REDtone, the other WiMAX operator which operates in East Malaysia is also doing a Chinese New Year Promotion for its Home Broadband packages. From now until 28th February 2011, they are giving 1 month free subscription, free 12 months modem rental, free activation waiver (worth RM100) and a 7 days money back guarantee.

Plans and packages wise, they are pretty much the same as before with their entry Home-Lite going at RM98/month with 1Mbps download speeds and 384kbps upload. The monthly quota for their Home-Lite is 25GB/month. More details on the promotion at their website.

REDtone has been pretty quiet lately and according to their coverage map, their WiMAX service is limited to Kuching, Miri and Kota Kinabalu. Several months ago, REDtone was pretty ambitious and wanted to be given the right to roll out in Peninsular Malaysia as well.

Sabah and Sarawak residents are quite deprived when it comes to internet connectivity and even 3G coverage is not covered in all major towns and cities. With the lack of choice, this is quite a gold mine for other telcos to jump in before the rest catch up in this region. In 2009, P1 had announced that they will be coming to Sabah and Sarawak in 2010 but until now they have yet to make any presence at all on that side of the country. If P1 makes an entry, that would shake up the competition in the wireless space in Sabah and Sarawak.

Another update on 4G LTE in Malaysia. The Star reports that majority of the earlier mentioned 9 companies have been informed via fax that they have been allocated the 2.6GHz spectrum for 4G LTE use. This will only take effect on 1st January 2013 which is a long way to go, and time is something that the players need to roll out commercially. As mentioned earlier, the 9 companies are Maxis, DiGi, Celcom, U Mobile, P1, AMAX, YTL, REDtone and a new comer. Each of them will be getting 20MHz block of the spectrum.

2 years should give the players sufficient head start to evaluate vendors, conduct trials and plan out their coverage expansion. By 2013, we should have more 4G LTE devices in the market. Hopefully better than the Samsung Craft, the first 4G LTE phone.

[ SOURCE ]

The Star reports that the Malaysian government is expected to release 9 blocks of spectrum for 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) to 9 players soon.

The 9 companies are believed to be:

• 4 Mobile telcos – Celcom, DiGi, Maxis & U Mobile
• 4 WiMAX operators – AMAX, P1, REDtone & YTL
• a company believed to be linked to Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukary

According to the paper’s source, each player will be getting 20MHz block of 2.5GHz and 2.6GHz spectrum which comprise the 70MHz and 120MHz blocks respectively, or a total of 190MHz.

Awarding 4G LTE to 9 companies is a big number and we wonder based on what merit that the spectrum is given. Looking at WiMAX itself, only half of the awarded operators are in commercial service while U Mobile, the newest mobile telco is still struggling to roll out its own 3G coverage nationwide. With the current scenario, we’re baffled to see them getting LTE spectrum when they can’t get their current 3G or WiMAX service covered properly. According to the report, the spectrum will be given to all so that nobody will be deprived from participating in rolling out 4G LTE. Strangely our very own Telekom Malaysia is not on the list.

Although we love competition, 9 seems to be too much for a country like Malaysia. Just recently Maxis & Celcom had started their own 4G LTE testing with its partners while DiGi says that they will focus on 3G first at the time being. We also wonder, what will happen to the WiMAX operators? Will they abandon WiMAX for LTE in future?

[ SOURCE ]

The Star has reported that REDtone International, one of the 4 licensed WiMAX operators in Malaysia is waiting for additional spectrum to roll out in West Malaysia. Just to recap, P1, AMAX & YTL were licensed to operate in West Malaysia while REDtone is the sole operator in East Malaysia. Among the 4, P1 and REDtone we’re the first to launch WiMAX in August 2008.

When we read this piece of news, we’re a little surprised by REDtone’s eagerness to venture into West Malaysia. Currently, REDtone is enjoying some sort of exclusive monopoly in Sarawak to operate WiMAX since 2008. It has been 2 years since launch but REDtone has failed to cover all major towns and cities of Sabah and Sarawak. This of course attracted a RM200,000 fine by MCMC for failing to achieve 25% target penetration in 2009.

With the current situation, it doesn’t make any sense for REDtone to step into West Malaysia. With AMAX struggling and YTL no where at sight, we are unconvinced that REDtone would fare any better. There are many Sabah and Sarawak residents who are in dire need of alternative to TM Streamyx as other wireless broadbands including 3G are still not widely available. REDtone should just focus their resources in East Malaysia instead of getting into a bullfight with other operators.

Currently P1 and REDtone are the only 2 WiMAX operators in Malaysia that are in commercial service. AMAX is still undergoing re-engineering while YTL is yet to launch commercially.

Check out our previous posts on REDtone WiMAX here.

[ SOURCE ]

REDtone, another WiMAX operator has quietly launched its portable USB WiMAX offering. The portable USB WiMAX modem comes with 2 plans, the Flexi50 and Flexi80.

Flexi50 offers 512kbps download and 128kbps upload with 8GB quota at RM50/month, while Flexi88 offers 1Mbps download and 384kbps upload with 15GB quota at RM88/month. The packages looks similar with the recent P1 WiMAX Wiggy postpaid plans of WiGGY 59 and WiGGY 89.

Subscribers will have a choice of a 12 month contract with what looks like a free USB Modem or a contract free option that requires RM239 up front for the device. A RM100 deposit is required for the device on the 12-month contract. REDtone didn’t provide much details on the modem except that it looks like a red little box that fits in your pocket. We also wonder that since Intel has launched a new range of laptops and netbooks with WiMAX built-in, REDtone should have look into offering their WiMAX service on them as well. Since the WiMAX module supports 2.3GHz, there shouldn’t be a problem for it to work as long as REDtone’s network is ready for it.

In addition, we noticed that REDtone has expanded its coverage beyond the capital cities of Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. At the moment, we are seeing coverage in Miri, Sarawak as well as Sandakan and Tawau in Sabah.

Miri

Sandakan/Tawau

REDtone has been quite slow in its WiMAX roll out but currently it stands as the 2nd WiMAX operator in commercial service after P1. AMAX, the other WiMAX operator has temporary suspended its service for reengineering purposes until further notice. P1 previously had mentioned that they will be entering East Malaysia around this year. We hope that happens soon to give REDtone some competition in this underserved region.

[ Source ]

The report said that all three have failed to achieve the 25 percent targetted market penetration.

Deputy Minister of Information Communication and Culture Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said from March 2008 to March 2009, the three companies had failed to achieve the target and can be fined.

He added that the government was ready to withdraw the licences of companies that failed to deliver the target, including Asiaspace Sdn Bhd.

So far nothing has happened.

He also said that athough the target has not been met, all four companies have shown an improved performance since March 2009.

We’re not sure what he means by “all four have shown improved performance” because it has been over a year since March 2009 and YTL still have not managed to convince the public that they indeed have a WiMAX network up and running. AMAX and REDtone are not fairing too well either with very limited coverage and a relatively small subscriber base.

But it seems like we’ve heard all this before. Those with long memories will recall that MCMC had alledgedly issued fines to the same operators for the exact same reason. The only difference is that the statement was made October 2009.

In October, 2009 The Star reported that SKMM issued letters on the fines to YTL e-Solutions (RM1.9mil), AsiaSpace (RM1.7mil), REDtone International (RM200,000) for failure to meet the 25% population coverage by the end of March but the operators have all made appeals against the fines.

We’re not sure if much has changed since then and the only WiMAX operator that’s really moving forward is P1; even then we’re seeing them being plagued with a very unstable network.

[source]
[source 2]

We’ve blogged before when REDtone was launched and their offering was the most expensive among all the WiMAX players with RM138/month for a mere 1Mbps connectivity. This could be due to less competition or perhaps higher cost of set up in East Malaysia compared to Peninsular.

Now, REDtone has revised its rates to make it more attractive by offering FREE WiMAX CPE Modem Rental and FREE Activation fee until 31st May 2010. Their rates have been revised as well from as low as RM98/month for 1Mbps.

• HomeLite 1Mbps
  RM98/month with 25GB Usage
• HomePro 2Mbps
  RM188/month with 45GB Usage
  
• Office Basic 1Mbps
  RM138/month with Unlimited Usage
  
• Office Basic 2Mbps
  RM260/month with Unlimited Usage
• Office BiZLite 1Mbps
  RM250/month with Unlimited Usage and Fixed IP
• Office BiZLite 2Mbps
  RM480/month with Unlimited Usage and Fixed IP

More details of their plans & terms here.

REDtone WiMAX Coverage

About a year of launch, REDtone has covered both capital cities of Sabah and Sarawak. Areas highlighted in red means covered while blue areas are marked soon to be covered.

Kuching, Sarawak

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

More detail coverage available at REDtone WiMAX coverage map over here.

REDtone, how fast can you roll?

East Malaysia is a huge area and REDtone has yet to roll out coverage into the other major towns and cities such as Sibu, Bintulu and Miri in Sarawak and Sandakan and Tawau in Sabah. In order for REDtone to achieve its penetration target, they would need to cover more places beyond Kuching and Kota Kinabalu quickly.

After all, REDtone no longer holds the monopoly of WiMAX in East Malaysia as the government has already allowed P1 to expand to Sabah and Sarawak. REDtone has got some serious work to defend their ground before P1 starts covering East Malaysia.

REDTone Broadband, a WiMAX operator that focus on Sabah/Sarawak has a new promotion for its WiMAX packages.

Until 31st August 2009, REDtone offers FREE WiMAX CPE Rental of RM25/month for new subscribers. In addition, the RM100 Activation fee is waived as well. REDTone Broadband is still giving a 14 days Money back guarantee.

The monthly WiMAX subscription fees are still maintained with the lowest entry of 1Mbps going for RM138/month.

More details here.

While P1 has been busy in West Malaysia, it also has shown interested in venturing to East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.  However this optimistic move would require consent from MCMC as Redtone is the sole WiMAX operator in Sabah/Sarawak at the moment. We foresee if Redtone isn’t able to meet coverage expectations, MCMC would be forced to open up East Malaysia to other WiMAX operators to get the job done.

Hopefully with P1 knocking on MCMC’s door to enter Sabah/Sarawak, Redtone would be pressured to speed up desired coverage.

Related Links
Sarawak to get P1 WiMAX next year
WiMAX firm awaits MCMC Nod
P1 WiMAX

REDtone is one of the 4 WiMAX licensed operators in Malaysia. While P1, AMAX & YTL focuses in West Malaysia, REDtone is focused in East Malaysia.

August last year, they have officially launched in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah but they have yet to made any commercial availability to the market.

As reported earlier, they began to focus in Kuching, Sarawak. Now they have started to push their WiMAX aggressively with 5 WiMAX Plans from as low as RM138/month.

REDtone Broadband Plans

Its entry plan is Basic from RM138/month with 1Mbps downlink / 384kbps uplink. As expected, this Basic plan comes with dynamic IP which is normal for any home user. 

The next 2 plans are BIZLite which is targetted towards the business segment with 1Mbps and 2Mbps with Fixed IP. The 1Mbps is similiar too with 1Mbps downlink and 384kbps uplink costs RM250/month. While the 2Mbps option with 2Mbps downlink and 768kbps uplink costs RM480/month.

For those who require higher Uplink speeds especially those who plan to host servers or upload often, there’s BIZPro that offers the same uplink and downlink speeds. 1Mbps downlink/uplink is offered at RM588/month with 2Mbps downlink/uplink is at a huge RM1088/month. BIZPro comes with 5 Fixed IPs

REDtone Broadband bundles the plan with the Motorola CPEi 300 WiMAX Modem which comes with VOIP capabilities.

Voice over IP service using 015 (V.O.I.P.)

In addition to broadband service, REDtone is also offering V.O.I.P. as an option too. Details of its voice call is unclear at the moment and it could be limited to corporate client sonly.

Our thoughts

REDtone has finally made its WiMAX Broadband plans public and this reassures their commitment in rolling out WiMAX. However we are disappointed that the plans aren’t that great and its coverage is still very minimal. From what we heard, REDtone in Sarawak covers a limited number of areas including Tabuan Jaya and Tabuan Desa.

Its basic plan of 1Mbps is similar to Streamyx in terms of speed however price is more expensive even if you add phone line rental.  It could be REDtone is pretty confident that consumers over there would be willing to pay RM138/month as its closer competition, Streamyx has been deteriorating badly these days. For this launch promotion, they are giving 14 days money back guarantee to tempt potential users to try them out to see the difference.  

Will REDtone succeed? It may have a chance considering there isn’t any other WiMAX operators in Sabah/Sarawak at the moment. However if they wish to capture more customers, they should increase their expenditure in expanding WiMAX coverage. 

Related Links
Redtone Broadband WiMAX Page