After introducing its 32Mbps FTTH plan for office users, Maxis has also introduced a higher speed plan for home users with the need for speed.

They have introduced a 30Mbps plan at RM398 per month which comes with 300GB data quota. This comes out to RM1.33 per GB, the lowest ever cost per GB even in our last broadband comparison update. According to the details above, the quota is only enforced in 2012 which means unlimited downloads for now. Overall, this is 3X the speed and 3X the quota of Maxis Home Broadband Advance at RM218/month.

Also included is 1000 minutes of calls to Maxis Mobile and 300 minutes of calls to IDD. For existing Maxis mobile users, you’ll get 200 minutes too. Calls to Maxis fixed lines are free.

As comparison, the highest home plan for TM’s UniFi is VIP 20 which offers 20Mbps with 120GB quota at RM249 a month. This comes out to RM2.08 per GB. At the present moment, TM is yet to enforce their download quota fully. We wonder if TM Unifi will respond with a higher speed and quota package.

To register for more info, head over to Maxis home broadband page.

	Maxis, Players on the Field
	fibre, FTTH, High Speed Broadband, HSBB, Maxis, Maxis 30Mbps, Maxis Broadband, Maxis fiber, Maxis fibre, Maxis FTTH, Maxis high-speed broadband, Maxis Home Broadband, Maxis HSBB

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UPDATE: Paul Tan also pointed out that if you’re looking for a fixed IP connection on the cheap. Maxis offers fixed IP across all it’s business FTTH packages even the entry-level 4Mbps RM188/month plan. UniFi on the other hand, does not offer fixed IP for its cheapest BIZ5 RM199/month plan.

If you’re looking for a fibre broadband connection, there are alternatives to TM’s UniFi. There’s Time Fibre which offers FTTH service, but its limited service locations means its not really a feasible alternative for the masses. Then there’s Maxis FTTH which offers a low entry point for those looking at a cheap and reliable FTTH broadband solution.

But so far, the alternatives has been mostly focused on consumer plans, now Maxis has upped the ante with a range of FTTH packages catered for businesses with packages that nicely fills in the gaps of UniFi’s BIZ offerings. So let’s see how the Maxis plans stack up against the TM’s UniFi.

Where UniFi offers three packages — BIZ5 (RM199/month), BIZ10 (RM599/month) and BIZ20 (RM899/month), Maxis offers up four — 4Mbps (RM188/month), 8Mbps (RM388/month), 16Mbps (RM688/month) and 32Mbps (RM988).

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	Maxis, Players on the Field, TM, UniFi
	fibre, FTTH, High Speed Broadband, HSBB, Maxis, Maxis Broadband, Maxis fiber, Maxis fibre, Maxis FTTH, Maxis high-speed broadband, TM, TM Unifi, Unifi, UniFi BIZ

Update: We’re gotten some response from both Maxis and TM PR with more information on their services. Maxis says that their Home Broadband is currently available in the following areas — Bangsar, Taman Tun Doktor Ismail and Bandar Utama.

TM tells us that one of the other value added service that they offer with UniFi is the Streamyx ZONE WiFi hotspot access. UniFi subscribers get free WiFi access at over 12,000 Streamyx ZONE WiFi hotspots nationwide albeit limited to 384kbps. We have a feeling not many UniFi subscribers are aware of this, so to find out what your Streamyx ZONE login ID is give UniFi a call at 1 300 88 1221. Also TM points out that currently it has yet to enforce data quotas for UniFi subscribers across the board. This explains why TM have subscribers who download terabytes of data on UniFi.

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Maxis recently updated its HSBB service offering with three different plans where previously there was only one to choose from. This move makes Maxis a direct competitor to Malaysia’s premier HSBB provider, UniFi. This is good for the consumer because now there is more choice and more choice means better value as providers offer the best rates and services to vie for your attention.

On the surface this is the case but between the two, which provider offers the best value for money? We’ve assembled this comparison table for you to easily compare the offerings from TM and Maxis.

So how does the two fair? If it was us forking out the cash, which one would we choose?

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	Maxis, Players on the Field, TM, UniFi
	fibre, FTTH, High Speed Broadband, HSBB, Maxis, Maxis Broadband, Maxis fiber, Maxis fibre, Maxis FTTH, Maxis high-speed broadband, TM, TM Unifi, Unifi

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Update: Maxis has updated its HSBB plan yet again, where previously the Standard and Value plans get different equipment bundle (an Aztech DECT phone and a residential gateway respectively), the new plans now offer both equipments together. So if you subscribe to the Maxis Standard or Value HSBB plans you get both the residential gateway and Aztech DECT phone.

Maxis launched it’s HSBB service late October last year but you might not be aware of this because it is not as heavily promoted as their mobile broadband offerings. Initially, Maxis had offered only one plan offering a 6Mbps line plus VOIP for RM118/month for existing Maxis and RM158/month for non-Maxis subscribers.

Today, Maxis updated it’s HSBB service with three new plans — 4Mbps with 30GB quota for RM128/month, 6Mbps with 60GB quota for RM158/month and 10Mbps with 60GB quota 100GB quota for RM218/month with varying monthly data quotas. All the plans include VOIP which requires a RM75 deposit (RM300 if you’re not a Malaysian resident).

In addition to the broadband and VOIP packages, Maxis is offering value added services that include music downloads, internet security, IPTV and an integrated inbox. All these offerings however come with separate charges. For more details head on over to Maxis.

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On top of that, Maxis is offering preferential rates to its FTTH customers who would like to sign-up for its 3G broadband service. Based on the previous offering from Maxis, this updated offer is more expensive but does offer a free 3G MiFi if you subscribe to a higher monthly plan.

But having said that, even the add-on 3G plans that offer just a USB dongle has increased in price where previously, you can get a 1.5GB/month 3G broadband plan for RM20, the new plan charges over double that — RM48 for 1.5GB/month.

Similar to UniFi, Maxis charges for RM200 installation for its high-speed broadband plans and all plans come with 24-months contract. Unlike UniFi however, where the equipment that you get is similar no matter what plan you subscribe to, with Maxis, different plans give you different equipment and depending on what equipment you get, you might have to consider the additional cost of purchasing more equipment to make full use of the services offered by the Maxis HSBB plan.

For example, from what it says on the website, if you subscribe to the cheapest Maxis HSBB plan — which is the 4Mbps RM128/month — you get an Aztech (yes, Aztech) DECT phone. This means you’ll have to purchase a FTTH modem separately. This is weird considering the fact that most people would have a phone already so it would make more sense just to offer a FTTH gateway across the board to make the entry cost low.

It looks to us that Maxis is trying to force customers to purchase the more expansive plans because it looks more attractive as the entry costs are low (you don’t have to buy a gateway). In the the long term however, subscription cost is high but more lucrative to Maxis.

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	Maxis, Players on the Field
	fibre, FTTH, High Speed Broadband, HSBB, Maxis, Maxis Broadband, Maxis fiber, Maxis fibre, Maxis high-speed broadband

Last Friday, we were invited to a blogger and Twiteratti briefing and feedback session by TM where a select few what TM considers “influencers” in the social media space were invited to share their feedback and get updates on some of the hot topic issues surrounding the company like security and Fair Usage Policies.

To be frank we didn’t expected much. We’ve been to one too many of these things and always we are met with the host organisation’s middle management who, for the most part, really couldn’t give us any real answers or provide the assurance that our feedback and comments will be put to action. Put simply, these blogger meets are usually free eats and lip-service with not much else.

The tone at the TM meet was decidedly different. We expected middle management but instead we were greeted by group CEO Dato’ Sri Zamzamzairani along with his team of top C-level executives like Chief Strategy Office Ahmad Azhar Yahya and Chief Marketing Officer Rozalila Abdul Rahman along with key people like EVP of New Media Jeremy Kung and VP of Group Corp Communications Izlyn Ramli.

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	Players on the Field, Streamyx, TM, UniFi
	FTTH, HSBB, HyppTV, streamyx, Telekom Malaysia, TM, TM Streamyx, TM Unifi, Unifi

Maxis is reported to be offering commercial service for its FTTH (Fibre To the Home) broadband. This is similar to TM’s UniFi service that uses Fibre Optics to deliver High Speed Broadband.

From what we discovered, there’s only a 6Mbps plan at RM118/month for existing Maxis subscribers or RM158/month for non subscribers. The plan comes with 40GB monthly quota and tied to a 24 months contract. As comparison, UniFi offers 5Mbps for RM149/month with 60GB download quota.

Just like the recent P1 add-on package, you can add 3G broadband that comes with free modem from RM20/month with 1.5GB quota. While UniFi started charging RM200 for installation, Maxis waives it together with its registration fee for now. When you sign up, you’ll also get a free home gateway, a DECT phone and VOIP calls worth RM275 monthly.

At the moment, Maxis has not updated its HSBB site with the commercial plans above. According to their site, the service is only limited to Bandar Utama 11, 12 & Sierramas. For more details or to register interest, check out Maxis HSBB page here.

[ SOURCE ]

	Maxis, Players on the Field
	Broadband, FTTH, HSBB, Maxis, Maxis Broadband, NGBB

TM announced today that come 1 October 2010 TM will begin charging for UniFi installations.

From 1 October onwards TM will charge RM200 per installation for any UniFi package however the equiptment that comes with the UniFi package — the fiber modem, wireless router, IPTV set-top box, DECT cordless phone and additional outdoor terminals — will still be provided for free.

TM’s executive VP for consumer products, Imri Mokthar said in the announcement that although there will be an installation charge, those who has registered for UniFi before the changeover date will not have to pay for installation.

We think RM200 is a fair charge considering the amount of work required at the various equipment that you get for free. The fibre-optic cable that is laid in your house alone will cost more than RM200. So it’s a decent charge. What’s more the RM200 installation charge will be spread across five months at RM40/month, so you don’t actually feel the pinch right away and that’s ok too.

What we don’t like is how TM makes is sound that you’re actually getting an additional RM200 off if you sign-up for UniFi from now until 30 September. Technically you’re not, TM’s just going to start charging for installation after 30 September.

It’s really confusing for customers and very underhanded for TM. Shame on you TM for using such a tactic.

If you’re not up for paying the RM200, then sign-up ASAP. Though what is not being mentioned is what happens if an interested customer wants to sign-up for UniFi but stays in an area that is not yet covered.

Does the customer get to sign-up and have the RM200 installation charge waived when the UniFi service eventually becomes available in their area or will they have to wait for the service to be available and then sign-up?

On a side-note, there’s currently 9,000 UniFi subscribers and another 12,000 who have already signed-up waiting for the service to be installed. In July 2010, there was about 3,200 UniFi subscribers. No bad in a span of just a month.

You can read the full TM announcement after the jump.

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	Players on the Field, TM, UniFi
	FTTH, FTTH Malaysia, HSBB, HSBB Malaysia, TM, TM to charge for UniFi installation, Unifi, UniFi installation charge, Unifi Pricing

Maxis has revealed its microsite for its Next Generation Broadband (NGBB) / High Speed Broadband (HSBB) service via FTTH (Fibre To the Home). This will pose some competition to TM’s UniFi HSBB service. On the site, it says that their FTTH service will provide speeds of 10Mbps to 100Mbps for consumers and up to 1Gbps for business users. However on its FAQ, it was mentioned that their High Speed Internet packages ranges from 6 – 24 Mbps. Their roll out should be underway as somereported to have seen some Maxis contractors digging road sides with Maxis NGBB signages.

The site also mentions Maxis’s High Speed Mobile Internet via HSPA+ which is an upgrade of today’s 3G/HSPA capabilities. HSPA+ claims to give speeds up to 21Mbps on the go. A pretty big claim indeed that even T-Mobile in the US claims 4G like speeds for its HSPA+ service. At the moment, Maxis has some live HSPA+ test sites at Johor Jaya, JB and TTDI, KL.

So far there’s nothing much on the site apart from a registration form for either of the service. You may sign up to be the first to know about their launch details.

[ SOURCE ]

	Maxis, Players on the Field
	FTTH, High Speed Broadband, High Speed Packet Access, HSBB, HSPA, Maxis, Maxis FTTH, Maxis NGBB, Next Generation Broadband, NGBB

Maxis just announced that it will pump in an impressive RM1.4 biliion to expand its 3G coverage by 20% this year.

The expansion will extend the telco’s 3G network coverage to 80% of the population by year end. As it stands, the it’s 3G network have about 60% of the population covered.

Mark Dioguardi, the Executive Vice President and Head of Network and Technology at Maxis said that the telco has a measurably bettter network in terms of call quality, coverage and the browsing performance.

Maxis indicated that there is now a significant shift in the way its subscribers are using its network, where about 70% its traffic is purely data. Maxis expects this number to grow to 80% by the end of the year. Speculation: Is Maxis making way for more data hungry devices like the iPad?

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	LTE, Maxis, Players on the Field, Technologies
	fibre optics, HSBB, HSPA, IPTV, lte, LTE in Malaysia, Mark Dioguardi, Maxis, Maxis 3G

We sent an email to the VP of group corporate communications in TM to get a status update on what caused the 30 minute nationwide outage of all its broadband services including sister company’s Celcom broadband service.

We didn’t get a reply.

Instead tucked in an obscure corner of their website, TM has put up a short and condescendingly generic announcement apologising to its subscribers for the service outage. Not a single sentence in the announcement even attempted to vaguely explain what had cause the outage.

What it does mention is that “restoration works are already in progress and services in some areas have been restored in stages“. In addition to that, “TM is currently monitoring the situation and will make further announcements on the progress of the restoration works“.

The announcement didn’t indicate any timeline upon which TM hopes to complete the “restoration work“.

Once again the nation’s self proclaimed number one broadband provider has kept its over one million subscribers in the dark.

Here’s what other Streamyx subscribers are saying… #StreamyxSucks

Dear TM, more than an apology, we all deserve an explanation.

(Update 1134hrs 16042010) Got a reply from TM. They said that they will continue provide updates via announcements on TM website. Here’s the latest announcement, TM says broadband services have been fully restored and measures have been put in place to ensure that service is not interupted.

Based on what we know, we’re pretty sure the outage is beyond a DNS failure and could be something else. What it is,TM won’t tell us.

	Industry in General, Network Outages, Players on the Field, TM
	Celcom, Celcom Broadband, celcom broadband down, HSBB, hsbb down, streamyx, streamyx down, streamyx nationwide outage, TM, Tm nationwide outage, Unifi, unifi down, unifi nationwide outage