Wireless KL offers Free Access

A collaboration amongst Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia (SKMM) and Packet ONE Networks Sdn Bhd (P1) took place some months back to push for a comprehensive pioneer wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) under the Klang Valley broadband push(KVB90).



Under this initiative, the coverage is available in some locations and is continuously expanding. Details for the coverage availability can be obtained here. Where it is available, the bandwidth of 512 kbps is offered for free to users. This free offer is only for the period of two years (as stated in the website). The wireless access is based on the 2.4 GHz wireless LAN technology or better known as the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi).



Putting in the word "free" in the service, I am wondering how long it would take before the shared bandwidth will be congested.

For details, check out WirelessKL.

Personally, I am wondering how this wireless project can be successfully implemented without running into some series of radio noises or channel conflicts arising from the nature of wi-fi - open band and publicly made available. Wi-fi is an open band wireless technology that was assigned to the ISM band for industrial, scientific and Medical use. It's usage does not require any licensing from the regulator, hence the sprouting of Wi-fi devices and its proliferated usage over the years since it began in 2000 - it has limited radio channels (11 to be precise) and based on the rampant usage.. I believe all the channels are fully utilized and noise and configuration conflicts may arise.

The new generation telecommunication

As I pondered earlier on the possible outcome of the future telecommunication industry, many of them had taken form. The landscape is aggressively changing with cross industry roles fusing and some evolving to its natural path of progress.

Just a little over two years, the internet usage pattern has tremendously evolved. Three years back, the internet was a source for information search with the dominance of Yahoo!, Google and MSN as the preferred search engine. Commerce has also broken down physical boundaries and led to the fame of ebay and amazon. But at the turn of 2007, massive development had taken place and people had turned to generating their own contents and expanding their social networking circle through new channels provided by Facebook, Myspace, YouTube and Blogger. The way people communicate, share experiences, vocalize their thoughts over the internet space has grown exponentially... creating the community termed as the "digital natives".

With the rapid development of multi-access devices, high bandwidth wireless access and cross-platform content delivery applications; many internet players, mobile service operators, content aggregators and other digital media player had come to a cross-road on strategizing their onward business direction. As a direct result, we have seen search engine provider; Google, realizing their strategies to be a wireless mobile service provider through their "Android" project and operators such as TM Net had announce their business plan to move away from being the broadband access service provider to a content aggregator powerhouse. In neighboring countries, SK Telecomms from Korea created Melon to take on the mobile music aggregator role and China Telecomm partners with several music labels to introduce I-Music. The most interesting is on how Apple, created iPhone for its move from the vendor space to the content service distribution channel.

Lets have a recap on what moves or drives these changes.

a) Increasing capacity and capabilities : cross-functional mobile devices, multiple wireless technology (Wimax, Wi-fi, 3G, HSDPA), powerful mobile processor for handheld devices and miniaturization of electronic components
b) Changing consumption pattern : active internet presence, immediate access to information, anytime-anywhere content request for music and video files
c) Digital culture : Rise of digital community and the exponentially spawning "digital natives" that populates social networking channels, uploading and sharing of user generated contents
d) Complex and sophisticated software development : cross device delivery solution, development of new and efficient applications and softwares
e) Monetization/new business models : cross platform media distribution channel, mobile advertising, strategic alliances and new generation partnerships

At this competitive juncture, internet powerhouses, mobile and fixed line service operators, content owners and distributors are faced with new challenges and decisions. Things are just starting to heat up...

DiGi - preparing for the 3G deployment

After resolving several issues such as being denied the 3G license and the almost controversial of DiGi-TIME 3G license buy-out, company is now setting its course for its third generation network deployment.

In the attached paper clipping, it seems that DiGi had its vendor confirmed and all set for the service delivery by early next year.

Over the years, DiGi had always been one of the more creative and innovative operators within the Malaysian telecommunication industry. Let's hope with the 3G capability, the company can push the boundaries further than what other operators could with their 3G networks and the lead time they had before DiGi comes to the playground.

Other industry observation - MNP pressure :

Prior to the 3G progress announcement by DiGi, the Malaysian mobile service operators are seen to be engaging in some heavy market offensive and defensive moves - mainly stirred by the MNP pressure. Maxis is aggressively engaging in its corporate account acquisition through its Blackberry package, case studies on York and DHL, extending loyalty through the prepaid active line extension and pushing content services... Celcom seems to be building up the defensive approach by highly advertising and promoting its family supplementary packages, it is also placing its defense towards the corporate accounts that it has and increasing reward values for the X-Pax prepaid users. DiGi, pushes more innovation with its life insurance package, new rate plans (Individuals and Corporate) mainly focusing on savings. And as for the new entry into the market, U Mobile is still seen to be only focusing on its rate plans, boasts of its per minute billing and the phone bundling.

MNP : Phased launch

The Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service has finally been announced to be available for public on the 29th of August 2008. This service will me made available in several phases until their full fledged nationwide launch on 7th October.

In the tentative chronological order, the Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM)had planned the following sequences in the introduction of this mandatory service ;

a) Limited Live Launch : Only in Klang Valley at limited outlets from each operator. There are two phases within this Limited Live Launch session :
- From 29th August to 14th September, the service is only offered to Prepaid users
- From 15th September to 6th October, the service will be offered to both Prepaid and postpaid users.. but not ready for Corporate Users

b) Full launch : This session is tentatively scheduled for 7th October. This full launch signals the service availability nationwide and to all customer profiles (Prepaid, postpaid and corporate).

Within the Limited Live Launch session, all operators had come into an unofficial agreement to withhold all marketing activities and communications until the full launch. SKMM will take up all the communications for MNP until that launch date comes into effect.

Few interesting things to observe in the Malaysian telecommunication market. The first is on be the movement of subscribers porting in and out between existing operators (Maxis, DiGi and Celcom) and how will the newly launched contender, U Mobile; fair in this MNP environment. Will the mobile landscape be changed? How competitive will the Mobile Services be in the near future? Will MNP really excite competition? Or will it just be one of those services that will be forgotten and shelved aside?

Most importantly... within the next six months... who will be the net gainer for MNP?