1800s
1874 The telephone makes its debut in Perak
1882 Perak and Penang are linked by telephone via a submarine cable
1891 The first telephone exchange is commissioned in Kuala Lumpur
1894 A submarine cable links Labuan with Singapore and Hong Kong
1900s
1900 The first magneto telephone service is introduced in Kudat, Jesselton (KK) and Sandakan
1908 Incorporation of postal and telegraph services
1926 Advent of radio communications in the country
1946 Establishment of the Telecommunications Department in Malaya
1962 Introduction of Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore via the first long distance microwave link
1963
Expansion of the microwave network throughout Malaysia
Launch of television services in Peninsular Malaysia
1968 The Telecommunications Department of Sabah and Sarawak merge with that of Peninsular Malaysia forming the Telecommunications Department of Malaysia
1970 The first international standard satellite earth station is commissioned in Kuantan, marking the advent of live telecasts in Malaysia
1975 Establishment of the Automatic Telex Exchange
1979 Introduction of International Direct Dial (IDD) facilities
1980 Malaysia commissions its own submarine cable linking Kuantan and Kuching
1982 Introduction of Telefax and International Maritime Service
1983 Introduction of data communications
1984 Introduction of packet switch technology, leading to Malaysia’s own public data network
1985
Commissioning of the ATUR service using 450 analog cellular radio technology, a first in Asia
The Multi Access Radio System, providing rural customers with easier access to telephone services, is introduced 1987 Jabatan Telekom Malaysia (JTM) is corporatised, forming Syarikat Telekom Malaysia Berhad (STMB), the nation’s first privatised entity
1988 Introduction of digital INTELSAT Business Service 1989 Introduction of the 800 toll-free service
1990
Introduction of international toll-free and prepaid cardphone (Kadfon)
Listing of STMB on the Main Board of Bursa Securities and introduction of the new company logo
1991
The Company rebranded its name to Telekom Malaysia
Introduction of Malaysia Direct, Home Country Direct
1992 Introduction of Video Conferencing and CENTREX
1993 Introduction of ISDN services
1996 Introduction of 1800 MHz digital TMTOUCH cellular services
1997 Introduction of Corporate Information Superhighway (COINS), Telekom Malaysia’s state-of-the-art, high-capacity enterprise solution
2000s
2001
Launch of Bluehyppo.com, Telekom Malaysia’s lifestyle Internet portal, which records more than 290 million searches a year
Introduction of broadband services
Telekom Malaysia becomes a major partner in the launch of the state-of-the-art submarine cable Asia Pacific Cable Network 2 (APCN2)
Establishment of TM Net as the largest Internet Service Provider in the South-East Asian region
Launch of CDMA service fixed wireless telephony
2002 Award of the 3G spectrum to Telekom Malaysia
2003 Merger of Celcom and TMTOUCH forming Malaysia’s largest cellular operator
2004 Restructuring of TM TelCo into two Strategic Business Units (SBUs) – TM Wholesale and TM Retail
2005
Telekom Malaysia undergoes a major re-branding exercise and TM is adopted as the new brand
Launch of 3G Services – first in Malaysia
Acquisition of 27.3% interest in PT Excelcomindo Pratama Tbk of Indonesia
2006
TM forges strategic partnership with Vodafone, becoming a Vodafone Partner Network with a global reach of an estimated 179 million mobile customers worldwide
TM implements its second phase restructuring exercise that organises the Group’s business into 4 groupings – Malaysia Business, Celcom, TM International and TM Ventures
XL, TM’s Indonesian subsidiary secures 3G licence while Dialog, TM’s subsidiary in Sri Lanka launches South Asia’s first 3G service
Acquisition of the remaining 49% in Telekom Malaysia International (Cambodia) Company Limited, (formerly known as Cambodia Samart Communications Ltd), Cambodia and 49% interest in Spice Communications Private Limited, India
TM initiates consortium to develop an undersea cable system, Asia-America Gateway, linking SE Asia and the USA
2007
TM Group undertakes Demerger exercise resulting in two distinct entities – TM (FixedCo) and TMI (RegionCo)
TM becomes the first Malaysian company to be named Service Provider of the Year at 2007 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards
The first commemorative book titled “Transforming a Legacy”, was launched by YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Hj Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia
Divestment of TM’s Payphone business to Pernec Corporation Berhad
TM’s affiliate in India, Spice Communications Limited commences trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange and receives the National and International Long Distance licences
TM Group undertakes Demerger exercise resulting in two distinct entities - TM and TMI
2008
TM Group is officially demerged in April and TMI listed as a separate entity on Bursa Securities
IRDA and TM sign MOU appointing TM as the preferred Telecommunications Provider for the Iskandar Malaysia region
TM privatises VADS as part of its strategic growth plan
TM bags 3 awards at 2008 Frost and Sullivan Malaysia Telecom Awards including The Alternative Voice Service Provider of The Year for the first time
TM signs the Public Private Partnership Agreement with the Government to roll-out the High-Speed Broadband (HSBB) project
TM grabs five NACRA 2008 awards, including the Gold Award for Overall Excellence, Silver for Corporate Social Responsibility and Best Designed Annual Report
TM and Verizon collaborate to develop and improve Local IP capabilities
http://www.tm.com.my/about-tm/corporateprofile/Milestones/Pages/1800.aspx
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Online – speed rules
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://unifi-tm.com/online-%E2%80%93-speed-rules
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://unifi-tm.com/online-%E2%80%93-speed-rules
Get your taste of High Speed Broadband in Malaysia
Gabey Goh
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
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
TM mulls over quad play
Wednesday April 28, 2010
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
Quad network offers mobility, voice, data and video
PETALING JAYA: A mobile/cellular gamble may be the next thing that Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) will have to consider getting itself into if it wants to enhance its existing triple play offering.
But TM will have to wait till early next year as it had in 2008 signed an agreement with Axiata Group Bhd that forbids it to get involved in the cellular business.
However, early next year it will be free of that bond and it can either get into the cellular business by building a network or work with existing players to offer the missing link which is the cellular/mobile services to complement its triple play offering.
If it so decides then it would be the only operator in the country to offer quadruple or quad play.
Datuk Zamzamzairani ... 'We have options to consider wireless (or cellular) technology to enhance what we have.'
A quadruple-play network is one that offers mobility in addition to the voice, data and video provided by a triple-play network.
TM group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa when asked, said “it is too early to talk about it'', however he also added that “we are open to opportunities.''
TM recently launched its high speed broadband services under the UniFi brand name and the company has bundled images via its Internet protocol TV (IPTV) offering. To complement that, it needs to add mobility solutions. UniFi is now available in four areas in the Klang Valley.
“We are excited about UniFi and we will exploit it when the time comes. We have options to consider wireless (or cellular) technology to enhance what we have. To enhance UniFi we could use some other (player's) network, have a technology partner or even build it ourselves (to bundle the services),'' he told StarBiz in an interview recently.
Spectrum-wise, the company is sitting on the 450 and 800 Mhz spectrum, but whether these could be used for fourth generation offerings is unclear should TM decide to build its own network.
But TM's re-entry into the cellular world would also seem odd as it had been in and out of it and the whole idea of the demerger was to have a dedicated cellular company for mobile play.
However, technological advancements and consumer behavioural changes are driving convergence and mobility has become increasingly important in our daily lives.
TM's entry into the cellular world began over three decades ago when it was first to offer cellular services in the country via Atur 450. Then entered Celcom with its cellular service in 1989 and Celcom was once upon a time also majority-owned by TM. In 2003 Celcom went back to TM's stables.
In 1993, to introduce competition into the market place, the Government awarded several licences to operators and in came Mobikom. Here again, TM was shareholder of Mobikom alongside Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd and PNB Equity Resource Corp Sdn Bhd.
With so many licences dished out, the industry became fragmented and had to be consolidated. As a result, TM picked up Emartel (formerly owned by MRCB Telecommunications Sdn Bhd) cellular network as part of the industry's consolidation and also ended up with Mobikom and Celcom in 1998 and 2003 respectively. Celcom, by that time, had ended up with national asset management company Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd.
TM got out of the cellular business in 2008 in a demerger exercise. Its cellular business were hived off to Axiata, but it retained both the 450 and 800 Mhz spectrums. The 800 Mhz spectrum was with Mobikom which was embroiled in a legal suit during the demerger exercise.
“Armed with a high-speed broadband, fixed line business network and IPTV offering, the next wave for TM is get into the cellular business. It would be a waste not to capitalise on the cellular business to complement broadband, video and voice businesses. Of course, it can be done via working partnerships with existing players.
“Whatever it does this time, the offering has to be compelling and the bundling of cellular/mobile services has to complement broadband and voice,'' said an analyst.
While TM may be mulling over its move, Maxis Communications Bhd is all set for triple play with its offer today of a sneak peek into the future of its home offerings including IPTV. Maxis is a mobile player while its sister company, Astro, is into the broadcasting business on which it can rely for images for its IPTV offering.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F4%2F28%2Fbusiness%2F6145132&sec=business
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
Quad network offers mobility, voice, data and video
PETALING JAYA: A mobile/cellular gamble may be the next thing that Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) will have to consider getting itself into if it wants to enhance its existing triple play offering.
But TM will have to wait till early next year as it had in 2008 signed an agreement with Axiata Group Bhd that forbids it to get involved in the cellular business.
However, early next year it will be free of that bond and it can either get into the cellular business by building a network or work with existing players to offer the missing link which is the cellular/mobile services to complement its triple play offering.
If it so decides then it would be the only operator in the country to offer quadruple or quad play.
Datuk Zamzamzairani ... 'We have options to consider wireless (or cellular) technology to enhance what we have.'
A quadruple-play network is one that offers mobility in addition to the voice, data and video provided by a triple-play network.
TM group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa when asked, said “it is too early to talk about it'', however he also added that “we are open to opportunities.''
TM recently launched its high speed broadband services under the UniFi brand name and the company has bundled images via its Internet protocol TV (IPTV) offering. To complement that, it needs to add mobility solutions. UniFi is now available in four areas in the Klang Valley.
“We are excited about UniFi and we will exploit it when the time comes. We have options to consider wireless (or cellular) technology to enhance what we have. To enhance UniFi we could use some other (player's) network, have a technology partner or even build it ourselves (to bundle the services),'' he told StarBiz in an interview recently.
Spectrum-wise, the company is sitting on the 450 and 800 Mhz spectrum, but whether these could be used for fourth generation offerings is unclear should TM decide to build its own network.
But TM's re-entry into the cellular world would also seem odd as it had been in and out of it and the whole idea of the demerger was to have a dedicated cellular company for mobile play.
However, technological advancements and consumer behavioural changes are driving convergence and mobility has become increasingly important in our daily lives.
TM's entry into the cellular world began over three decades ago when it was first to offer cellular services in the country via Atur 450. Then entered Celcom with its cellular service in 1989 and Celcom was once upon a time also majority-owned by TM. In 2003 Celcom went back to TM's stables.
In 1993, to introduce competition into the market place, the Government awarded several licences to operators and in came Mobikom. Here again, TM was shareholder of Mobikom alongside Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd and PNB Equity Resource Corp Sdn Bhd.
With so many licences dished out, the industry became fragmented and had to be consolidated. As a result, TM picked up Emartel (formerly owned by MRCB Telecommunications Sdn Bhd) cellular network as part of the industry's consolidation and also ended up with Mobikom and Celcom in 1998 and 2003 respectively. Celcom, by that time, had ended up with national asset management company Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd.
TM got out of the cellular business in 2008 in a demerger exercise. Its cellular business were hived off to Axiata, but it retained both the 450 and 800 Mhz spectrums. The 800 Mhz spectrum was with Mobikom which was embroiled in a legal suit during the demerger exercise.
“Armed with a high-speed broadband, fixed line business network and IPTV offering, the next wave for TM is get into the cellular business. It would be a waste not to capitalise on the cellular business to complement broadband, video and voice businesses. Of course, it can be done via working partnerships with existing players.
“Whatever it does this time, the offering has to be compelling and the bundling of cellular/mobile services has to complement broadband and voice,'' said an analyst.
While TM may be mulling over its move, Maxis Communications Bhd is all set for triple play with its offer today of a sneak peek into the future of its home offerings including IPTV. Maxis is a mobile player while its sister company, Astro, is into the broadcasting business on which it can rely for images for its IPTV offering.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F4%2F28%2Fbusiness%2F6145132&sec=business
Facebook lancar laman baru untuk pengguna telefon selular
2010/05/19
WASHINGTON: Facebook hari ini bekerjasama dengan pengendali telefon selular di lebih 50 negara untuk menawarkan versi laman baru yang lebih pantas dan
percuma untuk capaian laman sosial popular itu.
“Kami menawarkan semua versi grafik, gambar dan video dengan satu 'klik' saja di telefon bimbit dan akan terbentang laman kami yang lebih pantas dan menarik," kata Henri Moissinac, ketua perniagaan bahagian telefon bimbit Facebook. Laman baru untuk telefon bimbit itu ialah - 0.facebook.com - yang dijana dengan kepantasan yang hebat dan percuma.
Moissinac berkata, laman terbaru itu direka khusus untuk memudahkan pengguna telefon bimbit mencapai laman internet.
"Ia kini boleh didapati membabitkan 56 pengendali telefon selular di 47 negara.
“Kita menjangkakan jumlah pengguna untuk semua pengendali telefon selular ini mencapai 500 juta pengguna," katanya.
Beliau berkata, jumlah pengguna Facebook menerusi telefon selular ketika ini di seluruh dunia ialah 100 juta.
http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/Facebooklancarlamanbaruuntukpenggunatelefonselular/Article
WASHINGTON: Facebook hari ini bekerjasama dengan pengendali telefon selular di lebih 50 negara untuk menawarkan versi laman baru yang lebih pantas dan
percuma untuk capaian laman sosial popular itu.
“Kami menawarkan semua versi grafik, gambar dan video dengan satu 'klik' saja di telefon bimbit dan akan terbentang laman kami yang lebih pantas dan menarik," kata Henri Moissinac, ketua perniagaan bahagian telefon bimbit Facebook. Laman baru untuk telefon bimbit itu ialah - 0.facebook.com - yang dijana dengan kepantasan yang hebat dan percuma.
Moissinac berkata, laman terbaru itu direka khusus untuk memudahkan pengguna telefon bimbit mencapai laman internet.
"Ia kini boleh didapati membabitkan 56 pengendali telefon selular di 47 negara.
“Kita menjangkakan jumlah pengguna untuk semua pengendali telefon selular ini mencapai 500 juta pengguna," katanya.
Beliau berkata, jumlah pengguna Facebook menerusi telefon selular ketika ini di seluruh dunia ialah 100 juta.
http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/Facebooklancarlamanbaruuntukpenggunatelefonselular/Article
TM sasar 750,000 premis guna UniFi
2010/05/19 KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) mengadakan sesi lawatan kerja ke The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP) semalam, diketuai Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan TM, Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa.
Lawatan hampir dua jam itu turut memberi peluang kepada kumpulan TM memperkenalkan produk terbaru pakej jalur lebar UniFi kepada NSTP.
Menurut Zamzamzairani, pakej jalur lebar UniFi akan dilancarkan Julai ini, khusus bagi swasta dan kerajaan bagi meluaskan perkhidmatan jalur lebar berkelajuan tinggi UniFi ke kawasan berimpak ekonomi tinggi bagi keluaran Dalam Negeri Kasar (GDP) negara.
Beliau berkata, selain beberapa kawasan di sekitar Lembah Klang, kawasan berimpak ekonomi tinggi bagi GDP dikenal pasti sebagai zon satu meliputi kawasan perindustrian, taman teknologi dan zon bebas cukai seluruh negara.
“Kami dalam usaha mencapai sasaran 750,000 premis dilengkapi UniFi menjelang akhir tahun ini, dan 1.3 juta premis pada 2012.
“Sejak dilancarkan 25 Mac lalu, kedua-dua pakej UniFi bagi kawasan kediaman dan pakej pengusaha kecil dan sederhana (PKS) memperoleh sambutan menggalakkan. Kami bersedia meluaskan UniFi ke beberapa kawasan lain dalam zon satu secara berperingkat,” katanya.
Hadir sama, Pengarah Projek High Speed Broad Band (HSBB) TM, Ahmad Azhar Yahya, Ketua Pegawai Pemasaran TM, Rozalila Abdul Rahman dan beberapa pegawai kanan TM.
Ketibaan mereka disambut Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif NSTP, Datuk Anthony Bujang, Pengarang Urusan Kumpulan NSTP, Datuk Zainul Ariffin Mohamad Isa, Pengarang Kumpulan Berita Harian, Datuk Mior Kamarul Shahid, Pengarang Kumpulan NST, Datuk Syed Nadzri Syed Harun dan Pengarang Kumpulan Harian Metro/Metro Ahad, Datuk Mustapa Omar.
http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/TMsasar750_000premisgunaUniFi/Article
Lawatan hampir dua jam itu turut memberi peluang kepada kumpulan TM memperkenalkan produk terbaru pakej jalur lebar UniFi kepada NSTP.
Menurut Zamzamzairani, pakej jalur lebar UniFi akan dilancarkan Julai ini, khusus bagi swasta dan kerajaan bagi meluaskan perkhidmatan jalur lebar berkelajuan tinggi UniFi ke kawasan berimpak ekonomi tinggi bagi keluaran Dalam Negeri Kasar (GDP) negara.
Beliau berkata, selain beberapa kawasan di sekitar Lembah Klang, kawasan berimpak ekonomi tinggi bagi GDP dikenal pasti sebagai zon satu meliputi kawasan perindustrian, taman teknologi dan zon bebas cukai seluruh negara.
“Kami dalam usaha mencapai sasaran 750,000 premis dilengkapi UniFi menjelang akhir tahun ini, dan 1.3 juta premis pada 2012.
“Sejak dilancarkan 25 Mac lalu, kedua-dua pakej UniFi bagi kawasan kediaman dan pakej pengusaha kecil dan sederhana (PKS) memperoleh sambutan menggalakkan. Kami bersedia meluaskan UniFi ke beberapa kawasan lain dalam zon satu secara berperingkat,” katanya.
Hadir sama, Pengarah Projek High Speed Broad Band (HSBB) TM, Ahmad Azhar Yahya, Ketua Pegawai Pemasaran TM, Rozalila Abdul Rahman dan beberapa pegawai kanan TM.
Ketibaan mereka disambut Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif NSTP, Datuk Anthony Bujang, Pengarang Urusan Kumpulan NSTP, Datuk Zainul Ariffin Mohamad Isa, Pengarang Kumpulan Berita Harian, Datuk Mior Kamarul Shahid, Pengarang Kumpulan NST, Datuk Syed Nadzri Syed Harun dan Pengarang Kumpulan Harian Metro/Metro Ahad, Datuk Mustapa Omar.
http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/TMsasar750_000premisgunaUniFi/Article
TM: No need to raise funds for capital expenditure
By Adeline Paul RajPublished: 2010/05/19
TELEKOM Malaysia Bhd (TM) (4863), the country's largest telecommunications company, will not need to raise funds to meet its capital expenditure (capex) requirements of about RM2 billion this year, its chief said.
It has a healthy level of internally-generated funds that it can draw from and doing so would not affect its dividend payouts to shareholders, group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Isa said.
TM has a cash balance of RM3.5 billion as at the end of last year.
"Our total capex will be about RM2 billion this year and all of it will be internally generated," he told Business Times yesterday during a visit of TM's senior management to The New Straits Times Press office in Kuala Lumpur.
Half of the RM2 billion it needs would go towards further developing the country's high-speed broadband (HSBB) service, known as "UniFi", which was launched on March 24 this year.
TM indicated last month that its investments in the 10-year HSBB project would peak this year as it seeks to wire up some 750,000 premises nationwide by year-end to meet its 1.3 million target by end-2012.
To date, it has wired up about 370,000 premises, Zamzamzairani said.
"Our balance sheet is very strong, we have enough funds to (finance) both the investment in HSBB and the business as usual. Dividends would still remain," he said.
The HSBB service, which is now available only to home users and small to medium enterprises in certain areas, is expected to include bigger enterprises and the government on July 1.
"That's our next milestone. We're ramping up to make sure we meet the expectations of the market," he remarked.
Meanwhile, TM's broadband service for the general public via Streamyx has seen good take-up this year as the group has been marketing the product more aggressively.
The group has been adding over 40,000 subscribers a month this year compared with under 30,000 a month before November last year, he said.
Zamzamzairani said activities around broadband in the industry have also helped create more public interest in the service.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/telkie/Article/
TELEKOM Malaysia Bhd (TM) (4863), the country's largest telecommunications company, will not need to raise funds to meet its capital expenditure (capex) requirements of about RM2 billion this year, its chief said.
It has a healthy level of internally-generated funds that it can draw from and doing so would not affect its dividend payouts to shareholders, group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Isa said.
TM has a cash balance of RM3.5 billion as at the end of last year.
"Our total capex will be about RM2 billion this year and all of it will be internally generated," he told Business Times yesterday during a visit of TM's senior management to The New Straits Times Press office in Kuala Lumpur.
Half of the RM2 billion it needs would go towards further developing the country's high-speed broadband (HSBB) service, known as "UniFi", which was launched on March 24 this year.
TM indicated last month that its investments in the 10-year HSBB project would peak this year as it seeks to wire up some 750,000 premises nationwide by year-end to meet its 1.3 million target by end-2012.
To date, it has wired up about 370,000 premises, Zamzamzairani said.
"Our balance sheet is very strong, we have enough funds to (finance) both the investment in HSBB and the business as usual. Dividends would still remain," he said.
The HSBB service, which is now available only to home users and small to medium enterprises in certain areas, is expected to include bigger enterprises and the government on July 1.
"That's our next milestone. We're ramping up to make sure we meet the expectations of the market," he remarked.
Meanwhile, TM's broadband service for the general public via Streamyx has seen good take-up this year as the group has been marketing the product more aggressively.
The group has been adding over 40,000 subscribers a month this year compared with under 30,000 a month before November last year, he said.
Zamzamzairani said activities around broadband in the industry have also helped create more public interest in the service.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/telkie/Article/
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