Jaring has been offering dial up services way before the TMNet dial up service. Back then, Telekom owns the fixed line network and Jaring was offering dial up service using TM fixed line. And suddenly TM had the license to become an ISP which later started marketing its dial up services and after that it’s so called broadband service-Streamyx. Today, Jaring is so far left behind compared to the market share that TM owns in broadband.

The simple reason is that TM is the largest, biggest, widest fixed line operator in the country that helped it become the largest, biggest, widest(sorry, this is the new term used by Celcom) fixed broadband provider in the country since fixed broadband runs on fixed line.

The same case here, now TM is building the new HSBB network with the Goverment support, owns and operate it, and here is where the term “monopoly” applies.

Well, go to the regulator and they will say, “No worries, we will ensure that the network is open and other ISPs can also use it”. But how do they define “open network” when one company builds it, operate and compete with other ISPs within the same infrastructure?

The other day, the KTAK Minister was saying that “some” ISP has been fined for not providing the speed that they offered but the Minister declined to reveal the name of those ISPs. The question here is, what this majority voted Government is hiding from the “rakyat” and who’s side is it on? The Goverment related company-TM or the “rakyat”?

If this Government is on the “rakyat” side, then I think that KTAK and MCMC must reveal the names of those ISPs that is cheating their subscriber’s money by not offering the speed that they had promised.

(Note: This article is written based on a personal opinion, it is not related to any organization and may not be considered as a statement)

Meeting up with these 3 key people in the 3 main telcos, I have got a strong feeling that all three telcos are now moving towards the right direction in the industry.

Maxis, in my own opinion, is a company that is hard to approach but things seems to change with Sandip Das leading the company. I hope “some” of these people in Maxis who pride them self for being number 1 will start by changing their attitude and focus in maintaining and provide better service to their customers. And this is what I see in Sandip Das- that being number 1 does not matter to him.

While Celcom has a good corporate “environment”, I am predict that Celcom will have stronger branding and more mobile offering this year compared to the other 2 players.

DiGi, on the other hand has a good CEO. Since Johan worked as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in DiGi, it shouldn’t be a problem for him to carry the CEO’s task, plus I believe he is the man for the task with his expertise on marketing and finance. While DiGi has been quiet(marketing & product) for more than a year, things will change since DiGi NOW HAS A 3G LICENSE OFFICIALLY.

U Mobile now gets a new Korean CEO which I believe is a bad move since its Executive Director, Kenneth Chang will no longer involve in U Mobile’s day to day business.

I think that things are going to change with Keng Yaik‘s exit. I still don’t see any WiMAX player launching their service, plus the 3.5 GHz players are now officially out of business, again I doubt that we will see WiMAX at all with the earliest one to be on June. The Government at any time, could say “interference” and pull back all the 4 licenses.

With Mobile Number Portability, expected to launch by August this year, it will definitely heat up competition between telcos and benefit the consumers like you and me.

Now I see better telcos out there, but do I see a weak Ministry and a weak Commission?