First of all, not all ISPs in Malaysia blocks P2P applications.

P1 WiMAX

P1 claims that it does not block P2P applications in its network.

This is extremely true as I have tried using P2P on P1 WiMAX and the speed was more than 2Mbps. The P1 WiMAX modem that I have is currently on the 2.4Mbps package.

However, there is a 20GB data limit per month, which is more than enough for a normal Internet user. If you exceed this limit, you will experience slower speed and your account will be
given lower priority during peak hours or high traffic hours.

P1 Fair Usage Policy

Maxis

Maxis does not block P2P application but it does not guarantee ” a service level and/or connectivity to users of peer-to-peer or file sharing software/applications” -according to its Fair Usage Policy. It also does not allow downloading or uploading illegal contents in its network.

Although having such terms and conditions, most Maxis users has claimed that they could enjoy faster downloading on P2P after midnight till 6am everyday.

Maxis has a 3GB data limit per month.

Maxis Broadband Fair Usage Policy

Celcom

Celcom has a 5GB data limit per month. Recently, Celcom has been aggressive in informing their new and current users about the 5GB limit via their ads on newspapers, IVR system(1111) and other channels during the past few months.

Celcom does not block P2P application but if the user exceeds the allowed data limit, they will start experiencing slower data speed as the table below:

The throttled speed takes effect immediately once the customer exceeds the 5GB data limit but data speed will return to normal on the following month.

Celcom Broadband Fair Usage Policy

My opinion:

Not blocking P2P will only benefit certain users while most users will be effected by not getting speed they have paid for normal Internet usage.

I am not against P2P as I do use P2P sometimes but I have came across users that turns on their P2P application 24 hours a day using up as much bandwidth as they can but paying for a service that is on a shared basis.

I am also not saying that it is wrong to use P2P but it is wrong to download illegal files that includes music or movies that are freely available on the net.

It is wrong for ISPs like TM to block P2P on their network but nothing can be done because their subscriber has agreed on their terms and condition when they sign the Streamyx application form.

ISPs such as Maxis should not have such a limited data limit per month just because few percent of their users are hogging their data network after all the throttling methods they have use.

Few months back, P1 was said to be considering a P2P package for heavy users but I have heard nothing since then. I believe such move will allow better management of the network whereas normal users on the shared network gets to enjoy the speed they have paid for while those heavy users pays for the dedicated speed.

Another method that can be used is to charge users who exceeds the available bandwidth of the month. For an example, users can opt for a secondary package(example: RM20 for 5GB) if they exceed the allowed 20GB data limit of the month.

ISPs are having problem to manage heavy traffic from heavy users while normal users are affected by these heavy users who excessively use up the bandwidth.

It is believed that a normal Maxis Broadband user uses an average 15GB a month, however there has been no official report on this.

No subscribers wants a slow internet connection and no ISPs wants a heavy user on their shared internet network.

Soon, the Government will ensure that all broadband users will enjoy at least 70% of the speed they are paying for, 90% of the time.

Internet Providers should ensure that ALL user gets to the enjoy the speed they have paid for and manage their network more efficiently. Consumers should understand that they are using a shared Internet network which must be use fairly without impacting other users on the same network.

It is wrong to block P2P application in an Internet network but it won’t be wrong to manage excessive usage from an heavy user on a shared network.

Here’s what I have to say. Given the scenario below, I hope you can find the answers.

Scenario- P1 offers a cheap WiMAX broadband service and everyone will be subscribing to their cheap 1Mbps service. At this moment, some 5-10% Maxis & Celcom 3G broadband users are sucking up 80-95% of the available bandwidth, and most of this 3G users are using P2P on the lower end plans such as the one priced @ RM68. Do you want to enjoy the same experiences as you were on Celcom 3G or Maxis 3G?

Since broadband services are shared in this country, you will be lucky if you get 1Mbps on Izzi’s so called 4G broadband service today. If P1 priced it’s broadband services for example 1Mbps @ RM68 a month, a lot of people will subscribe to it and eventually you don’t get the speed that you are paying for.

Since P1 is subsidizing the current WiMAX modem, recruiting new staffs, installing new base stations to extend coverage, buying more bandwidth and paying for the current bandwidth, it could kill the WiMAX company before it can even start making the first profit if it offers a cheap 1Mbps service.

The MCMC has committed it self to ensure that all broadband provider to country to offer at least 70% of the offering speed at all time. This means that you will be getting minimum 700Kbps at all time if you are subscribed to a 1Mbps service (it might take years, since it is MCMC). P1 is already on track for this.

P1′s CEO Michael Lai has committed that P1 will do everything it can to ensure users are getting the speed that they are paying for. As for those of you who did not know, Michael Lai(pict. above in black shirt) was the ex-CEO of TMNet. He resigned from the company due to some reasons.

In the same time, if P1 is offering a highly priced WiMAX service, than no one will be subscribing to their service, this will also kill them.

So, in simple words, if P1 is offering a cheap WiMAX service, they will go out of business. The same thing will happen if they offer expensive WiMAX packages.

If you you have any bad experience with the P1 WiMAX services or if it is taking so long for you to receive the modem, send me an email and be assured that the CEO of P1 will be informed on this.

At this moment, P1 is looking into offering a P2P only package for P2P users. What do you think about this? Opinions and suggestions are appreciated, please send me an email-malaysianwireless(at)gmail.com

P1 has decline to reveal any information on pricing, however, a reliable source claims that 4 packages will offered with speed ranging from 200Kbps to 2.4Mbps. A 1.2 Mbps package is rumored to be priced around RM89.

Here’s some pictures taken at P1 PC Fair:

The Packet 1 Booth
A long line to register the 14 days P1 WiMAX service
The simple registration online
Who says broadband is only for the young?
The man behind P1, appeared on Saturday around 5pm to support his team. Picture below, Michael Lai, P1 CEO helping out the team.
The conversation ended something like:
Customer: What’s your name?
Michael: Lai, Michael Lai
Customer: Thank you Mr. Lai

Everyone burst into laugher after the customer left since the customer did not know who he was speaking to.

More updates on P1 within the next 1 month, stay tuned to the Mobile World website.

For now, check out their new website http://www.p1w1max.com/

P1 is currently conducting user trials. If I am not wrong, the trial period is 14 days which after that the user can continue to subscribe the P1 WiMAX, of course, with a monthly fee. But I am not sure about the fee.

There are no charge to try it out for 14 days but you must be under the P1 WiMAX coverage. The flyer above was for the Setapak residents only and looks like today is the last day for registration. Trials in other areas are also available, call 1300-800-888 for more info.

P1 is expected to launch their WiMAX service very soon once they are satisfied with the feedback gathered from the trials.

Stay tuned folks!!