes that mass migration to the Internet will begin with the smartphones, that's the first stop before people buy computers and get into the fixed business, so there is a big enough market for wireless connectivity for now. As people get used to speed, the migration to fast speed will escalate.
“Mobile and fixed broadband should co-exist since consumers have different user behaviour,'' Dennelind says.
The truth is that fast speed broadband is still in its early stages in the country and only a small percentage of the population has been able to taste fast speed so smartphones are seen to be the first tool for many to the World Wide Web.
Dennelind believes his company has got the right approach to broadband and the iPhone that it just began selling is going to increase revenue the next three years.
Maxis Communications Bhd is also into the fixed line and wireless broadband game. Its ambition is to dislodge Celcom Axiata Bhd from the top spot in wireless broadband in a few years.
“We are clear that we want to be the number one in broadband.'' Maxis CEO Sandip Das said recently. The company is investing RM700mil to expand its nation-wide broadband coverage to hit nearly 80%.
But Axiata is not going to give up without a fight.
Axiata Group Bhd president & group CEO Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim said “for Celcom, the game is about strategising its product offering, pricing, coverage and distribution. We will continue to improve on the quality and coverage of our services, and ensure consistency. We are also working with some parties on bundling our products.''
The only other cellular player with a 3G spectum that can offer broadband, U Mobile Sdn Bhd, is still trying to get its direction right.
But the game does not stop at 3G. There are four WiMAX players also offering broadband connectivity. Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd has the widest coverage of the three for now. The other three are RedTone International Bhd, Asiaspace Sdn Bhd and YTL Communications Bhd. YTL aims to take the market by storm when it makes its debut with WiMAX 4G in July, but let's wait for the time.
To wire up Malaysia
Going forward in the wireless and fixed broadband war, Maxis chief operating officer Jean-Pascal Van Overbeke says pricing in the short term will remain aggressive as multiple players try to gain a foothold.
“Maxis is focused on balancing price and investment considerations in its broadband pricing strategy so that ultimately consumers enjoy high quality experiences,'' he said. He adds that investing in network infrastructure is key and those companies with stamina and commitment to continuously invest will succeed in the medium to long term.
There were a total of 30.3 million mobile subscribers in the country as at the end of 2009.
Malaysia has fast speed broadband and FTTH in some areas but what is the gameplan for the rest of the nation? Surely, people in the rural areas must have the same services as those in the urban centres. This is where the National Broadband Initiative (NBI) come in and it was launched the same day when UniFi came online. The NBI plan is to use up the RM4.6bil of the universal service provision (USP) fund which has been sitting in MCMC's coffers for a long time to wire up parts of the country.
The NBI is in two parts - the first is HSBB, which raises speed to 10Mbps and beyond and covers high growth areas. Next is the broadband for the general population (BBGP), with speeds of less than 10Mbps.
To implement NBI, the areas are zoned into three, depending on population densities, economic activities and existing telecoms infrastructure. Zone 1 is HSBB. Zone 2 covers urban and semi-urban areas. Zone 3 is meant for rural areas and this is where the RM4.6bil will go into, according to Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim.
The MCMC has identified 462 under-served areas in the country for the roll out of telephony, broadband and cellular access. The funds have to be managed properly to avoid possible pilferage and leakages. The MCMC claims it has been transparent in its management of the USP fund.
Rais says there is a new approach to the USP to include services provided for the disabled, women under rehabilitation and low cost residential areas and underpriviledged children.
“It is our social responsibility to ensure that everyone, be they rich or poor, young or old, is empowered with basic telephony and Internet services in any part of the country,'' Rais says.
The target is to reach 50% broadband penetration by year-end; the country achieved 33.2% or 2.07 million homes by the end of last year.
Rais says “we are on track.''
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/10/business/6012816&sec=business
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
IS your broadband service really as fast as advertised? In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), equivalent to our industry regulator the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has a new tool that allows users to test the download and upload speeds of their broadband connections, which is then reported back to the FCC.
This is for both landline-based broadband connections and those with smartphones, the iPhone and Androids. A week after FCC announced the new gadget, about 150,000 people in the United States had stories to tell how their connections were doing. The purpose of the tool and the project to consolidate the information was to educate consumers about whether they are getting the service they are paying for, and hopefully to highlight areas where advertised speeds may fall short, the FCC said.
This is a process of transparency and a move to eliminate confusion, and since it is real time information, it is a channel for the regulator to track the services across the country.
Broadband speed tests have been around for a long time. Back here in Malaysia, Internet speeds may not be as promised.
And so let's be honest. Speed, pricing and quality are the three big issues affecting our broadband industry.
Nonethessless, we have recently moved up a few notches with the entry of high speed broadband (HSBB) services. Should we then take it that the era of short-changing users, choked networks and users suffering downtime is a thing of the past?
Enter fast speed broadband
A dream pipe that can carry more data, voice and images that was conceptualised a few years ago is now firmly planted in the ground. Unfortunately only a small pocket of users can access it for now. This new pipe or fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) connection, which carries HSBB services, is able to deliver fast down- and uplink connectivity with data speeds from 1Megabits per second (Mbps) to 50 Mbps. In a blink of an eye you can download heavy files and even a movie!
The landmark launch of UniFi was on March 24.
The connectivity is via fibre-optics and that marks the beginning of the end of the copper era. The pipe opens new opportunities for new and old players, and expands revenue streams for existing players. The once-flat revenue of fixed line voice business is expected to change with fast speed broadband.
With Malaysia trying to turn into a k-economy, the pipe is vital. The business sector gets a lift with faster connectivity and that makes Malaysia more competitive.
In essence, this dream pipe heralds a new era of fast connectivity and a change in the broadband landscape. With that, comes a host of challenges and opportunities, which excite Telekom Malaysia Bhd group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa. For one, he can expect fixed line broadband revenues to rise and TM gets entry into new areas of business which it could have only dreamed about a decade ago.
“This is the first time we can have triple play in this country,'' he says. Triple play is essentially a single access subscription that provides video, voice and data.
For him the “transformation process for TM'' has begun. But it is not just TM. The transformation gives the country the needed push in speeds from 1-50Mbps.
When UniFi roll-out is complete, Zamzamzairani says TM will have a single IP (Internet protocol) platform that is more efficient, capable for delivery of a variety of new services and fast speeds. UniFi is TM's branding for its HSBB.
Even the Government wanted a share of the pie and committed the RM2.4bil investment in UniFi. Thus far, it has put in RM990mil into the project and TM RM1.9bil.
TM's portion of the UniFi is RM8.9bil, bringing the total cost to RM11.3bil, where 1.3 million premises passed gets the fast access over three years ending 2011. TM says it already has 900 customers on its UniFi network.
But let's not forget that TM's rival, Time dotCom Bhd (TDC) was the first to roll out FTTH in Mont Kiara weeks before UniFi was launched. It is only one area but TM's UniFi is available in four areas - Bangsar, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam - in the Klang Valley.
TM and TDC are not the only two players in the game. Over on the east coast, Kuantan seems to be a favourite spot for Jalur Lebar Nasional Sdn Bhd (Jalenas), which is rolling FTTH too. Jalenas claims to be the first to offer an open-access FTTH HSBB project in Putra Square. The truth is, they should not stay in Kuantan forever. They should move to the Klang Valley and other areas so that there is big time competition in the fast speed broadband sector and to give consumers a choice.
Co-existence of fixed and wireless
Competition exists but there is room for both mobile and fixed broadband players as the market is big enough for both even though TDC CEO Afzal Abdul Rahim is of the view that novelty of mobility is gone and essentially margins for mobile will start to come down while that of fixed broadband will rise.
“There is clear division of what fixed and wireless can do and as fixed become more ubiquitous, wireless will become less prevalent. There will be clear distinguishing factors between the two,'' Afzal says.
However, DiGi.Com Bhd outgoing CEO Johan Dennelind believes that mass migration to the Internet will begin with the smartphones, that's the first stop before people buy computers and get into the fixed business, so there is a big enough market for wireless connectivity for now. As people get used to speed, the migration to fast speed will escalate.
“Mobile and fixed broadband should co-exist since consumers have different user behaviour,'' Dennelind says.
The truth is that fast speed broadband is still in its early stages in the country and only a small percentage of the population has been able to taste fast speed so smartphones are seen to be the first tool for many to the World Wide Web.
Dennelind believes his company has got the right approach to broadband and the iPhone that it just began selling is going to increase revenue the next three years.
Maxis Communications Bhd is also into the fixed line and wireless broadband game. Its ambition is to dislodge Celcom Axiata Bhd from the top spot in wireless broadband in a few years.
“We are clear that we want to be the number one in broadband.'' Maxis CEO Sandip Das said recently. The company is investing RM700mil to expand its nation-wide broadband coverage to hit nearly 80%.
But Axiata is not going to give up without a fight.
Axiata Group Bhd president & group CEO Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim said “for Celcom, the game is about strategising its product offering, pricing, coverage and distribution. We will continue to improve on the quality and coverage of our services, and ensure consistency. We are also working with some parties on bundling our products.''
The only other cellular player with a 3G spectum that can offer broadband, U Mobile Sdn Bhd, is still trying to get its direction right.
But the game does not stop at 3G. There are four WiMAX players also offering broadband connectivity. Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd has the widest coverage of the three for now. The other three are RedTone International Bhd, Asiaspace Sdn Bhd and YTL Communications Bhd. YTL aims to take the market by storm when it makes its debut with WiMAX 4G in July, but let's wait for the time.
To wire up Malaysia
Going forward in the wireless and fixed broadband war, Maxis chief operating officer Jean-Pascal Van Overbeke says pricing in the short term will remain aggressive as multiple players try to gain a foothold.
“Maxis is focused on balancing price and investment considerations in its broadband pricing strategy so that ultimately consumers enjoy high quality experiences,'' he said. He adds that investing in network infrastructure is key and those companies with stamina and commitment to continuously invest will succeed in the medium to long term.
There were a total of 30.3 million mobile subscribers in the country as at the end of 2009.
Malaysia has fast speed broadband and FTTH in some areas but what is the gameplan for the rest of the nation? Surely, people in the rural areas must have the same services as those in the urban centres. This is where the National Broadband Initiative (NBI) come in and it was launched the same day when UniFi came online. The NBI plan is to use up the RM4.6bil of the universal service provision (USP) fund which has been sitting in MCMC's coffers for a long time to wire up parts of the country.
The NBI is in two parts - the first is HSBB, which raises speed to 10Mbps and beyond and covers high growth areas. Next is the broadband for the general population (BBGP), with speeds of less than 10Mbps.
To implement NBI, the areas are zoned into three, depending on population densities, economic activities and existing telecoms infrastructure. Zone 1 is HSBB. Zone 2 covers urban and semi-urban areas. Zone 3 is meant for rural areas and this is where the RM4.6bil will go into, according to Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim.
The MCMC has identified 462 under-served areas in the country for the roll out of telephony, broadband and cellular access. The funds have to be managed properly to avoid possible pilferage and leakages. The MCMC claims it has been transparent in its management of the USP fund.
Rais says there is a new approach to the USP to include services provided for the disabled, women under rehabilitation and low cost residential areas and underpriviledged children.
“It is our social responsibility to ensure that everyone, be they rich or poor, young or old, is empowered with basic telephony and Internet services in any part of the country,'' Rais says.
The target is to reach 50% broadband penetration by year-end; the country achieved 33.2% or 2.07 million homes by the end of last year.
Rais says “we are on track.''
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/10/business/6012816&sec=business
The Broadband Catalyst
thestaronline: Saturday April 10, 2010
THERE is no question of the importance that broadband expansion and enhancement will take the country forward the next several decades.
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim says: “Broadband is an integral part of the economy. It is the enabler for change as it affects an increasing number of sectors and activities. The direct benefits from investments in the technology and from rolling out the infrastructure are enormous.''
Speed is needed for fast connections to the Web, to undertake business transactions, e-commerce, e-learning, e-jobs and all the E-stuff.
Video gets a new face with fast speed broadband and this spurs new areas of businesses such as interactive education, IPTV content, online games and financial services. The content industry gets a huge lift as they now have a bigger channel (or pipe) to transport their creations in video and data format, and that means business for the big and small boys.
For the people, it helps to bridge the information gap and creates a knowledge-based society that can use the broadband to acquire new skills, better paying jobs and create new business opportunities.
Limitless Possibilities
“From advanced nations to developing nations, the arrival of the broadband has led to a change in lifestyle and hike in productivity. Broadband penetration is a catalyst for increased efficiencies in existing economic activities. It also generates new services, which contribute towards increasing the national gross domestic product (GDP),'' Rais says.
If Malaysia achieves 50% broadband penetration, the net effect is a 1% contribution to the GDP.
“In the United States, a similar rate contributed to 4% of their total GDP, 15% penetration in Britain resulted in 0.6% growth in GDP, and 50% in New Zealand resulted in 0.9% contribution in GDP. In Malaysia, the communications and multimedia industry's contribution towards the GDP and gross national product is 6% and 7.6% respectively in 2007, he says.
Of course, Rais also points out that with faster speeds he expects the nation to “attract more foreign investments.''
Competitiveness
But how is our competitive ratings versus our neighbours who are far ahead in fast broadband?
Axiata Group Bhd president & group CEO Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim believes that “we are ahead in the region in terms of coverage and speed where mobile broadband is concerned and on par with Singapore.
“For fixed-line broadband, we are ahead, but maybe not at the same level as Singapore. Internationally, our broadband speed still has some catching up to do, We are at least 3 years behind developed nations. It will take time to improve but it is also about putting money where the mouth is,'' he says.
Malaysia is the world's 27th most networked economy, according to the Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010 released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently.
But let's not forget that Malaysia has had a host of complaints from various industry and chamber groups on the state of our broadband. Often, the complaints are taken lightly, especially by the incumbent and the unhappy investors just go elsewhere where services are better.
“Forget the critics as there are fantastic opportunities with UniFi for investors. We want to invite the MNCs (multinational companies) to locate here. We welcome them and (we assure them) the service is good,'' says Telekom Malaysia Bhd group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa.
Fast broadband can be a huge draw for foreign direct investments, and tourist dollars. It is about how we manage and give our visitors what they pay for.
Hunger for speed, price an issue
There are some Malaysians who have access to fast broadband services. The question is, at what price?
Hours after TM announced its UniFi rates for its broadband services, there was a hue and cry on the blogs that the pricing was unreasonable. At what price are we getting the service and are those the best rates?
Zamzamzairani will have his own argument but the Government has said it will look into making broadband affordable. Singapore's StarHub, by comparison, is offering a 100Mbps broadband for only S$86.88 (RM202.85) a month while TM is charging RM249 per month for 20Mbps. TM says “don't compare. That is Singapore.” But TM has to face reality that those are at a rate and speed which are far higher than what it is getting.
Consumers were furious over the cap on speeds and within hours of its launch, TM changed its tune by saying it will lift the cap indefinitely. TM's argument for the cap is that 6% of its TM Streamyx users are hogging 80% of the capacity, thereby causing others to struggle through their connections.
In the past, we have been suffering from bad services from the broadband operators, including TM. The speeds are not to the level that were advertised.
Now Zamzamzairani is promising the “moon'' for UniFi. He says: “We will keep our promises and manage expectations.''
Will there still be downtime, Zamzamzairani says: “We do not plan for a disaster.''
If we are paying, there should be no comprise and we should switch to the operator who keeps a promise. That goes not just for fast speed broadband, but fixed and wireless services as well.
If the FCC is interested to know whether companies are keeping their word and users are getting what they are pay for, then the regulator here must make good their job of monitoring. By so doing, they will be able to check if the delivery is as promised.
Get it right this time around
HSBB is great. It is the way forward and the beginning of new things. As we move along, there are other countries that are ahead of us, and there are others who are behind. But we must remain in the league of those ahead of us. To do that, we have to do more. Having 1.3 million premises passes should just be the beginning.
We should have, by now, learnt the lessons of providing bad and inconsistency speed and services. We must also remember that the universal service provision (USP) fund is for those in the rural areas and there should be proper check and balances to ensure that this resources are used for the specific purpose.
The opportunity to clean up these loose ends, which benefits the rakyat, investors and regional competitors, are right before us,
As an industry expert puts it, you cannot hookwink consumers in the Internet age. The user wants speed, quality and affordable packages and let's not lose the moment to do it right this time around. -By B.K. Sidhu
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/10/business/6021777&sec=business
THERE is no question of the importance that broadband expansion and enhancement will take the country forward the next several decades.
Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim says: “Broadband is an integral part of the economy. It is the enabler for change as it affects an increasing number of sectors and activities. The direct benefits from investments in the technology and from rolling out the infrastructure are enormous.''
Speed is needed for fast connections to the Web, to undertake business transactions, e-commerce, e-learning, e-jobs and all the E-stuff.
Video gets a new face with fast speed broadband and this spurs new areas of businesses such as interactive education, IPTV content, online games and financial services. The content industry gets a huge lift as they now have a bigger channel (or pipe) to transport their creations in video and data format, and that means business for the big and small boys.
For the people, it helps to bridge the information gap and creates a knowledge-based society that can use the broadband to acquire new skills, better paying jobs and create new business opportunities.
Limitless Possibilities
“From advanced nations to developing nations, the arrival of the broadband has led to a change in lifestyle and hike in productivity. Broadband penetration is a catalyst for increased efficiencies in existing economic activities. It also generates new services, which contribute towards increasing the national gross domestic product (GDP),'' Rais says.
If Malaysia achieves 50% broadband penetration, the net effect is a 1% contribution to the GDP.
“In the United States, a similar rate contributed to 4% of their total GDP, 15% penetration in Britain resulted in 0.6% growth in GDP, and 50% in New Zealand resulted in 0.9% contribution in GDP. In Malaysia, the communications and multimedia industry's contribution towards the GDP and gross national product is 6% and 7.6% respectively in 2007, he says.
Of course, Rais also points out that with faster speeds he expects the nation to “attract more foreign investments.''
Competitiveness
But how is our competitive ratings versus our neighbours who are far ahead in fast broadband?
Axiata Group Bhd president & group CEO Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim believes that “we are ahead in the region in terms of coverage and speed where mobile broadband is concerned and on par with Singapore.
“For fixed-line broadband, we are ahead, but maybe not at the same level as Singapore. Internationally, our broadband speed still has some catching up to do, We are at least 3 years behind developed nations. It will take time to improve but it is also about putting money where the mouth is,'' he says.
Malaysia is the world's 27th most networked economy, according to the Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010 released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently.
But let's not forget that Malaysia has had a host of complaints from various industry and chamber groups on the state of our broadband. Often, the complaints are taken lightly, especially by the incumbent and the unhappy investors just go elsewhere where services are better.
“Forget the critics as there are fantastic opportunities with UniFi for investors. We want to invite the MNCs (multinational companies) to locate here. We welcome them and (we assure them) the service is good,'' says Telekom Malaysia Bhd group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa.
Fast broadband can be a huge draw for foreign direct investments, and tourist dollars. It is about how we manage and give our visitors what they pay for.
Hunger for speed, price an issue
There are some Malaysians who have access to fast broadband services. The question is, at what price?
Hours after TM announced its UniFi rates for its broadband services, there was a hue and cry on the blogs that the pricing was unreasonable. At what price are we getting the service and are those the best rates?
Zamzamzairani will have his own argument but the Government has said it will look into making broadband affordable. Singapore's StarHub, by comparison, is offering a 100Mbps broadband for only S$86.88 (RM202.85) a month while TM is charging RM249 per month for 20Mbps. TM says “don't compare. That is Singapore.” But TM has to face reality that those are at a rate and speed which are far higher than what it is getting.
Consumers were furious over the cap on speeds and within hours of its launch, TM changed its tune by saying it will lift the cap indefinitely. TM's argument for the cap is that 6% of its TM Streamyx users are hogging 80% of the capacity, thereby causing others to struggle through their connections.
In the past, we have been suffering from bad services from the broadband operators, including TM. The speeds are not to the level that were advertised.
Now Zamzamzairani is promising the “moon'' for UniFi. He says: “We will keep our promises and manage expectations.''
Will there still be downtime, Zamzamzairani says: “We do not plan for a disaster.''
If we are paying, there should be no comprise and we should switch to the operator who keeps a promise. That goes not just for fast speed broadband, but fixed and wireless services as well.
If the FCC is interested to know whether companies are keeping their word and users are getting what they are pay for, then the regulator here must make good their job of monitoring. By so doing, they will be able to check if the delivery is as promised.
Get it right this time around
HSBB is great. It is the way forward and the beginning of new things. As we move along, there are other countries that are ahead of us, and there are others who are behind. But we must remain in the league of those ahead of us. To do that, we have to do more. Having 1.3 million premises passes should just be the beginning.
We should have, by now, learnt the lessons of providing bad and inconsistency speed and services. We must also remember that the universal service provision (USP) fund is for those in the rural areas and there should be proper check and balances to ensure that this resources are used for the specific purpose.
The opportunity to clean up these loose ends, which benefits the rakyat, investors and regional competitors, are right before us,
As an industry expert puts it, you cannot hookwink consumers in the Internet age. The user wants speed, quality and affordable packages and let's not lose the moment to do it right this time around. -By B.K. Sidhu
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/10/business/6021777&sec=business
Why are people finding the iPhone so attractive?
Published: Tuesday May 25, 2010 MYT 8:30:00 AM
Updated: Tuesday May 25, 2010 MYT 8:57:00 AM
SEATTLE: It's been three years, an eternity for gadgets, since Apple Inc. unveiled the iPhone, and by now other phones do some things better. Yet Apple is selling more iPhones than ever.
What is it about the iPhone? Its success shows how Apple has triumphed at two crucial qualities: status and simplicity.
And it's a reminder that while intense Apple fans will obsess over the upgrades the iPhone is expected to get this summer, such details won't matter as much to everyday buyers.
Other phones have higher-resolution cameras and can shoot high-definition video.
The processor seems faster in new phones such as the Droid Incredible.
A more energy-efficient touch-screen technology is eclipsing the one used in the iPhone screen.
And competitors are matching features that once set the iPhone apart, including its slim shape and its store with thousands of applications and games.
"This thing is not state of the art," says ABI Research analyst Michael Morgan.
But whether the iPhone has the best technology doesn't seem to be the question most people ask.
Instead, many people crave the aura of cool that iPhones seem to convey.
"When you see people with them, I'm like, 'Oh, OK, they get it,"' says Jason Sfetko, a designer at Complex magazine in New York.
When he sees someone with a BlackBerry, "I might think, maybe they're an accountant or something. They're answering too many e-mails."
The allure extends to China, where Apple started selling iPhones in October.
"I'm quite amazed about what the iPhone has achieved," says Deng Jinchun, a manager at Jing Lang, a large iPhone retailer in China's Hunan province.
With slight changes, "Apple has been selling the same phone for about three years and the sales are still increasing. I can't imagine a Nokia phone or any other brand could achieve something similar."
Others are more focused on the simplicity of using the iPhone.
Mark Britton, CEO of a company called Avvo that publishes ratings on lawyers by their clients, is on his iPhone so much that his wife jokes it's his fourth child.
He says it's surprisingly easy to talk on the phone and look up something on the Internet at the same time.
The Web browser helped sell Sara Maternini, 35, who works in public relations in Milan, Italy, on the iPhone 2 1/2 years ago.
She needs to always be online and says the iPhone was the only device that made Web surfing feel as it does on a computer. Maternini says her next phone will be another iPhone.
This raises a common criticism from Apple's dissenters: Once users build their lives around the iPhone system, they're essentially locked into buying more Apple devices. Other phones can't connect to iTunes, which manages iPhone owners' music, video, photos and other files.
Nor can other phones run the "apps" people download for everything from online banking to crossword puzzling.
For many iPhone users, though, familiarity breeds contentment.
Ingrid Ougland-Sellie, 41, a writer and part-time hospital employee, uses her iPhone to take photos of mystery vegetables she gets from a community-supported farm program.
She e-mails pictures to the farmers to be identified, then looks up recipes on an iPhone app.
She uses it for scheduling, finding addresses and swapping photos of her son with her husband, also an iPhone owner.
"I'm sure technology has come a long way," Sellie says.
"But I am kind of a creature of habit at this point. I know how to use this phone. I'm comfortable with it."
Apple has sold more than 51 million iPhones since they hit the market in 2007, including 8.75 million in the most recent quarter.
That was more than double the number it sold in the comparable quarter last year.
The surge also has helped Apple's stock double over the past year, and investors are betting that the iPhone still has room to grow.
The iPhone ranks third in the global smart phone market, with a 14 percent share.
Nokia Corp. has 47 percent and Research in Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry, has 20 percent.
However, phones that use Google Inc.'s Android software are increasing sales faster.
Android accounts for 4 percent of the market, up from less than 1 percent last year, according to Gartner Inc., a market-research company.
Carolina Milanesi, who lives in Britain and analyzes the mobile market for Gartner, has tried to switch away from the iPhone but gets hung up on something every time.
She spent 20 minutes trying to set up e-mail on an Android phone, only to fail.
The iPhone is so simple her 2 1/2-year-old daughter can operate her spelling and animal-noises apps herself.
The iPhone isn't as flexible as some others, and Milanesi bristled at things Apple wouldn't let her do, such as set custom tones for incoming text messages, a common tweak in Europe.
"But then you kind of get used to it, and you don't miss it," she says.
"You kind of think that that's for your own good." - AP
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/25/business/20100525083301&sec=business
Updated: Tuesday May 25, 2010 MYT 8:57:00 AM
SEATTLE: It's been three years, an eternity for gadgets, since Apple Inc. unveiled the iPhone, and by now other phones do some things better. Yet Apple is selling more iPhones than ever.
What is it about the iPhone? Its success shows how Apple has triumphed at two crucial qualities: status and simplicity.
And it's a reminder that while intense Apple fans will obsess over the upgrades the iPhone is expected to get this summer, such details won't matter as much to everyday buyers.
Other phones have higher-resolution cameras and can shoot high-definition video.
The processor seems faster in new phones such as the Droid Incredible.
A more energy-efficient touch-screen technology is eclipsing the one used in the iPhone screen.
And competitors are matching features that once set the iPhone apart, including its slim shape and its store with thousands of applications and games.
"This thing is not state of the art," says ABI Research analyst Michael Morgan.
But whether the iPhone has the best technology doesn't seem to be the question most people ask.
Instead, many people crave the aura of cool that iPhones seem to convey.
"When you see people with them, I'm like, 'Oh, OK, they get it,"' says Jason Sfetko, a designer at Complex magazine in New York.
When he sees someone with a BlackBerry, "I might think, maybe they're an accountant or something. They're answering too many e-mails."
The allure extends to China, where Apple started selling iPhones in October.
"I'm quite amazed about what the iPhone has achieved," says Deng Jinchun, a manager at Jing Lang, a large iPhone retailer in China's Hunan province.
With slight changes, "Apple has been selling the same phone for about three years and the sales are still increasing. I can't imagine a Nokia phone or any other brand could achieve something similar."
Others are more focused on the simplicity of using the iPhone.
Mark Britton, CEO of a company called Avvo that publishes ratings on lawyers by their clients, is on his iPhone so much that his wife jokes it's his fourth child.
He says it's surprisingly easy to talk on the phone and look up something on the Internet at the same time.
The Web browser helped sell Sara Maternini, 35, who works in public relations in Milan, Italy, on the iPhone 2 1/2 years ago.
She needs to always be online and says the iPhone was the only device that made Web surfing feel as it does on a computer. Maternini says her next phone will be another iPhone.
This raises a common criticism from Apple's dissenters: Once users build their lives around the iPhone system, they're essentially locked into buying more Apple devices. Other phones can't connect to iTunes, which manages iPhone owners' music, video, photos and other files.
Nor can other phones run the "apps" people download for everything from online banking to crossword puzzling.
For many iPhone users, though, familiarity breeds contentment.
Ingrid Ougland-Sellie, 41, a writer and part-time hospital employee, uses her iPhone to take photos of mystery vegetables she gets from a community-supported farm program.
She e-mails pictures to the farmers to be identified, then looks up recipes on an iPhone app.
She uses it for scheduling, finding addresses and swapping photos of her son with her husband, also an iPhone owner.
"I'm sure technology has come a long way," Sellie says.
"But I am kind of a creature of habit at this point. I know how to use this phone. I'm comfortable with it."
Apple has sold more than 51 million iPhones since they hit the market in 2007, including 8.75 million in the most recent quarter.
That was more than double the number it sold in the comparable quarter last year.
The surge also has helped Apple's stock double over the past year, and investors are betting that the iPhone still has room to grow.
The iPhone ranks third in the global smart phone market, with a 14 percent share.
Nokia Corp. has 47 percent and Research in Motion Ltd., maker of the BlackBerry, has 20 percent.
However, phones that use Google Inc.'s Android software are increasing sales faster.
Android accounts for 4 percent of the market, up from less than 1 percent last year, according to Gartner Inc., a market-research company.
Carolina Milanesi, who lives in Britain and analyzes the mobile market for Gartner, has tried to switch away from the iPhone but gets hung up on something every time.
She spent 20 minutes trying to set up e-mail on an Android phone, only to fail.
The iPhone is so simple her 2 1/2-year-old daughter can operate her spelling and animal-noises apps herself.
The iPhone isn't as flexible as some others, and Milanesi bristled at things Apple wouldn't let her do, such as set custom tones for incoming text messages, a common tweak in Europe.
"But then you kind of get used to it, and you don't miss it," she says.
"You kind of think that that's for your own good." - AP
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/25/business/20100525083301&sec=business
Friday, May 21, 2010
Spectrum auction the way to go
Friday May 21, 2010
Friday Reflections - BY B.K. Sidhu
MALAYSIA should consider auction of spectrum in the future.
India just netted a cool US$14.6bil from its 3Ghz spectrum auction two days ago. It has also plans to auction the 4Ghz spectrum.
Several years ago some governments in Europe netted several billion dollars each for auctioning 3G spectrum.
Spectrum allocation in Malaysia in the past has been done in so many ways with political patronage not excluded. That also explains why some players are hogging more spectrum than they need while there are others hoping to get more.
The journey of spectrum award began many years go when frequency was awarded for broadcasting of TV and radio, the UHF and VHF as well as satellite broadcasting. In the mobile world the old Atur network began over three decades ago and it was running on the 450 band.
Then came the GSM and PCN 1800 standards. In early 2000, the 3Ghz spectrum was given out via a beauty pageant-like contest, which means the best man with the best business plan wins.
The regulator has also awarded a host of other spectrum including 2.5Ghz, 2.3Ghz and last year, the 10.5Ghz for mobile backhaul and wireless local loop. Next is 4Ghz.
To make sure there is better spectrum management in the future the regulator has come up with a draft spectrum plan. With the plan, the regulator is a bit like “stargazing” as to what is needed for the future by the players. It wants feedback so that it can twig the plan.
We are a bit late in crafting the comprehensive spectrum plan, it should have been done at least two years ago. Re-farming is a must for efficiency spectrum planning and several blocks will be up for grabs in due time.
Why go for auctions?
It is adopted globally, it can be a money spinner for the Government and only serious players get into the game. It will do away with political patronage provided of course the whole process is transparent.
There should not be “behind the scenes price fixing'' and the final word should that be of the regulator and there should be no room for “over-riding of decisions'' made by the commission.
Of course, the process also marks the start of life under a pile of debt for the companies that put in high bids to secure the spectrum and this could strain their balance sheets for years. There is also fear that all this will drive up prices for consumers.
But let's look at how Europe has done it where consumers still get fair value packages. There are pros and cons but auctions is a viable option.
For a country that thrives to be in the forefront of technology the spectrum plan is vital. More important is the way the spectrum will be awarded as that will determine if fairness prevails and whether there really is a level playing field.
● Deputy news editor B.K. Sidhu says reading parts of the 280-page document was a trying experience.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/21/business/6309209&sec=business
Friday Reflections - BY B.K. Sidhu
MALAYSIA should consider auction of spectrum in the future.
India just netted a cool US$14.6bil from its 3Ghz spectrum auction two days ago. It has also plans to auction the 4Ghz spectrum.
Several years ago some governments in Europe netted several billion dollars each for auctioning 3G spectrum.
Spectrum allocation in Malaysia in the past has been done in so many ways with political patronage not excluded. That also explains why some players are hogging more spectrum than they need while there are others hoping to get more.
The journey of spectrum award began many years go when frequency was awarded for broadcasting of TV and radio, the UHF and VHF as well as satellite broadcasting. In the mobile world the old Atur network began over three decades ago and it was running on the 450 band.
Then came the GSM and PCN 1800 standards. In early 2000, the 3Ghz spectrum was given out via a beauty pageant-like contest, which means the best man with the best business plan wins.
The regulator has also awarded a host of other spectrum including 2.5Ghz, 2.3Ghz and last year, the 10.5Ghz for mobile backhaul and wireless local loop. Next is 4Ghz.
To make sure there is better spectrum management in the future the regulator has come up with a draft spectrum plan. With the plan, the regulator is a bit like “stargazing” as to what is needed for the future by the players. It wants feedback so that it can twig the plan.
We are a bit late in crafting the comprehensive spectrum plan, it should have been done at least two years ago. Re-farming is a must for efficiency spectrum planning and several blocks will be up for grabs in due time.
Why go for auctions?
It is adopted globally, it can be a money spinner for the Government and only serious players get into the game. It will do away with political patronage provided of course the whole process is transparent.
There should not be “behind the scenes price fixing'' and the final word should that be of the regulator and there should be no room for “over-riding of decisions'' made by the commission.
Of course, the process also marks the start of life under a pile of debt for the companies that put in high bids to secure the spectrum and this could strain their balance sheets for years. There is also fear that all this will drive up prices for consumers.
But let's look at how Europe has done it where consumers still get fair value packages. There are pros and cons but auctions is a viable option.
For a country that thrives to be in the forefront of technology the spectrum plan is vital. More important is the way the spectrum will be awarded as that will determine if fairness prevails and whether there really is a level playing field.
● Deputy news editor B.K. Sidhu says reading parts of the 280-page document was a trying experience.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/21/business/6309209&sec=business
Malaysia to allocate bandwith for 4G
Friday May 21, 2010
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
MCMC draws up spectrum plan
PETALING JAYA: The telecom's industry regulator has come up with a draft spectrum plan in which it proposes to re-farm several blocks of frequency including those in the 850 Mhz, 900 Mhz and 2.5 Ghz bands.
Those in the know say that the 900 Mhz and 2.5 Ghz spectra may be allocated for 4G services sometime next year. But it is not clear what the plan is for the 850 Mhz.
“The 900 Mhz band can be used for wider reach while the 2.5 Ghz is good for capacity since demand for broadband services is growing in the country,'' said a source.
Mobility, fast speed and bigger bandwidth services is pushing greater usage of spectrum. Convergence of telecoms, broadcasting and information technology has also made managing radio frequency spectrum much more complex.
Spectrum is also a scarce resource, so having a plan for future spectrum allocation and assignment is necessary to make it easier for service providers to know what spectrum is available for their own planning.
Re-farming is a way to free up spectrum of an age-old technology that is not used or a frequency that may not have been fully developed and re-assign it where demand is huge.
This is also the first time the regulator, Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has come up with such a comprehensive spectrum plan. It has posted the draft on its website for public feedback.
Some industry players contacted said it was a good move but they needed more time to read the entire document, which is 280 pages, to comment on it.
For now some players have more spectrum than others. There are other players that want more spectrum but have not got it while some other newer players have not been able to get spectrum. The spectrum plan hopes to address all that and potentially open up new avenues for others to come in.
DiGi.Com Bhd chairman Sigve Brekke said the company was hoping to get more spectra and was still in talks with the regulator on it.
“From a fairness point, have a regulated industry where all players have equal frequency allotted on equal frequency bands so that there is a level playing field,'' he said.
In the draft document, MCMC said that “due to greater demand for broadband services, several spectrum bands had been identified to be re-farmed in the near future. It cited the 450-470 Mhz, 790-960 Mhz, 1,710-1,885 Mhz and 2,500-2,690 Mhz frequency bands as potential candidates for re-farming.''
Refarming also does not mean that the regulator will forcibly take back spectrum allocated to players especially those it wants to refarm. All spectrum awards have a tenure period. Since the regulator may be awarding several 4G spectra and is likely to use the 2.5G spectrum, it will look into the tenures of these spectra before allocating it accordingly, said a source.
The draft plan also identifies the need to review blocks allocated for fixed and backhaul, short-range devices, radio frequency identification systems, and private/public mobile radio or walkie-talkie.
Other industries such as defence, the police force, fire brigade, ambulance and maritime enforcement agency also use spectrum for radio communications.
Broadcasting is an area extensively covered in the draft as the shift from analogue to digital terrestrial TV will take place in 2015. The new digital broadcasting technologies not only allow for more efficient use of radio spectrum and support users' demands for mobility but are also changing traditional methods of watching TV.
This process will require more spectra and the commission in the draft said it was looking at various new technologies such as digital terrestrial TV, digital sound broadcasting and digital multimedia.
“That is why spectrum management is vital and the draft hopes to address a lot of spectrum requirement for the future,'' the source said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/21/business/6308397&sec=business
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
MCMC draws up spectrum plan
PETALING JAYA: The telecom's industry regulator has come up with a draft spectrum plan in which it proposes to re-farm several blocks of frequency including those in the 850 Mhz, 900 Mhz and 2.5 Ghz bands.
Those in the know say that the 900 Mhz and 2.5 Ghz spectra may be allocated for 4G services sometime next year. But it is not clear what the plan is for the 850 Mhz.
“The 900 Mhz band can be used for wider reach while the 2.5 Ghz is good for capacity since demand for broadband services is growing in the country,'' said a source.
Mobility, fast speed and bigger bandwidth services is pushing greater usage of spectrum. Convergence of telecoms, broadcasting and information technology has also made managing radio frequency spectrum much more complex.
Spectrum is also a scarce resource, so having a plan for future spectrum allocation and assignment is necessary to make it easier for service providers to know what spectrum is available for their own planning.
Re-farming is a way to free up spectrum of an age-old technology that is not used or a frequency that may not have been fully developed and re-assign it where demand is huge.
This is also the first time the regulator, Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has come up with such a comprehensive spectrum plan. It has posted the draft on its website for public feedback.
Some industry players contacted said it was a good move but they needed more time to read the entire document, which is 280 pages, to comment on it.
For now some players have more spectrum than others. There are other players that want more spectrum but have not got it while some other newer players have not been able to get spectrum. The spectrum plan hopes to address all that and potentially open up new avenues for others to come in.
DiGi.Com Bhd chairman Sigve Brekke said the company was hoping to get more spectra and was still in talks with the regulator on it.
“From a fairness point, have a regulated industry where all players have equal frequency allotted on equal frequency bands so that there is a level playing field,'' he said.
In the draft document, MCMC said that “due to greater demand for broadband services, several spectrum bands had been identified to be re-farmed in the near future. It cited the 450-470 Mhz, 790-960 Mhz, 1,710-1,885 Mhz and 2,500-2,690 Mhz frequency bands as potential candidates for re-farming.''
Refarming also does not mean that the regulator will forcibly take back spectrum allocated to players especially those it wants to refarm. All spectrum awards have a tenure period. Since the regulator may be awarding several 4G spectra and is likely to use the 2.5G spectrum, it will look into the tenures of these spectra before allocating it accordingly, said a source.
The draft plan also identifies the need to review blocks allocated for fixed and backhaul, short-range devices, radio frequency identification systems, and private/public mobile radio or walkie-talkie.
Other industries such as defence, the police force, fire brigade, ambulance and maritime enforcement agency also use spectrum for radio communications.
Broadcasting is an area extensively covered in the draft as the shift from analogue to digital terrestrial TV will take place in 2015. The new digital broadcasting technologies not only allow for more efficient use of radio spectrum and support users' demands for mobility but are also changing traditional methods of watching TV.
This process will require more spectra and the commission in the draft said it was looking at various new technologies such as digital terrestrial TV, digital sound broadcasting and digital multimedia.
“That is why spectrum management is vital and the draft hopes to address a lot of spectrum requirement for the future,'' the source said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/21/business/6308397&sec=business
3G spectrum in India reportedly costs Axiata unit RM4bil
Friday May 21, 2010
By LEONG HUNG YEE
hungyee@thestar.com.my
Idea wins 3G auction in 11 circles
KUALA LUMPUR: Axiata Group Bhd's 20%-owned Idea Cellular Ltd has won the 3G spectrum in 11 circles in India, including eight circles where it has a strong presence, as the spectrum auction ended in the country.
When contacted, an Axiata spokesman said: “No comment, as Idea has yet to make an official announcement.”
Idea was reported to have forked out 57.7 billion rupees (RM4bil) for the cost of its spectrum. Among the circles Idea won are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
The Indian newspapers reported that the 34-day 3G spectrum auction yielded the Indian government US$14.6bil in revenue, nearly twice what it had expected. The highest bids were for the Delhi and Mumbai circles, which cost 32 billion rupees (RM2.24bil) and 33 billion rupees (RM2.31bil) respectively, won by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Reliance Communications.
The 3G spectrum enables subscribers to download high-speed data and stream videos on mobile telephones. The successful bidders will be allotted air waves in September.
A Singapore-based analyst said the proceeds from the spectrum auction was no doubt good news for the Indian government. “The concern would be whether all the money will actually go in. For the operators, it's a large sum of money and that has to be paid out. We have to see how these services are priced and received by the subscribers and how it will impact their profitability,” he said, adding that telcos might have to fork out even more when the Indian government started the broadband wireless access spectrum auction.
A local bank-backed analyst said the US$1.3bil cost for Idea to secure its 3G spectrum was more than the US$1bil its management had guided for.
“The additional US$300mil required could be met by monetising some of its assets or a cash call. If Idea requires a cash call, Axiata's portion works out to be around US$60mil.
“This does not appear to be too bad compared with management's worst-case scenario guidance of US$200mil to US$300mil,” he said, adding that Axiata had raised quite a bit of cash from the selldown of its stake in XL Axiata.
“In any case, we do not expect Axiata to declare any dividends for this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, ECM Libra Investment Research was generally positive on the approach taken by Idea to focus on its strongest circles, saying it made most business sense as it would enable Idea the best chance to recoup the high costs spent on the 3G spectrum.
It believes Idea will very likely raise new funds in a combination of debt and equity given its cash balance of 14.2 billion rupees (RM1bil).
“Idea's gross debt-to-equity ratio currently is only 0.68 times, which gives it room to leverage up to 1.0 times, thus raising an additional 38 billion rupees (RM2.66bil),” the research house said, adding that there would still be a shortfall of 19.7 billion rupees (RM1.38bil).
ECM said Axiata would have to cough up RM276mil for its 20% equity stake in the event of a RM1.38bil cash call by Idea, which it believed would have no problem with Axiata given its RM2bil raised from its selldown in XL Axiata.
“This may raise the possibility of a special dividend given the lower-than-expected cash call since Idea did not bid for the pan-India 3G spectrum. However, we still believe special dividends are unlikely given the high 3G capital expenditure network rollout needs in India,” ECM said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/21/business/6306982&sec=business
By LEONG HUNG YEE
hungyee@thestar.com.my
Idea wins 3G auction in 11 circles
KUALA LUMPUR: Axiata Group Bhd's 20%-owned Idea Cellular Ltd has won the 3G spectrum in 11 circles in India, including eight circles where it has a strong presence, as the spectrum auction ended in the country.
When contacted, an Axiata spokesman said: “No comment, as Idea has yet to make an official announcement.”
Idea was reported to have forked out 57.7 billion rupees (RM4bil) for the cost of its spectrum. Among the circles Idea won are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.
The Indian newspapers reported that the 34-day 3G spectrum auction yielded the Indian government US$14.6bil in revenue, nearly twice what it had expected. The highest bids were for the Delhi and Mumbai circles, which cost 32 billion rupees (RM2.24bil) and 33 billion rupees (RM2.31bil) respectively, won by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Reliance Communications.
The 3G spectrum enables subscribers to download high-speed data and stream videos on mobile telephones. The successful bidders will be allotted air waves in September.
A Singapore-based analyst said the proceeds from the spectrum auction was no doubt good news for the Indian government. “The concern would be whether all the money will actually go in. For the operators, it's a large sum of money and that has to be paid out. We have to see how these services are priced and received by the subscribers and how it will impact their profitability,” he said, adding that telcos might have to fork out even more when the Indian government started the broadband wireless access spectrum auction.
A local bank-backed analyst said the US$1.3bil cost for Idea to secure its 3G spectrum was more than the US$1bil its management had guided for.
“The additional US$300mil required could be met by monetising some of its assets or a cash call. If Idea requires a cash call, Axiata's portion works out to be around US$60mil.
“This does not appear to be too bad compared with management's worst-case scenario guidance of US$200mil to US$300mil,” he said, adding that Axiata had raised quite a bit of cash from the selldown of its stake in XL Axiata.
“In any case, we do not expect Axiata to declare any dividends for this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, ECM Libra Investment Research was generally positive on the approach taken by Idea to focus on its strongest circles, saying it made most business sense as it would enable Idea the best chance to recoup the high costs spent on the 3G spectrum.
It believes Idea will very likely raise new funds in a combination of debt and equity given its cash balance of 14.2 billion rupees (RM1bil).
“Idea's gross debt-to-equity ratio currently is only 0.68 times, which gives it room to leverage up to 1.0 times, thus raising an additional 38 billion rupees (RM2.66bil),” the research house said, adding that there would still be a shortfall of 19.7 billion rupees (RM1.38bil).
ECM said Axiata would have to cough up RM276mil for its 20% equity stake in the event of a RM1.38bil cash call by Idea, which it believed would have no problem with Axiata given its RM2bil raised from its selldown in XL Axiata.
“This may raise the possibility of a special dividend given the lower-than-expected cash call since Idea did not bid for the pan-India 3G spectrum. However, we still believe special dividends are unlikely given the high 3G capital expenditure network rollout needs in India,” ECM said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/21/business/6306982&sec=business
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sejarah Internet Malaysia
Ditulis oleh Administrator : Cherasnet.com
Sabtu, 23 Mei 2009 00:50
Artikel berikut adalah hasil usaha Pengarang Asal==> Muhammad Yusri bin Mohd Zahir On Monday, February 09, 2009.
SEJARAH INTERNET
Internet merupakan satu rangkaian sedunia komputer yang tersambung menerusi talian telefon, gentian optik, teknologi tanpa wayar seperti 3G,WIMAX,EDGE dan WIFI.
Asal-usul internet bermula semasa Perang Dingin. Satu rangkaian telah dicipta untuk menghubungkan semua komputer tentera di sekitar Amerika Syarikat supaya sekiranya tercetus serangan nuklear, peralatan tentera Amerika Syarikat masih dapat berfungsi. Mesin-mesin ini disambungkan melalui talian telefon. Dua mesin pertama telah berjaya disambungkan pada akhir tahun 1969.
Dalam 15 tahun pertama selepas terciptanya rangkaian ini, tapak yang tersambung hanyalah tapak-tapak tentera dan akademik. Pelbagai rangkaian telah didirikan termasuk ARPAnet yang menyambungkan universiti.universiti di Amerika Syarikat dan MILnet yang menyambungkan pangkalan-pangkalan tentera. ARPAnet (Advanced Research Project Agency) adalah salah satu bahagian Jabatan Pertahanan Amerika Syarikat turut menghasilkan kaedah pensuisan paket (packet swiching) bagi menghubungkan pelbagai jenis komputer.
Menjelang tahun 1970, rangkaian komputer yang pertama menggunakan teknik pensuisan paket di Amerika Syarikat telah menghubungkan sistem komputer di University of California di Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California di Santa Barbara (UCSB), Stanford University dan University of Utah di Salt Lake City.
Pada 1972, terdapat 40 tapak rangkaian yang kecil dihubungkan kepada rangkaian ARPAnet. Ketika itu, rangkaian ini digunakan untuk menghantar fail teks yang kecil di antara pengguna. Kini ia lebih dikenali sebagai E-Mail dan semakin popular digunakan.
Pada awalnya piawai komunikasi yang asal dikenali sebagai NCP "Network Control Protocol". Setelah mengkaji teknik yang lebih canggih piawai kualiti tinggi digunakan iaitu TCP/IP .TCP (Transmission Tranfer Protocol) dimana ia akan mengubah mesej kepada bentuk paket di sumber dan kemudiannya akan mengubah semula kebentuk mesej di destinasi. IP (Internet Protocol) pula mengendalikan alamat. ARPA bukan sahaja mempelopori NCP malah Ethernet, FDDI dan X.25.
Pada tahun 80-an, rangkaian-rangkaian ini mula disambungkan secara komersial. Kita boleh mengunjungi dari satu rangkaian ke satu rangkaian yang lain dan pada masa inilah istilah "internet" mula digunakan.
Pada masa itu juga, perkhidmatan internet capaian awam mula diwujudkan. Sehingga 1990, internet lebih banyak digunakan dalam bidang penyelidikan saintifik. Apabila penggunaan internet oleh komuniti saintifik semakin berleluasa, orang awam juga mula menyedari potensi internet sebagai sejenis medium komunikasi, hiburan dan pendidikan sedunia. Walaupun dimulakan sebagai sebuah rangkaian ketenteraan, kini terbuktilah internet mempunyai banyak kegunaan lain.
Jika dilihat dahulu, hanya terdapat 4 nod sahaja dalam rangkaian ARPAnet. Tetapi kini terdapat 10 ribu nod dalam internet, yang tersebar melebihi 42 negara seluruh dunia. Pada hari ini, terdapat lebih daripada 40 juta pengguna internet di seluruh pelusok dunia.
Di Malaysia internet dilancarkan pada tahun 1987 apabila Institut Mikroelektronik Malaysia (MIMOS) memulakan Rangkaian Komputer Malaysia atau RangKom. Kemudian Jaring yang diperkembangkan daripada RangKom dilancarkan pada tahun 1990.
SEJARAH RINGKAS INTERNET DI MALAYSIA
Pada tahun 1987, Rangkaian Komputer Malaysia (RangKoM) dengan kemudahan sambungan antarabangsa telah ditubuhkan. Universiti-universiti tempatan merupakan pengguna RangKoM pada peringkat awal. Ianya terus berkembang dengan sokongan dan perhatian dari pihak swasta. Tumpuan awal penggunaan RangKoM ialah pada mel dan forum elektronik, walaupun ia mempunyai keupayaan komunikasi dan perkongsian sumber. Projek RangKoM bukan sahaja memberi pengalaman dari segi pembangunan teknologi, malah ia juga mendedahkan beberapa kelemahan, kekurangan dan juga potensi penggunaan teknologi rangkaian komunikasi dan isu-isu pengurusan yang berkaitan dengannya.
Berdasarkan kepada pengalaman ini, program JARING telah dirumuskan, dan ianya dilancarkan pada tahun 1991 yang bertujuan untuk membangunkan rangkaian komunikasi negara secara bersepadu dan lebih menyeluruh. Secara praktiknya, segala kegiatan dan pengalaman projek RangKoM telah diserapkan ke dalam projek JARING.
MIMOS yang dikenalikan oleh 5 pakar komputer iaitu Dr Mohd Azzman UM, Dr Awang Lah UM, Dr Muhammad Ghazie Ismail (USM), Dr Mohd Arif Nun (UTM), Dr Mohd Zawawi Ismail (UTM) mengendalikan projek rangkaian JARING sebagai projek pembangunan utama dalam Rancangan Malaysia Ke-Enam. JARING yang dihubungkan dengan banyak institusi penyelidikan dan akademik, serta agensi kerajaan dan swasta di Malaysia, bermatlamatkan terutamanya untuk menyokong aktiviti pendidikan, penyelidikan dan komersial. JARING juga dihubungkan kepada rangkaian Internet antarabangsa.
Talian litar suwa antarabangsa berkelajuan 64Kbps ke Amerika Syarikat telah beroperasi mulai 14hb. Nov. 1992. Talian suwa ini menggantikan talian X.25 awam dan dail yang tidak lagi kos efektif setelah meningkatnya bilangan pengguna dan tahap penggunaan JARING. Pada 29hb. Nov. 1994, keupayaan JARING dipertingkatkan kepada 1.5Mbps yang merupakan 24 kali ganda lebih pantas berbanding dengan talian 64Kbps. Keupayaan JARING ini memanfaatkan sepenuhnya teknologi gentian optik selaras dengan pertambahan dalam bilangan keahlian.
Pada bulan Jun 1994, JARING bergerak dengan lebih cemerlang lagi dan Internet boleh diakses melalui nodnya yang ditempatkan di seluruh negara. Nod JARING pada masa tersebut ditempatkan di 16 buah bandar utama di Malaysia, iaitu di Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Bangi, Melaka, Seri Gading, Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Pulau Pinang, Alor Setar, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, dan Kuala Lumpur. Ini membolehkan lebih ramai pengguna mencapai JARING/Internet dengan panggilan telefon tempatan. Rangkaian JARING turut boleh dimanfaatkan oleh pengguna dari
Singapura, Brunei, dan Thailand.
Dari segi perkembangan keahlian JARING/Internet pula, sebanyak 27 organisasi dan jabatan kerajaan telah menjadi ahli pada awal tahun 1992. Lebih 200 pelanggan dalam negara menggunakan kemudahan ini pada akhir tahun 1992. Keahlian JARING dikategorikan kepada pelajar, orang perseorangan dan organisasi. Orang perseorangan dan pelajar hanya boleh mengakses Internet melalui talian dail sahaja, sementara organisasi boleh mengakses melalui talian dail atau litar suwa. Keahlian JARING di sepanjang tahun 1994 meningkat kepada 1,693 ahli individu dan 254 syarikat.
Dalam tahun 1995 pula, JARING ditingkatkan keupayaan bagi menampung pertambahan keahlian dan penggunaan serta mengurangkan kesesakan aliran trafik. Tumpuan utama ialah mengukuhkan prasarana tulang belakang JARING melalui tambahan nod, talian di antara nod, dan peningkatan kelajuan beberapa talian suwa serta bilangan talian dail.
Dalam tahun 1995 juga talian yang menghubungkan nod-nod di Pulau Pinang dan Johor Bahru telah ditingkatkan kelajuannya dari 64Kbps kepada 2.048Mbps. Sehingga akhir tahun 1995, lebih 1,000 talian untuk pengguna talian dail telah disediakan. Sebanyak 40 nod baru telah dipasang dalam tahun 1996 sebagai tambahan kepada 21 nod pada tahun sebelumnya.
Tahun 1995 juga menyaksikan pemasangan sambungan kedua ke Internet antarabangsa. Sambungan tetap yang berkelajuan tinggi pada kadar 2.048Mbps (E1) berfungsi serentak dengan sambungan 1.536Mbps (T1) sebelumnya. Kehadiran E1 disamping T1 berupaya menampung penggunaan yang semakin bertambah. Sepanjang tahun 1995 pertumbuhan peningkatan keahlian JARING bertambah pada kadar purata 22% sebulan. Melalui Rancangan Malaysia Ke-7, kerajaan telah melaksanakan projek Superstruktur Maklumat Negara yang menggunakan JARING sebagai prasarana tulang belakang.
Untuk membuka peluang yang lebih luas kepada umum, JARING telah memeteraikan Memorandum Persefahaman (MOU) dengan beberapa syarikat Pembekal Perkhidmatan Akses JARING (JASP) pada 1 Ogos 1996. Ia memudahkan orang ramai mendapat khidmat sokongan bagi mengakses Internet.
Seterusnya, pada tanggal 7 November 1996 JARING telah menandatangani perjanjian persefahaman dengan Asia Internet Holding (AIH) dari Jepun bagi mempertingkatkan perkhidmatan Internet untuk pengguna tempatan dan Asia Pasifik. Rangkaian yang dinamakan JARING-A-Bone ini memudahkan pengguna Internet menghubungi halaman web di rantau Asia. Hubungan tersebut menyediakan akses lebih cepat dan secara terus bagi pengguna kepada negara-negara Asia yang dihubungkan dengan A-Bone. Pada bulan Mei 1997, JARING mula menawarkan perkhidmatan perayauan antarabangsa yang meliputi lebih 150 negara.
Pada 11 Jun 1997, JARING menempa sejarah dengan pemasangan talian antarabangsa berkelajuan 45Mbps yang merupakan talian pertama seumpamanya di rantau ini (di luar Jepun). Talian ini dipasang mengambil sempena persidangan Internet terbesar di Asia, INET 97. Selanjutnya pada akhir tahun 1997, jumlah keahlian JARING meningkat melebihi 100,000 orang dengan jumlah pengguna dianggarkan melebihi 300,000 orang.
Bagi menampung pengguna yang semakin meningkat dan semakin memerlukan perkhidmatan terbaik, maka pada 1 November 1996, Telekom Malaysia Berhad telah memulakan perkhidmatan TMNet, sebagai Penyedia Perkhidmatan Internet (ISP) kedua Malaysia setelah mendapat lesen daripada pihak kerajaan.
Penggunaan Internet dijangka akan terus berkembang dengan cepatnya sebagai media komunikasi multimedia utama dunia yang akan membawa kita semua ke alaf ke 21. Kita amat bertuah kerana telah dapat mengenalpasti potensi Internet lebih 10 tahun dahulu berbanding dengan negara lain di rantau ini.
Apa itu JARING?
JARING adalah rangkaian komputer yang telah dibangunkan oleh MIMOS Berhad, Malaysia yang menghubungkan kepada rangkaian yang lain di serata dunia melalui talian sewaan disambungkan ke Amerika Syarikat/Kanada, Jepun dan Singapura. Kesemua rangkaian ini membentuk rangkaian komunikasi data yang besar dikenali sebagai "internet".
Objektif
1. Untuk menubuhkan rangkaian komunikasi data bersepadu.
2. Bagi meningkatkan aktiviti R&D.
3. Mempelajari dan menguji penggunaan teknologi komunikasi data dan kesan kepada aktiviti sosio-ekonomi.
Kenyataan projek
1. Menghubungkan internet secara global.
2. Pada kos yang termampu dan berpatutan.
3. Merangkumi rangkaian antarabangsa.
4. Tujuan menukar maklumat dan perkembangan lain.
5. Pembelajaran secara kreatif dan inovatif, penyelidikan dan aktiviti perniagaan.
6. Mempelopori dan membentuk masyarakat yang berinformasi.
Topologi (nod JARING)
Nod pensuisan JARING telah ditempatkan dikebanyakan bandar besar di Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Pinang, Alor Setar, Ipoh, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, Seremban, Melaka, Seri Gading, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri dan Kota Kinabalu.
Di dalam kawasan Lembah Klang, nod-nod ditempatkan di Damansara, Brickfields, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang, Kajang dan Bangi.
PEMBANGUNAN JARING
Dengan meningkatnya minat dan publisiti tentang Internet di Malaysia sejak kebelakangan ini, Institut Sistem Mikroelektronik Malaysia (MIMOS) ingin mengambil peluang ini untuk berkongsi maklumat tentang arah-tuju pembangunan perkhidmatan Internet.
Pada hari ini, Kerajaan Malaysia melalui MIMOS adalah satu-satunya pembekal perkhidmatan penuh Internet di Malaysia - meliputi capaian dalam dan luar negeri dan kemudahan perkhidmatan nilai-tambah untuk pengguna komersial dan bukan-komersial. JARING ialah nama rangkaian Internet di Malaysia. Pengguna boleh mencapai JARING/Internet melalui talian dail, talian litar suwa sama ada jenis analog atau digital dan juga capaian melalui ISDN. JARING akan terus menggunakan teknologi terbaik untuk faedah pengguna Internet di Malaysia.
Kerajaan akan terus meningkatkan kawasan liputan perkhidmatan JARING di seluruh negara untuk menentukan kesamaan capaian dengan kos yang termampu untuk penduduk di dalam dan luar bandar. Rangkaian ini akan disepadukan sepenuhnya dengan pembangunan Bandaraya Bistari Putrajaya dan "Multimedia Supercorridor".
Keupayaan talian tulang belakang JARING akan juga diperkembangkan untuk menyokong aplikasi baru. Litar yang sedia ada sepanjang hampir 5,000 km dengan kelajuan 64, 128, 256, 512, 768 atau 1,536 kbps (bergantung kepada kawasan liputan) akan dipertingkatkan sehingga beberapa megabit sesaat (mbps) mengikut keperluan. Beberapa litar mungkin berkelajuan melebihi 100 mbps. Rangkaian tulang-belakang berkelajuan tinggi diperlukan untuk menyokong aplikasi multimedia untu transaksi komersial, pendidikan jarak jauh, perkhidmatan kesihatan dan pentadbiran kerajaan.
Dengan wujudnya aplikasi terbaru ini nanti, rangkaian kita akan menjadi setaraf, kalau tidak lebih baik, berbanding dengan rangkaian yang serupa di negara yang lebih maju.
JARING adalah satu-satunya rangkaian Internet di Malaysia yang mempunyai `gateway' antarabangsa untuk sambungan kepada rangkaian yang serupa di negara lain di seluruh dunia. Sambungan sekarang ialah melalui Amerika Syarikat menggunakan talian gentian optik berkelajuan tinggi. Satu talian baru yang berasingan sedang dirancangkan untuk memperkukuhkan sambungan peringkat antarabangsa.
DARI KILOBIT KE TERABIT
Jika kita imbas kembali bagaimana teknologi Internet dimulakan di Malaysia, maka kita akan mendapati bahawa teknologi Internet ini mulai dicuba pada tahun 1983/84. Pada masa itu hanya terdapat sebuah komputer mini sahaja, dengan lebar jalur (bandwidth) 0 bit. Pada tahun 1987, Rangkaian Komputer Malaysia (RangKoM) dengan kemudahan sambungan antarabangsa telah ditubuhkan. Kelajuan pemindahan data ialah 1.2 hingga 9.6 kbps. Walaupun demikian, natijah terpenting ialah asas jaringan Internet mula bertapak di Malaysia.
Talian litar suwa antarabangsa berkelajuan 64 kbps ke Amerika Syarikat telah beroperasi mulai 14hb. Nov. 1992. Talian ini mengambil masa dua tahun sebelum menjadi sesak dengan jumlah pengguna yang semakin bertambah. Pada 29hb. Nov. 1994, keupayaan JARING dipertingkatkan kepada 1.5Mbps yang merupakan 24 kali ganda lebih pantas berbanding dengan talian 64 kbps. Peningkatan keupayaan ini dirasmikan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Datuk Sri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Keupayaan JARING ini memanfaatkan sepenuhnya teknologi gentian optik selaras dengan pertambahan dalam bilangan keahlian. Ia cuma bertahan selama setahun sahaja apabila lebar jalur tersebut turut penuh.
Tahun 1995 juga menyaksikan pemasangan sambungan kedua ke Internet antarabangsa. Sambungan tetap yang berkelajuan tinggi pada kadar 2.048Mbps (E1) berfungsi serentak dengan sambungan 1.536Mbps (T1) sebelumnya. Kehadiran E1 di samping T1 berupaya menampung penggunaan yang semakin bertambah. Pada 11 Jun 1997, JARING menempa sejarah dengan pemasangan talian antarabangsa berkelajuan 45Mbps ke Amerika Syarikat yang merupakan talian pertama seumpamanya di rantau ini (di luar Jepun). Talian ini dipasang mengambil sempena persidangan Internet terbesar di Asia, INET97.
Tahun Bandwidth
1987 1.2 – 9.6 kbps
14 NOV 1992 64 kbps
29 NOV 1994 1.5 Mbps
1995 1.536 Mbps
1995 2.048 Mbps
1997 34 Mbps
11 JUN 1997 45 Mbps
OGOS 1999 60 Mbps
Jika dibuat perbandingan terhadap teknologi lebar jalur yang semakin berkembang, maka kita akan dapati teknologi ini semakin meningkatkan kadar pemindahan data. Sekarang ini, pengguna rumah menyambungkan Internet melalui komputer peribadi (PC) dan talian telefon. Ini juga bermakna kebanyakan sambungan Internet di rumah adalah perlahan. Bagi menggambarkan kepentingan kelajuan, boleh dirujuk kepada masa yang diambil bagi menerima video 3.5 minit dengan menggunakan modem berkelajuan 28.8 kbps (ribu bit sesaat). Ia memakan masa selama 46 minit. Modem ini banyak digunakan oleh pengguna di rumah dan ia sangat perlahan bagi membawa kandungan multimedia.
Masa yang diambil bagi menerima klip video 3.5 minit dengan menggunakan teknologi berlainan
Jenis lebar jalur Masa pindahan
Modem 28.8 kbps 46 minit
ISDN 128 kbps 10 minit
Modem kabel 4 Mbps 20 saat
ADSL 8 Mbps 10 saat
Modem kabel 10 Mbps 8 saat
Syarikat-syarikat telefon, satelit, penyedia perkhidmatan kabel, dan lain-lain sedang berusaha menghasilkan sambungan Internet yang lebih pantas. Teknologi lebar jalur terbaharu terus diperkenalkan, seperti ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line) yang membolehkan talian telefon tembaga menghantar data pada kelajuan 8 juta bit sesaat (Mbps). Pada kelajuan ini, pengguna dapat menerima video 3.5 minit dalam masa 10 saat.
Peningkatan bilangan pengguna Internet di seluruh dunia akan mengakibatkan lebar jalur yang sedia ada penuh dan tidak mampu menampung jumlah yang semakin bertambah. Dalam masa yang sama bilangan komputer dan peranti lain juga turut bertambah memenuhi Internet. Lebar jalur T1 dan E1 yang banyak pun tidak boleh memenuhi semua penggunaan Internet.
Dalam menangani perihal ini, wujud satu program yang dinamakan Internet generasi mendatang atau Next Generation Internet (NGI). Antara matlamat NGI ialah menyediakan penalaan (routing) dan pensuisan terabit, jaringan yang boleh mentadbir diri sendiri, dan testbed berkelajuan tinggi. Projek yang dimulakan di Amerika Syarikat ini menggabungkan ARPANET, CSNET, NSFNET, NASA dan pelbagai badan lagi.
Dari segi aktiviti pembangunan dan penyelidikan, projek ini bermatlamatkan untuk menghasilkan Internet II. Ia akan melibatkan pembinaan jaringan penyelidikan dan enterprise terkini untuk aktiviti penyelidikan dan aplikasi multimedia sepenuhnya. Aplikasi teknologi rangkaian dan protokol baru akan diperkenalkan dalam menghasilkan Internet II.
Oleh itu, satu revolusi bagi menampung keperluan lebar jalur Internet II telah dikenal pasti. Inilah revolusi yang dinamakan OC-12 dengan kapasiti kelajuan 622 megabit sesaat dan OC-192 dalam kapasiti kelajuan 10 gigabit sesaat. Melalui penggunaan sistem WDM (wavelength division multiplexing), sebanyak 16 OC-192 aliran bit akan diletakkan dalam setiap gentian optik. Ia akan menghasilkan kelajuan sebanyak 160 gigabit sesaat. Dengan bilangan saluran atau konduit yang sedia ada di tempat-tempat tertentu, muatan sebanyak 30 terabit dapat dihasilkan.
Melalui modem kabel selaju 10 Mbps, kita dapat mengambil video 3.5 minit hanya dalam masa 8 saat, bayangkan berapa banyak klip video dan kandungan multimedia dapat dipindahkan dengan kelajuan 30 terabit sesaat! Pihak yang membangunkan WDM juga turut bekerjasama dengan pihak Cisco, Juniper, Avivi dan syarikat router lain bagi menghasilkan router terabit.
http://www.cherasnet.com/joomla15/index.php/component/content/article/35-bantuan/59-sejarah-internet-malaysia
Sabtu, 23 Mei 2009 00:50
Artikel berikut adalah hasil usaha Pengarang Asal==> Muhammad Yusri bin Mohd Zahir On Monday, February 09, 2009.
SEJARAH INTERNET
Internet merupakan satu rangkaian sedunia komputer yang tersambung menerusi talian telefon, gentian optik, teknologi tanpa wayar seperti 3G,WIMAX,EDGE dan WIFI.
Asal-usul internet bermula semasa Perang Dingin. Satu rangkaian telah dicipta untuk menghubungkan semua komputer tentera di sekitar Amerika Syarikat supaya sekiranya tercetus serangan nuklear, peralatan tentera Amerika Syarikat masih dapat berfungsi. Mesin-mesin ini disambungkan melalui talian telefon. Dua mesin pertama telah berjaya disambungkan pada akhir tahun 1969.
Dalam 15 tahun pertama selepas terciptanya rangkaian ini, tapak yang tersambung hanyalah tapak-tapak tentera dan akademik. Pelbagai rangkaian telah didirikan termasuk ARPAnet yang menyambungkan universiti.universiti di Amerika Syarikat dan MILnet yang menyambungkan pangkalan-pangkalan tentera. ARPAnet (Advanced Research Project Agency) adalah salah satu bahagian Jabatan Pertahanan Amerika Syarikat turut menghasilkan kaedah pensuisan paket (packet swiching) bagi menghubungkan pelbagai jenis komputer.
Menjelang tahun 1970, rangkaian komputer yang pertama menggunakan teknik pensuisan paket di Amerika Syarikat telah menghubungkan sistem komputer di University of California di Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California di Santa Barbara (UCSB), Stanford University dan University of Utah di Salt Lake City.
Pada 1972, terdapat 40 tapak rangkaian yang kecil dihubungkan kepada rangkaian ARPAnet. Ketika itu, rangkaian ini digunakan untuk menghantar fail teks yang kecil di antara pengguna. Kini ia lebih dikenali sebagai E-Mail dan semakin popular digunakan.
Pada awalnya piawai komunikasi yang asal dikenali sebagai NCP "Network Control Protocol". Setelah mengkaji teknik yang lebih canggih piawai kualiti tinggi digunakan iaitu TCP/IP .TCP (Transmission Tranfer Protocol) dimana ia akan mengubah mesej kepada bentuk paket di sumber dan kemudiannya akan mengubah semula kebentuk mesej di destinasi. IP (Internet Protocol) pula mengendalikan alamat. ARPA bukan sahaja mempelopori NCP malah Ethernet, FDDI dan X.25.
Pada tahun 80-an, rangkaian-rangkaian ini mula disambungkan secara komersial. Kita boleh mengunjungi dari satu rangkaian ke satu rangkaian yang lain dan pada masa inilah istilah "internet" mula digunakan.
Pada masa itu juga, perkhidmatan internet capaian awam mula diwujudkan. Sehingga 1990, internet lebih banyak digunakan dalam bidang penyelidikan saintifik. Apabila penggunaan internet oleh komuniti saintifik semakin berleluasa, orang awam juga mula menyedari potensi internet sebagai sejenis medium komunikasi, hiburan dan pendidikan sedunia. Walaupun dimulakan sebagai sebuah rangkaian ketenteraan, kini terbuktilah internet mempunyai banyak kegunaan lain.
Jika dilihat dahulu, hanya terdapat 4 nod sahaja dalam rangkaian ARPAnet. Tetapi kini terdapat 10 ribu nod dalam internet, yang tersebar melebihi 42 negara seluruh dunia. Pada hari ini, terdapat lebih daripada 40 juta pengguna internet di seluruh pelusok dunia.
Di Malaysia internet dilancarkan pada tahun 1987 apabila Institut Mikroelektronik Malaysia (MIMOS) memulakan Rangkaian Komputer Malaysia atau RangKom. Kemudian Jaring yang diperkembangkan daripada RangKom dilancarkan pada tahun 1990.
SEJARAH RINGKAS INTERNET DI MALAYSIA
Pada tahun 1987, Rangkaian Komputer Malaysia (RangKoM) dengan kemudahan sambungan antarabangsa telah ditubuhkan. Universiti-universiti tempatan merupakan pengguna RangKoM pada peringkat awal. Ianya terus berkembang dengan sokongan dan perhatian dari pihak swasta. Tumpuan awal penggunaan RangKoM ialah pada mel dan forum elektronik, walaupun ia mempunyai keupayaan komunikasi dan perkongsian sumber. Projek RangKoM bukan sahaja memberi pengalaman dari segi pembangunan teknologi, malah ia juga mendedahkan beberapa kelemahan, kekurangan dan juga potensi penggunaan teknologi rangkaian komunikasi dan isu-isu pengurusan yang berkaitan dengannya.
Berdasarkan kepada pengalaman ini, program JARING telah dirumuskan, dan ianya dilancarkan pada tahun 1991 yang bertujuan untuk membangunkan rangkaian komunikasi negara secara bersepadu dan lebih menyeluruh. Secara praktiknya, segala kegiatan dan pengalaman projek RangKoM telah diserapkan ke dalam projek JARING.
MIMOS yang dikenalikan oleh 5 pakar komputer iaitu Dr Mohd Azzman UM, Dr Awang Lah UM, Dr Muhammad Ghazie Ismail (USM), Dr Mohd Arif Nun (UTM), Dr Mohd Zawawi Ismail (UTM) mengendalikan projek rangkaian JARING sebagai projek pembangunan utama dalam Rancangan Malaysia Ke-Enam. JARING yang dihubungkan dengan banyak institusi penyelidikan dan akademik, serta agensi kerajaan dan swasta di Malaysia, bermatlamatkan terutamanya untuk menyokong aktiviti pendidikan, penyelidikan dan komersial. JARING juga dihubungkan kepada rangkaian Internet antarabangsa.
Talian litar suwa antarabangsa berkelajuan 64Kbps ke Amerika Syarikat telah beroperasi mulai 14hb. Nov. 1992. Talian suwa ini menggantikan talian X.25 awam dan dail yang tidak lagi kos efektif setelah meningkatnya bilangan pengguna dan tahap penggunaan JARING. Pada 29hb. Nov. 1994, keupayaan JARING dipertingkatkan kepada 1.5Mbps yang merupakan 24 kali ganda lebih pantas berbanding dengan talian 64Kbps. Keupayaan JARING ini memanfaatkan sepenuhnya teknologi gentian optik selaras dengan pertambahan dalam bilangan keahlian.
Pada bulan Jun 1994, JARING bergerak dengan lebih cemerlang lagi dan Internet boleh diakses melalui nodnya yang ditempatkan di seluruh negara. Nod JARING pada masa tersebut ditempatkan di 16 buah bandar utama di Malaysia, iaitu di Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Bangi, Melaka, Seri Gading, Johor Bahru, Ipoh, Pulau Pinang, Alor Setar, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, dan Kuala Lumpur. Ini membolehkan lebih ramai pengguna mencapai JARING/Internet dengan panggilan telefon tempatan. Rangkaian JARING turut boleh dimanfaatkan oleh pengguna dari
Singapura, Brunei, dan Thailand.
Dari segi perkembangan keahlian JARING/Internet pula, sebanyak 27 organisasi dan jabatan kerajaan telah menjadi ahli pada awal tahun 1992. Lebih 200 pelanggan dalam negara menggunakan kemudahan ini pada akhir tahun 1992. Keahlian JARING dikategorikan kepada pelajar, orang perseorangan dan organisasi. Orang perseorangan dan pelajar hanya boleh mengakses Internet melalui talian dail sahaja, sementara organisasi boleh mengakses melalui talian dail atau litar suwa. Keahlian JARING di sepanjang tahun 1994 meningkat kepada 1,693 ahli individu dan 254 syarikat.
Dalam tahun 1995 pula, JARING ditingkatkan keupayaan bagi menampung pertambahan keahlian dan penggunaan serta mengurangkan kesesakan aliran trafik. Tumpuan utama ialah mengukuhkan prasarana tulang belakang JARING melalui tambahan nod, talian di antara nod, dan peningkatan kelajuan beberapa talian suwa serta bilangan talian dail.
Dalam tahun 1995 juga talian yang menghubungkan nod-nod di Pulau Pinang dan Johor Bahru telah ditingkatkan kelajuannya dari 64Kbps kepada 2.048Mbps. Sehingga akhir tahun 1995, lebih 1,000 talian untuk pengguna talian dail telah disediakan. Sebanyak 40 nod baru telah dipasang dalam tahun 1996 sebagai tambahan kepada 21 nod pada tahun sebelumnya.
Tahun 1995 juga menyaksikan pemasangan sambungan kedua ke Internet antarabangsa. Sambungan tetap yang berkelajuan tinggi pada kadar 2.048Mbps (E1) berfungsi serentak dengan sambungan 1.536Mbps (T1) sebelumnya. Kehadiran E1 disamping T1 berupaya menampung penggunaan yang semakin bertambah. Sepanjang tahun 1995 pertumbuhan peningkatan keahlian JARING bertambah pada kadar purata 22% sebulan. Melalui Rancangan Malaysia Ke-7, kerajaan telah melaksanakan projek Superstruktur Maklumat Negara yang menggunakan JARING sebagai prasarana tulang belakang.
Untuk membuka peluang yang lebih luas kepada umum, JARING telah memeteraikan Memorandum Persefahaman (MOU) dengan beberapa syarikat Pembekal Perkhidmatan Akses JARING (JASP) pada 1 Ogos 1996. Ia memudahkan orang ramai mendapat khidmat sokongan bagi mengakses Internet.
Seterusnya, pada tanggal 7 November 1996 JARING telah menandatangani perjanjian persefahaman dengan Asia Internet Holding (AIH) dari Jepun bagi mempertingkatkan perkhidmatan Internet untuk pengguna tempatan dan Asia Pasifik. Rangkaian yang dinamakan JARING-A-Bone ini memudahkan pengguna Internet menghubungi halaman web di rantau Asia. Hubungan tersebut menyediakan akses lebih cepat dan secara terus bagi pengguna kepada negara-negara Asia yang dihubungkan dengan A-Bone. Pada bulan Mei 1997, JARING mula menawarkan perkhidmatan perayauan antarabangsa yang meliputi lebih 150 negara.
Pada 11 Jun 1997, JARING menempa sejarah dengan pemasangan talian antarabangsa berkelajuan 45Mbps yang merupakan talian pertama seumpamanya di rantau ini (di luar Jepun). Talian ini dipasang mengambil sempena persidangan Internet terbesar di Asia, INET 97. Selanjutnya pada akhir tahun 1997, jumlah keahlian JARING meningkat melebihi 100,000 orang dengan jumlah pengguna dianggarkan melebihi 300,000 orang.
Bagi menampung pengguna yang semakin meningkat dan semakin memerlukan perkhidmatan terbaik, maka pada 1 November 1996, Telekom Malaysia Berhad telah memulakan perkhidmatan TMNet, sebagai Penyedia Perkhidmatan Internet (ISP) kedua Malaysia setelah mendapat lesen daripada pihak kerajaan.
Penggunaan Internet dijangka akan terus berkembang dengan cepatnya sebagai media komunikasi multimedia utama dunia yang akan membawa kita semua ke alaf ke 21. Kita amat bertuah kerana telah dapat mengenalpasti potensi Internet lebih 10 tahun dahulu berbanding dengan negara lain di rantau ini.
Apa itu JARING?
JARING adalah rangkaian komputer yang telah dibangunkan oleh MIMOS Berhad, Malaysia yang menghubungkan kepada rangkaian yang lain di serata dunia melalui talian sewaan disambungkan ke Amerika Syarikat/Kanada, Jepun dan Singapura. Kesemua rangkaian ini membentuk rangkaian komunikasi data yang besar dikenali sebagai "internet".
Objektif
1. Untuk menubuhkan rangkaian komunikasi data bersepadu.
2. Bagi meningkatkan aktiviti R&D.
3. Mempelajari dan menguji penggunaan teknologi komunikasi data dan kesan kepada aktiviti sosio-ekonomi.
Kenyataan projek
1. Menghubungkan internet secara global.
2. Pada kos yang termampu dan berpatutan.
3. Merangkumi rangkaian antarabangsa.
4. Tujuan menukar maklumat dan perkembangan lain.
5. Pembelajaran secara kreatif dan inovatif, penyelidikan dan aktiviti perniagaan.
6. Mempelopori dan membentuk masyarakat yang berinformasi.
Topologi (nod JARING)
Nod pensuisan JARING telah ditempatkan dikebanyakan bandar besar di Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Pinang, Alor Setar, Ipoh, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, Seremban, Melaka, Seri Gading, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri dan Kota Kinabalu.
Di dalam kawasan Lembah Klang, nod-nod ditempatkan di Damansara, Brickfields, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang, Kajang dan Bangi.
PEMBANGUNAN JARING
Dengan meningkatnya minat dan publisiti tentang Internet di Malaysia sejak kebelakangan ini, Institut Sistem Mikroelektronik Malaysia (MIMOS) ingin mengambil peluang ini untuk berkongsi maklumat tentang arah-tuju pembangunan perkhidmatan Internet.
Pada hari ini, Kerajaan Malaysia melalui MIMOS adalah satu-satunya pembekal perkhidmatan penuh Internet di Malaysia - meliputi capaian dalam dan luar negeri dan kemudahan perkhidmatan nilai-tambah untuk pengguna komersial dan bukan-komersial. JARING ialah nama rangkaian Internet di Malaysia. Pengguna boleh mencapai JARING/Internet melalui talian dail, talian litar suwa sama ada jenis analog atau digital dan juga capaian melalui ISDN. JARING akan terus menggunakan teknologi terbaik untuk faedah pengguna Internet di Malaysia.
Kerajaan akan terus meningkatkan kawasan liputan perkhidmatan JARING di seluruh negara untuk menentukan kesamaan capaian dengan kos yang termampu untuk penduduk di dalam dan luar bandar. Rangkaian ini akan disepadukan sepenuhnya dengan pembangunan Bandaraya Bistari Putrajaya dan "Multimedia Supercorridor".
Keupayaan talian tulang belakang JARING akan juga diperkembangkan untuk menyokong aplikasi baru. Litar yang sedia ada sepanjang hampir 5,000 km dengan kelajuan 64, 128, 256, 512, 768 atau 1,536 kbps (bergantung kepada kawasan liputan) akan dipertingkatkan sehingga beberapa megabit sesaat (mbps) mengikut keperluan. Beberapa litar mungkin berkelajuan melebihi 100 mbps. Rangkaian tulang-belakang berkelajuan tinggi diperlukan untuk menyokong aplikasi multimedia untu transaksi komersial, pendidikan jarak jauh, perkhidmatan kesihatan dan pentadbiran kerajaan.
Dengan wujudnya aplikasi terbaru ini nanti, rangkaian kita akan menjadi setaraf, kalau tidak lebih baik, berbanding dengan rangkaian yang serupa di negara yang lebih maju.
JARING adalah satu-satunya rangkaian Internet di Malaysia yang mempunyai `gateway' antarabangsa untuk sambungan kepada rangkaian yang serupa di negara lain di seluruh dunia. Sambungan sekarang ialah melalui Amerika Syarikat menggunakan talian gentian optik berkelajuan tinggi. Satu talian baru yang berasingan sedang dirancangkan untuk memperkukuhkan sambungan peringkat antarabangsa.
DARI KILOBIT KE TERABIT
Jika kita imbas kembali bagaimana teknologi Internet dimulakan di Malaysia, maka kita akan mendapati bahawa teknologi Internet ini mulai dicuba pada tahun 1983/84. Pada masa itu hanya terdapat sebuah komputer mini sahaja, dengan lebar jalur (bandwidth) 0 bit. Pada tahun 1987, Rangkaian Komputer Malaysia (RangKoM) dengan kemudahan sambungan antarabangsa telah ditubuhkan. Kelajuan pemindahan data ialah 1.2 hingga 9.6 kbps. Walaupun demikian, natijah terpenting ialah asas jaringan Internet mula bertapak di Malaysia.
Talian litar suwa antarabangsa berkelajuan 64 kbps ke Amerika Syarikat telah beroperasi mulai 14hb. Nov. 1992. Talian ini mengambil masa dua tahun sebelum menjadi sesak dengan jumlah pengguna yang semakin bertambah. Pada 29hb. Nov. 1994, keupayaan JARING dipertingkatkan kepada 1.5Mbps yang merupakan 24 kali ganda lebih pantas berbanding dengan talian 64 kbps. Peningkatan keupayaan ini dirasmikan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Datuk Sri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. Keupayaan JARING ini memanfaatkan sepenuhnya teknologi gentian optik selaras dengan pertambahan dalam bilangan keahlian. Ia cuma bertahan selama setahun sahaja apabila lebar jalur tersebut turut penuh.
Tahun 1995 juga menyaksikan pemasangan sambungan kedua ke Internet antarabangsa. Sambungan tetap yang berkelajuan tinggi pada kadar 2.048Mbps (E1) berfungsi serentak dengan sambungan 1.536Mbps (T1) sebelumnya. Kehadiran E1 di samping T1 berupaya menampung penggunaan yang semakin bertambah. Pada 11 Jun 1997, JARING menempa sejarah dengan pemasangan talian antarabangsa berkelajuan 45Mbps ke Amerika Syarikat yang merupakan talian pertama seumpamanya di rantau ini (di luar Jepun). Talian ini dipasang mengambil sempena persidangan Internet terbesar di Asia, INET97.
Tahun Bandwidth
1987 1.2 – 9.6 kbps
14 NOV 1992 64 kbps
29 NOV 1994 1.5 Mbps
1995 1.536 Mbps
1995 2.048 Mbps
1997 34 Mbps
11 JUN 1997 45 Mbps
OGOS 1999 60 Mbps
Jika dibuat perbandingan terhadap teknologi lebar jalur yang semakin berkembang, maka kita akan dapati teknologi ini semakin meningkatkan kadar pemindahan data. Sekarang ini, pengguna rumah menyambungkan Internet melalui komputer peribadi (PC) dan talian telefon. Ini juga bermakna kebanyakan sambungan Internet di rumah adalah perlahan. Bagi menggambarkan kepentingan kelajuan, boleh dirujuk kepada masa yang diambil bagi menerima video 3.5 minit dengan menggunakan modem berkelajuan 28.8 kbps (ribu bit sesaat). Ia memakan masa selama 46 minit. Modem ini banyak digunakan oleh pengguna di rumah dan ia sangat perlahan bagi membawa kandungan multimedia.
Masa yang diambil bagi menerima klip video 3.5 minit dengan menggunakan teknologi berlainan
Jenis lebar jalur Masa pindahan
Modem 28.8 kbps 46 minit
ISDN 128 kbps 10 minit
Modem kabel 4 Mbps 20 saat
ADSL 8 Mbps 10 saat
Modem kabel 10 Mbps 8 saat
Syarikat-syarikat telefon, satelit, penyedia perkhidmatan kabel, dan lain-lain sedang berusaha menghasilkan sambungan Internet yang lebih pantas. Teknologi lebar jalur terbaharu terus diperkenalkan, seperti ADSL (Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line) yang membolehkan talian telefon tembaga menghantar data pada kelajuan 8 juta bit sesaat (Mbps). Pada kelajuan ini, pengguna dapat menerima video 3.5 minit dalam masa 10 saat.
Peningkatan bilangan pengguna Internet di seluruh dunia akan mengakibatkan lebar jalur yang sedia ada penuh dan tidak mampu menampung jumlah yang semakin bertambah. Dalam masa yang sama bilangan komputer dan peranti lain juga turut bertambah memenuhi Internet. Lebar jalur T1 dan E1 yang banyak pun tidak boleh memenuhi semua penggunaan Internet.
Dalam menangani perihal ini, wujud satu program yang dinamakan Internet generasi mendatang atau Next Generation Internet (NGI). Antara matlamat NGI ialah menyediakan penalaan (routing) dan pensuisan terabit, jaringan yang boleh mentadbir diri sendiri, dan testbed berkelajuan tinggi. Projek yang dimulakan di Amerika Syarikat ini menggabungkan ARPANET, CSNET, NSFNET, NASA dan pelbagai badan lagi.
Dari segi aktiviti pembangunan dan penyelidikan, projek ini bermatlamatkan untuk menghasilkan Internet II. Ia akan melibatkan pembinaan jaringan penyelidikan dan enterprise terkini untuk aktiviti penyelidikan dan aplikasi multimedia sepenuhnya. Aplikasi teknologi rangkaian dan protokol baru akan diperkenalkan dalam menghasilkan Internet II.
Oleh itu, satu revolusi bagi menampung keperluan lebar jalur Internet II telah dikenal pasti. Inilah revolusi yang dinamakan OC-12 dengan kapasiti kelajuan 622 megabit sesaat dan OC-192 dalam kapasiti kelajuan 10 gigabit sesaat. Melalui penggunaan sistem WDM (wavelength division multiplexing), sebanyak 16 OC-192 aliran bit akan diletakkan dalam setiap gentian optik. Ia akan menghasilkan kelajuan sebanyak 160 gigabit sesaat. Dengan bilangan saluran atau konduit yang sedia ada di tempat-tempat tertentu, muatan sebanyak 30 terabit dapat dihasilkan.
Melalui modem kabel selaju 10 Mbps, kita dapat mengambil video 3.5 minit hanya dalam masa 8 saat, bayangkan berapa banyak klip video dan kandungan multimedia dapat dipindahkan dengan kelajuan 30 terabit sesaat! Pihak yang membangunkan WDM juga turut bekerjasama dengan pihak Cisco, Juniper, Avivi dan syarikat router lain bagi menghasilkan router terabit.
http://www.cherasnet.com/joomla15/index.php/component/content/article/35-bantuan/59-sejarah-internet-malaysia
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