While the Government and telcos are busy imposing taxes on prepaid packs and reloads, what are they doing to protect subscribers from scammers like this one.

These vermin are getting creative with the way they bait unsuspecting subscribers and its easy to fall into their trap if you’re not careful.

Don’t fall victim to such scams, following the instructions on the such messages will allow these companies to send more text messages to your mobile number and charge you ridiculous amounts of money for receiving them. Worst of all, it’s almost impossible for an unknowing subscriber to unsubscribe to the service.

Best to ignore such SMS and submit a formal complaint to MCMC and your service provider. At the same time the regulators and the industry are not doing enough to eliminate these scams. It’s disturbing to see that such scams are still running rampant.

So it seems Malaysia has a new 4G operator.

Yesterday, Puncak Semangat Sdn. Bhd. (PSSB) announced that it will be the first Bumiputera company to offer telecommunications services based on LTE. It’s Managing Director, Datuk Abdullah Kadir Bacha says that the services PSSB will offer will reduce the digital gap between rural and urban areas by offering broadband access and related content to all Malaysians — all the same-old, same-old PR speak.

PSSB says that it wants to deploy a nationwide 4G network based on LTE but there was no timeline given on when this network will be deployed.

PSSB is a privately owned company that was founded in 1993 with five other subsidiaries under its name.

A quick check on Google revealed very little about PSSB and its MD that’s relevant to this news. Building a mobile network is tremendously complex and requires huge sums of money. In the course of the mobile industry in Malaysia, many have tried and many have failed. In terms of 4G, out of the four, all but only two WiMAX operators are actively in business at the moment. Even established 3G operators are cautious when it comes to 4G deploymen though Maxis and DiGi have indicated that they are looking to deploy LTE networks sometime in 2012.

So the question is, does PSSB have what it takes to deploy a nationwide 4G network? We’re not saying “no” but looking at past records of other operators and judging by the lack of background info on PSSB, its difficult to say “yes” as well.

What do you think?

[source]

Selangor State Assemblymen for Seri Setia and Parti Keadilan Communications Director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad claims that reliable sources have informed him that Bukit Aman had called for a meeting amongst telcos to discuss the possibility of disrupting access to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter on July 8 and 9.

If this is true, one can construe the order by Bukit aman to be in direct violation of the Malaysian Multimedia Act that guarantees that there will be no censorship of the Internet in Malaysia, and it contradicts what Prime Minister Najib Razak has said in April of this year where he promised that there will never be any form of censorship of the internet, though in this case the term censorship appears to be very vague.

Before anyone goes panicking, we must stress that this bit of information is remains UNCONFIRMED. Even if the meeting did happen it now remains to be seen if the operators summoned by Bukit Aman will execute the order to disrupt access social networking sites this weekend. But the reality remains, as with any heavily regulated industry, if the order does come it, there is very little the players within that industry can do but to comply to the directive.

We surely home that its doesn’t come to this.

[source]

The days of specific number prefixes to identify telcos and 7-digit mobile phone numbers are, well, numbered.

Starting from December 15, all mobile operators will issue new mobile registrations with a universal prefix and 8-digit mobile number. However subscribers with existing (read: virtually everyone) 7-digit mobile numbers will not have to worry as they can still continue using their mobile number.

And it looks like DiGi is starting the ball rolling with this early announcement made on its website.

For those of you who are rearing to get a nice number with the new prefix we have to tell you that although MCMC stipulates that the date of implementation of this new 3+8 number system is December 15, not all telcos will be giving out 011 numbers on that day.

This is stated in DiGi’s FAQ on the subject matter which can be found here.

From DiGi FAQ Question 5:

Will the new 011 prefix be available from 15 December 2010 as stated on the SKMM announcement?
The date stated on the SKMM announcement (15 December 2010) is a target date by which all systems needed to launch the 3 + 8 number range for all mobile service providers should be ready.

and question 7:

If there are no 011 prefixes available on 15 December 2010, when will DiGi launch its 3 + 8 number range (011 prefix with an 8-digit mobile number)?
DiGi will announce the launch of its new 3 + 8 number range once on www.digi.com.my or www.happy.com.my once the 011 prefix is available for customers.

Some of you may recall that this 011 prefix is not new and was previously used for Telekom Malaysia’s ATUR 450 mobile service.

Official MCMC press release from MCMC after the jump.

MALAYSIA DUE TO START THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW PUBLIC CELLULAR PHONE NUMBERING WITH 3 + 8

Cyberjaya, 2 November 2010 – The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) today announced that Malaysia is in the midst of implementing a new public cellular phone numbering format which is 3 + 8. The announcement was made at a briefing held at MCMC Headquarters which was attended by industry members, regulatory bodies, the media, consumer forums and interested parties. The briefing sought to enhance participants understanding of the new public cellular numbering system.

The new public cellular phone numbering will take off with the prefix-011 followed by eight digit numbers (011 1XXX XXXX), set to be launched on 15 December 2010.

This is one of the long-term planning measures undertaken by MCMC after taking into consideration that the existing public cellular phone numbering format of 3 + 7 is running out and will not be able to support and accommodate the demands from the industry in the near future. This new implementation is also a result of the increase in the number of cellular service providers and the potential of various service applications which will be made available due to the advancement of communication technologies.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that Malaysia’s Broadband penetration had exceeded 50% ahead of schedule with 53.5% penetration today. As a comparison, broadband penetration was only 22% in 2008 and the target is to reach 75% penetration by 2015.

The achievement he said was contributed by the efforts by both private and government sectors especially in developing community internet centres at rural areas. So far 6 Kampung WiFi (WiFi village) had been implemented with 3100 more expected to be completed by 2014.

Check out the video of the announcement by the DPM after the jump

[ SOURCE ]

If you’re planning a trip to Dubai in October and plan to keep in touch with your friends and colleagues with BIS and BBM, well you can very well forget about it or consider doing all your mobile stuff on another device that’s not a BlackBerry.

The Emirates’ telecoms regulator have confirmed that travelers to the city-state of Dubai and the important oil industry center of Abu Dhabi will — like the 500,000 local subscribers — have to do without BlackBerry e-mail, messaging and Web services starting October 11, even if their BlackBerrys are supported by carriers from other countries.

This doesn’t bode well for the country’s ambitions to be a business and tourism haven considering that about 100,000 travelers pass through Dubai’s airport every day, making it the busiest in the Middle East. The new restrictions could leave time-pressed business travelers hurrying through, many of them changing planes for other destinations, without access to their e-mail or the Web. That would put BlackBerry services out of reach for business travelers and others passing through the busy Mideast airport hub of Dubai, which handled 40.9 million passengers last year.

The good thing is, unlike the infamous camera phone ban in Saudi Arabia circa the mid noughties, travellers into Dubai and Abu Dhabi are still allowed to carry their BlackBerrys into the country and they can still make phone calls with the devices.

The ban in the BlackBerry service is based on security concerns raised by UAE authorities as to how BlackBerry data are handled. Currently all the data passing from BlackBerry devices are automatically shipped to company computers abroad, making it difficult for local authorities to monitor for illegal activity or abuse.

Interestingly, this is not the first time singled out BlackBerry devices for scrutiny.

Last year, RIM criticized a directive by the UAE state-owned mobile operator Etisalat telling the company’s BlackBerry users to install software described as a service upgrade. Tests showed the download actually installed spy software on users’ phones that could allow authorities to access private information stored on the handsets. It strongly distanced itself from Etisalat’s decision and told users how to remove the software.

Though the UAE has made it clear that it will lift the ban if RIM comply with the country’s regulations.

Meanwhile in Malaysia, we’re still waiting on the final word to the to ban or not to ban question from the Minister of Information, Communication and Culture, Rais Yatim. The minister made a statement last week saying that his ministry will be evaluating information gathered from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission before making a decision on whether a BlackBerry ban in Malaysia is necessary. He stated that the report will be ready sometime last week but till now, no follow up statements on the topic has been made.

[source]

In what can be considered as a perplexing move, Rais Yatim who earlier ruled out the banning of BlackBerry services in this country yesterday made a statement saying that the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission is currently gathering detailed information about the BlackBerry service in the wake of bans of the service in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Rais said that the report from MCMC is expected to be completed sometime this week and that his ministry will be evaluating the information to see if a ban in Malaysia is required.

Wonder if a BlackBerry ban is a big enough issue to be discussed in Parliament? It’s definitely heaps better than talking in Parliament about this topic.

Looks like the 1.5 million BlackBerry users in this country are pretty nervous right now. Keep it locked on to SoyaCincau.com for the latest development on this.

[source]

Working in earnest to meet the 50% household broadband penetration target by the end of this year, the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture yesterday launched the BB Trail program in efforts to increase broadband awareness and uptake in rural areas.

The five month program beginning July 15, consists of road shows covering more than 500 locations across the country including Sabah and Sarawak.

In a press release made available to us, the Ministry says that:

At every stop, the BB Trail will conduct interactive games and contests related to Broadband, offering all interested participants the chance to win attractive prizes related to the National Broadband Awareness and Promotional Program.

The Program targets all age groups covering students and educators of all levels especially those in institutions of higher learning, entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses, parents, families and the public at large.

Through the implementation of the BB Trail, the public would be able to obtain choice information on how to subscribe to broadband easily, and get to select whichever service providers they prefer based on the different promotions and packages offered.

As of July 7, 2010, over 37% of Malaysian households have broadband connection. This equates to about 2.4 million homes out of the 6.3 million homes in Malaysia.

To achieve the 50% household penetration target by the end of this year, another 1 million homes will need to have broadband connectivity. With just five months left in 2010, about 200,000 homes will need to have broadband connectivity a month. That’s a huge ask and the Ministry has their work cut out.

As of Q4 2009, the country’s household broadband penetration stood at 31.7%. Don’t get us wrong, we’re all for the 50% broadband penetration target but it’s looking like the Ministry might not hit it.

Let’s wait and see.

Press release after the jump.

BROADBAND TRAIL GOES NATIONWIDE TO RAISE BROADBAND AWARENESS AND INCREASE USERS

Cyberjaya, Malaysia, July 13, 2010: Barely three weeks after the official launch of the National Broadband Awareness and Promotional Programme, YB Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, the Minister of Information Communications and Culture launched the nationwide mobile road show squad, aptly called the Broadband Trail (BB Trail).

The road show, which will run for about five-and-a-half months, will begin on July 15, with the BB Trail driving four specially designed and fitted four-wheel drive vehicles and covering more than 500 locations across the length and breadth of the peninsula including Sabah and Sarawak.

To ensure as many towns and cities are covered within the allotted time-span, the BB Trail will cover the country by zones, with zones one, two and three representing the central and southern regions, northern region and eastern region of the peninsula, respectively. Zone Four covers Sabah and Sarawak.

As they navigate from town to town, the BB Trail will travel through outlying areas, especially those where broadband penetration and usage are considered low as compared to established places and states like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang. Particular attention and time will be extended to the communities and towns in Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak.

The BB Trail will have the participation of local entertainers and corporate personalities interacting with the Rakyat and also participating in many interactive activities and games. Some of the well-known artistes will make special appearances during the BB Trail.

At every stop, the BB Trail will conduct interactive games and contests related to Broadband, offering all interested participants the chance to win attractive prizes related to the National Broadband Awareness and Promotional Programme.

The Programme targets all age groups covering students and educators of all levels especially those in institutions of higher learning, entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses, parents, families and the public at large.

Through the implementation of the BB Trail, the public would be able to obtain choice information on how to subscribe to broadband easily, and get to select whichever service providers they prefer based on the different promotions and packages offered.

The BB Trail will be aided with the participation of the mobile squads from the leading telecommunications’ players, and their teams will be equipped with all the latest information on the broadband services as well as different packages available.

According to the statistic gathered by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC/SKMM), as of July 7, 2010, Malaysia has reached 37.7% household broadband penetration. With all these activities planned during the BB Trail’s period, the aim to achieve 50% household broadband penetration by the end of 2010 besides encouraging even more Malaysians to enjoy broadband communications stands to become a reality.

The BB Trail under the National Broadband Awareness and Promotional Programme is part of the overall National Broadband Initiative (NBI) which puts in place a national strategy that will bring broadband to the whole nation.

On a broader note, the Programme aims to have more and more Malaysians use broadband services for business, education and study, social networking and information gathering, thereon raising the country’s competitiveness in the global arena and reach the target for a higher income economy by 2020.

Ministry of Information Communications and Culture

13 July 2010

The people at MCMC (or SKMM, whichever you prefer) are now looking at implementing a “mandatory standard for the quality of service for broadband wireless access service” and from what we here, this new standard could take off as early as June.

Currently SKMM is conducting a public enquiry to develop a framework of what the standards should be. Now is the time for you – the public – to voice you opinion and set the standard for quality broadband in this country.

So what are you waiting for? Details on the project HERE.

After Maxis launched its Hotlink 365, DiGi has responded with its Reload Once, Stay Connected for ONE Year offer for a limited time period between 23rd July – 31st August 2008.

DiGi’s offer is simple and gives more value to its customers as it only requires a RM100 usable reload. This means every single sen spent for validity is actual credit or talk time that subscribers can use.

On Hotlink 365, its subscribers are required to pay a yearly fee of RM33 which is similar to paying access fee which subscriber can’t utilise.  On top of the RM33 fee, they would need to top up RM30 within the first 6 months of activation.

Comparison
Hotlink:
Spend RM63, RM30 usable
1. RM33 fee
2. RM30 top up (within 6 months)

DiGi:
Spend RM100, RM100 usable
1. RM100 top up

Which is the lowest to maintain?
Maxis and DiGi has step up to offer 1 year validity, but which one is the lowest to maintain? Strangely the answer is neither of them.

If you’ve read our review on Happy earlier on, you will noticed that Happy is still the lowest prepaid plan to maintain.

60 days credit validity regardless of top up amount
Top up more to stay on more? Not anymore. With Happy any credit from a minimum of RM5 will give you 60 days credit validity. To stay active for a full year, one would only need to top up RM5 every 2 months (approx 60 days) x 6 times which is only RM30 per year. With the same amount on other prepaids, you’d get around a month validity. This makes Happy the lowest prepaid to maintain in terms of top-up.

Happy:
Spend RM5x6, RM30 usable
1. RM5 top up ( Month 1-2 )
2. RM5 top up ( Month 3-4 )
3. RM5 top up ( Month 5-6 )
4. RM5 top up ( Month 7-8 )
5. RM5 top up ( Month 9-10 )
6. RM5 top up ( Month 11-12 )

There you have it! Happy costs only RM30 per year to maintain and you get RM30 usable credit. The only catch is that you have to top up the minimum RM5 every 2 months which could be more troublesome than DiGi’s and Hotlink one-off offering. Overall it depends on consumer usage to decide which prepaid is more suitable. We are merely just pointing out which offers the longest validity with the lowest price.

Conclusion
DiGi’s offering is to be commended as it scretches the validity longer without imposing access fees like Hotlink. However we are also hoping that DiGi will make this as a permanent feature rather than a limited time offer.

Apparently it was reported that MCMC has announced that telcos should offer prepaid plans with atleast 180 days validity period. To date, it seems that Hotlink is the only one with a permanent offer. We will see how would Celcom and U Mobile would react to this new regulation.

Celcom has been very quite lately, as they have yet to respond in terms of new prepaid or postpaid offering.

Links
DiGi: Reload Once, Stay Connected for ONE YEAR
DiGi’s new reload promotion
DiGi starts offering 365 Days Validity for RM100 top up?