Celcom Unlimited Data Roaming for RM38/day

Data on the move is getting more essential. When travelling abroad, data charges often cost a bomb.

Today, Celcom has announced that it is offering Unlimited Data Roaming for its Celcom postpaid customers.

With Celcom’s Data Roaming Tariff (DRT), customers can use unlimited data in Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh for a flat rate of RM38 per day.

It is also interested to note that 59% of its International Roaming Data usage comes from the 5 countries mentioned.

This service however is only valid until 31st July and customers do not need to subscribe anything extra. Just make sure that the roaming service is active before leaving the country.

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U Mobile IDD Bonaza Promo

It has been quite a while since we heard from U Mobile. Today, they have launched a promo on its IDD Services called IDD Bonanza.

While other telco players have been pushing hard on special rates for selected IDD country, it is obvious that U Mobile should join the bandwagon as well.  At the moment, they are having promotion for 5 selected Asian countries namely China, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and India.

The promo rate of 0.7 per second is equivalent to 42 sen/minute for both fixed and mobile lines.

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DiGi 3G Broadband extends pre-promo coverage in PJ

DiGi 3G Broadband now with 50GB Quota

After their first pre-launch promo roadshow at Ikano Power Centre last weekend, DiGi is having a second round at SS2, Petaling Jaya on 26-28th February 2009.

A quick check on DiGi’s Rediscover Broadband site revealed that the pre-launch promo has been upgraded with 50GB Quota from its previous 10GB. Now that really sweetens up the deal for a RM158/month (First 6 months RM128) broadband plan.

Another change we noticed is that they changed the way they state its connection speed. Now DiGi is more conservative by claiming that the normal connection is 3.6Mbps downlink / 384kbps uplink. While the higher claim speed of 7.2Mbps downlink / 2.0Mbps uplink is given as a Free Trial offer.

So head down to DiGi’s SS2 outlet tomorrow to find out more.

Slow surfing ahead for Streamyx users

Recently there are complaints and rants that Streamyx performance is appaling across cyberspace including a politician.

Suddenly The Star reported that Circult faults slow down surfing on Streamyx by Steven Patrick.

PETALING JAYA: Streamyx broadband users will have to bear with sluggish surfing speeds until March 5 due to technical problems, according to Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM).

TM said in a statement that there has been a disruption of TM’s Internet services since Feb 18 due to circuit faults on the Asia Pacific Cable Network 2 (APCN2) between Malaysia and the United States.

Due to this, customers using Internet services may now experience slow browsing while accessing content hosted in the United States, said the statement.

Additionally, customers using Internet Protocol services such as Virtual Private Network (VPN) and other critical business applications linked to the United States may also experience some service degradation.

To alleviate the problem and ease the congestion, some links have been rerouted, TM said.

During restoration process, traffic to North America may experience minor degradation while traffic to other countries would not be affected.

It is weird that no announcement is made on Streamyx site to inform customers of such problem. It seems that Streamyx has been bogged down by problems related to international links lately. As the biggest broadband player in Malaysia, TM would need to buckle up their service or risks losing more of their customers to the new wireless broadband players.

DiGi Prepaid: Activate and reload RM10, get RM30 FREE!

DiGi is driving up its acquisition drive by offering RM30 FREE extra credits for new prepaid subscribers that top up a minimum of RM10. This promotion is open to new subscribers from now until 30th April 2009 that activates and top up on the same day.

The RM30 FREE credit is credited RM10 for 3 consecutive months (RM10×3). From the T&C do note that:

• Top up must be done with a minimum RM10 in a single denomination. 2x RM5 top ups are not accepted.
• Subscribers must stay active in the 3 months in order to redeem the full RM30 credit.
• It is up to DiGi’s discretion to give out the first RM10 after the first month, so there’s no exact dateline of getting the credit after top up.
• Talktime transfer from another account is not considered a reload to qualify.

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Malaysia broadband penetration exceeds target

According to a news report, Malaysia has achieved 21.1% household broadband penetration. This exceeds its projection of 20% penetration under Malaysia’s National Broadband Implementation Plan.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum also added that it targets to achieve 50% household penetration in 2010. This means we have about a year to cover additional 30% of our nation’s household with broadband. We see this as a challenging target to achieve.

However it is still possible as there are new wireless broadband providers that have emerged recently utilising 3G HSDPA and WiMAX technology. Currently, the 3G players are Maxis, Celcom, U Mobile and new comer DiGi. On the WiMAX end, we have Packet 1, Redtone, YTL and Asiaspace. Not forgetting also are other wireless providers such as Izzi as well. Wireless is generally much faster to roll out due to lack of physical cabling to each potential user.

However we have questions on these new players roll out. Are they able to fulfill the extra 30% household within 1 year through proper coverage planning and capacity management?

Also what defines broadband? Is there a proper minimum definition of broadband by 2010? It would be pointless if broadband subscribers are achieved but average speed obtained is below broadband levels.

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DiGi 3G Broadband: 7.2Mbps Mobile Internet revealed

We have seen the signs and hints. Finally DiGi has pulled something out from its bag.

Previously we mentioned that DiGi would be launching its 3G services next month but looks like they have decided to test the water in advance. A couple of blog post and forumers today had been talking about the revealed site titled DiGi Internet – Rediscover what broadband should be.

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DiGi to launch 3G services by end March 2009

According to a news report which we have picked up, DiGi’s CEO Mr. Johan Dennelind had announced that DiGi would be launching its highly anticipated 3G service before end of next month. This is an exciting piece of news as it has been quite a while since we heard any updates on their 3G roll out.

It is also mentioned that DiGi will be strenghtening ahead and vows not to cut jobs in its 3,000+ head count operation. Despite looming economic downturn, DiGi would be investing close to RM900 million this year.

Let’s hope to see something interesting from DiGi in the next few months to come.

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DiGi Appoints New Chief Technology Officer

More humbrum corporate news…again from DiGi

Ole Martin Gunhildsbu has been appointed by Malaysian mobile network, DiGi Telecommunications as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with immediate effect. He has been acting CTO since November 2008 when his predecessor left to take up a new role within the Telenor Group.

On his appointment, DiGi Chief Executive Officer Johan Dennelind said: “We are happy with Ole’s steady leadership, and his accomplishments in improving network coverage and quality over the past year. I am confident that he will manage this core business aspect of ours effectively as we move forward to take DiGi to the next level.”

A telecommunications and IT veteran, Gunhildsbu joined DiGi as Head of Service Operations, Technology Division in January 2008. Prior to his current appointment, he has almost 15 years of extensive experience in various Technology Management positions within both fixed and mobile business in Telenor.

Before joining DiGi, Gunhildsbu was responsible for planning and rolling out fixed and mobile infrastructure, including 3G and HSDPA, in Norway and Denmark from 2005-2007. This includes in-depth experience in delivering cost optimal and high performance Broadband networks and services in markets, where mobile broadband demands have truly rocketed. He was also holding the CTO post in Tele2 Norway from 1999-2004.

It appears that DiGi’s gearing up for 3G deployment. Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.

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