Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 15:04:00
That's the advice TM UniFi programme director, Ah mad Azhar Yahya had for consumers eager to get their taste of High Speed Broadband (HSBB).
"With UniFi now launched, our main focus is on ramping up capacity and coverage. We are just begin ning and haven't reached the optimum level of effi ciency," he said, adding that there is already a waiting list of interested subscribers numbering in the "thou sands".
"Getting UniFi brings about a change not just in terms of faster Internet speeds but in terms of the mode of de livery as well. Wiring needs require consideration, and I would advise soon-to-be subscribers to start thinking about it," he said. Currently the installation time takes between four to eight hours for landed properties (high rises need about two hours for installation), with a wait time of one to three weeks for an appointment.
Since the official launch of both the government's National Broadband Initiative and TM's UniFi on March 24, response has been mixed towards TM's packages.
On TM's bundling of IPTV and voice calls along with broadband Internet, Ahmad noted that it was "almost for free", with the waiving of the equipment cost for subscribers and the current IPTV content offerings not requiring any additional fees, for now.
He also added that it is intended as a teaser, a plat form for future opportunities for new services. As for voice calls, existing TM landline subscribers will be issued a new number but for those wishing to retain their original numbers, the copper lines will be maintained. A migration system is in the works.
"We are very ex cited about IPTV as it is the first time for us. It's a new horizon. Our content offerings are small now but we are defi nitely going to expand it and this will be an opportunity for local content providers to deliver their products on our platform and to monetise it. We see it as a long tail plat form. This will also give our customers more choice in their content."
As for the controversial Fair Usage Policy that TM initially implemented but withdrew, Ahmad stressed that it is to avoid a small number of high usage clients hogging bandwidth from the majority of average us ers, adding that for the time being TM will continue to monitor the situation in order to determine usage patterns.
"The way I see it, if it is used fairly across the board, there will be no need to implement it," he noted, add ing that high-usage consumers or those who do not like the idea of limits on their data usage could sign up for the 5Mbps business package (BIZ5) which will not be subjected to any limits and will not come with IPTV.
With UniFi now out, can consumers expect a further reduction in Streamyx rates?
"We have already announced the reduction of the Streamyx 4Mbps plan from RM160 to RM140 per month. In the coming months, we will be looking into realigning Streamyx's prices accordingly," replied Ahmad, adding that TM will continue to invest and improve Streamyx, with a commitment of three to five per cent of annual revenue earmarked for just that purpose.
As of last week, the number of UniFi subscribers stand at over 800, a mixture of new and trial subscrib ers whose trial period will end in May.
With Enterprise and Government packages due to be launched in July and the introductory promotion which waives the fees for installation (RM300) and equipment (RM800) to continue indefinitely at this point - all that's left now is to wait.
For more information on UniFi, visit www.unifi.my or call 1-300-88-1222.
http://www.mmail.com.my/content/33308-ticket-faster-speed
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