The agreement will be signed by Dato’ Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Group Chief Executive Officer, TM on behalf of TM and YM Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda, Chairman, Maxis on behalf of Maxis.

The signing will take place tomorrow, more details soon.

Also do check out the Maxis HSSB page, currently open for “Registration of Interest”.

As TM rolls out UniFi in new areas, new customers in these new coverage areas will not be enjoying any free trial/usage. TM choose to treat each customers differently, so some UniFi customers get to use the service for free up to 3-4 months while some have to pay their bill the moment they subscribe.

To make it more painful and unfair to new customers, TM will start charging RM200 for new UniFi installation, effective 1st October 2010.

At the moment, TM has over 9,000 UniFi customers and approximately 12,000 applicants have registered their interest in the service.

Press release after the jump.

Starting from 1st October 2010 TM will begin charging a one-time fee of RM200 for UniFi installation. This installation charge is across the board; covering the UniFi VIP5, VIP10 and VIP 20 triple-play consumer packages as well as the BIZ5, BIZ10 and BIZ20 business packages. For convenience, the UniFi installation charge will be spread in instalments over a period of 5-months at RM40 per month and will be reflected in the customer’s monthly bills.

However, all of the related UniFi customer premise equipment and peripherals including router/access point, the broadband termination unit (modem) DECT phone and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) set top box — estimated to be worth RM800 — will continue to be provided by TM free-of-charge.

Imri Mokhtar, Executive Vice-President for Consumer, TM, further emphasised that despite the upcoming installation charges for UniFi from 1 October 2010, consumers who sign up before the date will not be levied with the fee even if their installation takes place after the date.

“As our promotional period for UniFi will end on 30 September 2010, interested customers are encouraged to sign up for their selected UniFi packages soonest possible before the end of September to continue enjoying the current waiver of the installation charges. So grab the chance to become pioneers and enjoy the immense experience change in communications, lifestyle and entertainment brought about by high-speed broadband.”

Imri then elaborated on the tedious and complex installation process required for UniFi: “UniFi installation is very different compared to normal telephony and broadband installation due to the sensitive nature of the technology involved which requires a high degree of accuracy. UniFi is a service provisioned via direct fibre connectivity to the home where the installation process is more complicated and requires a high degree of technical competency. The UniFi installation process involves many elements – a site survey, drilling, ducting, piping, electrical work and equipment reconfiguration. Our specialist installers will be dealing with delicate and fine fibre optic cables, which require a very different handling methodology compared to normal copper cables. Hence, UniFi installation at a particular premise will usually take between 3 – 8 hours.”

UniFi was launched in March this year in selected areas around the Klang Valley. TM’s UniFi service is currently available in 23 areas including Shah Alam, Damansara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Bangsar, Wangsa Maju, Sungai Buloh, Puchong and Cyberjaya, as well as Putrajaya and Damansara; and 5 areas outside the Klang Valley, located in industrial zones such as Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah, Bayan Baru in Penang, Senai and Permas in Johor. UniFi service rollout has exceeded 500,000 premises passed nationwide. UniFi is being progressively rolled out to cover 48 exchange areas reaching 750,000 premises passed by the end of 2010, and 1.3mil premises passed by the end of 2012.

There are over 9,000 UniFi customers currently and approximately 12,000 applicants have registered their interest in the service.

UniFi is currently being offered via three residential and three business packages. The Residential triple-play packages are VIP5 at RM149 a month, VIP10 at RM199 a month and VIP20 at RM249 a month. Each package comes with voice, high speed Internet and either a basic or premium HyppTV subscription. The businesses packages are BIZ5 at RM199 a month, BIZ10 at RM599 a month and BIZ20 at RM899 a month. Each business package comes with an attractive call plan, high speed Internet and a host of complimentary value added services.

It comes with free voice calls, some TV channels and other stuff. That is UniFi, Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s latest offering in high speed broadband (HSBB).

In the fast lane of broadband, speed is king. Without speeds of 5-50Mbps, and capacity, don’t call it HSBB.

Your waiting time to surf and download with 5Mbps is lower than 1Mbps. It is as though you are driving a Mercedes sports at top speed. If you want faster speed, say 10Mbps, pay RM199 a month and you may feel you are at the wheel of a Ferrari or Porsche.

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About 2 days after UniFi was launched by the Prime Minister of Malaysia. TM announced that it will not impose any data capping on its High Speed Broadband Service(HSBB) which it initially planned.

The truth is, TM is not sure whether it should limit data usage of its High Speed Broadband customers.

Question- Why would you buy a Ferrari car just to drive to work(short distance). TM is offering a “Ferrari service” to all Malaysians but it may run out of fuel within short distance.

My Opinion:

I think the question is back to TM- Who are the target customers for its UniFi service? Is it those heavy downloader out there? Companies? Individual(mass market that don’t require speed more than 2-3Mbps) or students?

The reason for data capping-  Internet is a shared network and everyone wants to access it, but not 24hours/7days a week. Data Capping is to ensure everyone makes FAIR USE of the Internet service for the price they are paying.

UniFi service is expensive at the moment, but it is a premium service since it relies on its own network/connectivity and does not depend on the Streamyx network.

Maybe TM should continue to charge higher for its UniFi service since it is a premium but what about those Streamyx customers who are waiting to move to UniFi? I think TM should still offer packages with lower speed(such as 2Mbps) to cater the mass market. But that also creates another question- Considering the past experience on Streamyx, how many customers would upgrade to UniFi and pay more?

TM should come up with a plan that will suit all customers. In my opinion, the more data that a customer consume, the customer should pay more for the broadband service.

My Suggestions

For the general population, TM could do “auto adjusting rates” or something more like an add on. All customers pay for basic service every month (a minimum RMxx for a xx speed and xx data usage). Once customers exceed the given usage they should be notified via email with an option of a secondary plan that should be cheaper than the standard monthly rate. Some customers may also opt for this to be automated.

Example, I signed up for the BASIC(one plan for all) UniFi service at RM100 per month with a 60GB usage. Once I exceed this usage within a particular month, I will be given an option to subscribe to a secondary plan(RM10 for 6GB, RM50 for 30GB) or I can make it automatic(subscribe to RM10 for 6GB once I exceed my given data limit). TM makes more money anyway(but it will come from users that use more data).

TM should also consider the “Burst speed” offered by TimedotCom.

For the heavy downloader and gamers, the service should be unlimited and price shouldn’t be less RM200 a month considering this group of people consume a lot of data and uses a lot more Internet than any other people out there. Maybe TM should monitor customers that use a lot of “downloading” and offer customised package for them.

Rather than pricing the service as high as RM249 per month, TM should educate customers on why they need such high speed service(something positive that will benefit the individual or a company) and not just think of selling UniFi.

My suggestion above may not be applied by TM, as there are alternative ways to offer UniFi to the market. But the message that I’m trying to deliver is this- Give option to your customers in terms of price, speed and usage.

As for the topic, my answer is- Data Cap for standard customers(lower price), No data cap for heavy users(higher price, should be more expensive than business packages).

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) would like to clarify that the monthly data volume cap for its consumer UniFi packages will not be implemented immediately.

This applies to all Unifi packages offered to consumers – VIP5, VIP10 and VIP20.

In the mean time, TM will monitor traffic and usage patterns to determine and develop an appropriate approach in ensuring that all UniFi subscribers have a positive experience online.

TM reserves the right to implement a Fair Usage Policy (FUP) as we want to ensure that our subscribers are not seriously impacted by unfair use of the service by a few.

FUP is a standard industry practice implemented by fixed line, wireless and cellular data service providers the world over.

The FUP will allow TM to mitigate the potential effects of unfair usage on the majority of UniFi subscribers and ensure a superior quality of service for all.

Via its Twitter account, TM announced that it will no longer impose any data limit on all its Unifi packages, for now.

Malaysians expressed their disappointment  all over Facebook and Twitter(also on this blog), for the usage limitation that TM has imposed on their HSBB packages.

Earlier, the 5Mbps package has a 60GB monthly cap on downloads; the 10Mbps package has a 90GB cap, and the 20Mbps package has a 120GB cap.

Also read- Consumers let down by cap on UniFi packages

Below: 2nd Press Release from TM yesterday on Unifi

Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s (TM) newly launched next-generation High Speed Broadband (HSBB) service, UniFi delivers a premium online experience at affordable prices.

Called UniFi, an amalgamation of “Uni” which signifies togetherness and camaraderie, and “Fi” which symbolises fibre optics; together “UniFi” directly describes the content and product benefits of the service. The brand underscores the connection, collaboration and communication proposition by TM’s positioning as a pioneering company that opens up possibilities. UniFi also alludes to a unified platform for communications made possible by IP technology.

“With UniFi, TM is heralding a new age of digital lifestyle with a faster, richer and more reliable online experience both for the individual and business customers,” said Dato’ Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Group Chief Executive Officer, TM. “UniFi is an enabler for a revolutionary change of lifestyle for Malaysians. For the first time, customers will have the opportunity to experience a triple play service of voice, high-speed Internet video and phone. With UniFi, customers will find themselves having a super highway to enjoy the benefits of an enhanced digital experience ranging from entertainment to infotainment, business-to-business transaction and a world of e-services.”

According to Dato’ Zamzamzairani, UniFi is available initially for residential and business customers.

UniFi delivers faster network access speed (port speed) for bandwidth hungry applications and superior end-to-end performance. It comes with triple-play services of high-speed Internet, video (IPTV and Video on Demand (VoD)) and phone.

For residential customers, here are the packages and prices:

Price per month

5Mbps -RM149

10Mbps - RM199

20Mbps- RM249

It is also important to note that UniFi subscribers enjoy 22 free linear TV channels and exciting new VoD titles, refreshed every month as a value-added service. These channels are delivered via an 8Mbps connection exclusively and in addition to the data speeds of 5, 10 and 20Mbps they subscribe to. With IPTV, customers can be in control of their TV as they can watch the programmes according to their own schedules – no more fixed programme schedule to follow. IPTV also provides platform for interactive applications for customers to enjoy.

UniFi subscribers also pay no installation and activation charges or charges for equipment such as their residential gateway unit, set top box and optical network unit, worth more than RM1,000. There is no deposit required as well.

New and existing 4Mbps Streamyx Combo and non-Combo customers will only pay RM140/month effective immediately, regardless of their location. This is to encourage 4Mbps Streamyx subscribers located in areas where UniFi is available to upgrade to UniFi and for those outside to switch to the Blockbuster package.

For business customers, UniFi packages come with the same speeds but are packaged without the IPTV and VoD. The prices and packages are as follows:

Price per month

5Mbps -RM199

10Mbps-RM599

20Mbps- RM899

UniFi offers a compelling value proposition for businesses to exploit the full potential of already familiar enterprise-class communication tools such as hosted web-based group messaging, Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Resource Planning and Supply Chain Management.

In the near future, UniFi subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide variety of third-party services and applications, including telecommuting, security and surveillance, interactive channels and gaming, and many, many more services which will be developed by TM’s value added service partners to enhance the ecosystem. The potential is literally limitless.

TM is also putting in place the necessary support infrastructure to ensure a superior customer experience. UniFi customers in the initial four areas of Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Bangsar can sign up at TM website, www.tm.com.my or visit the selected six TMpoints within the four exchange areas. The selected TMpoints are in Taipan USJ, Damansara Utama, Menara TM, Bukit Mahkamah, Shah Alam and Bangsar. For enquiries or further details on UniFi, subscribers or potential subscribers can call 1 300 88 1222 or email enquiry@unifi.com.

In addition to the 4 exchange areas mentioned above, UniFi will be expanded to another 22 exchange areas by July and a further 22 by December. That means, by year-end 2010, TM’s UniFi will cover 48 exchange areas with a total of 750,000 premises passed. This would include key areas such as Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Iskandar Malaysia. A schedule of expansion and area availability is available on the TM website.

As of today, TM has already completed 311,000 premises passed, surpassing the target of 300,000 premises passed by the end of March.

Signed in September 2008, the RM11.3 billion national HSBB project is a Public-Private-Partnership agreement between TM and the Government of Malaysia to develop next generation high speed broadband infrastructure and services for the nation. TM is putting up RM8.9 billion while the Government is co-investing RM2.4 billion on an incurred claims basis based on project milestones reached by TM.

Over 800,000km of new fibre optic cable has been deployed for the end to end infrastructure; an investment that also includes the core network Internet Protocol based technology.

By the end of 2012 – in accordance with the completion of the first phase of the national HSBB project roll-out as agreed with the Government — approximately 1.3 million premises will be passed nationwide, giving them access to TM’s UniFi services. These nationwide areas — identified as Zone 1 — include the Inner Klang Valley, Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, Iskandar Malaysia, and key industrial sites around the nation.

Below is the commentary from Tan Sri Rainer Althoff, Malaysia Chairman, Nokia Siemens Networks.

We welcome the latest government initiatives in line with the National Broadband Initiative (NBI) and High Speed Broadband (HSBB) service, as announced last night by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The six initiatives launched look set to drive the nation’s social and economic growth and competiveness, increasing investor confidence and promoting innovative thinking, helping to place Malaysia firmly on the global map.

Given that ICT plays such an essential role in the country’s growth and general well-being of its citizens, at Nokia Siemens Networks we feel that broadband should be made readily accessible and affordable to all. With broadband penetration low at only 32.2 percent there is still much work to be done to bring the country in line with the likes of Korea, Singapore and Japan. It’s therefore reassuring to see that the government has introduced specific measures to address this.

According to the latest Connectivity Scorecard 2010, a global connectivity study commissioned by Nokia Siemens Networks, Malaysia ranked the highest for deployment and usage of ICT within its grouping of resource driven economies for the third consecutive year. While this is encouraging, the question is where do we go from here?  How do we as a nation achieve a ranking amongst the innovation lead nations, especially in the area of consumer broadband and business infrastructure?

At Nokia Siemens Networks we strongly believe there is an urgent need to bridge the digital divide created by extremes in availability and quality of both fixed and mobile broadband services in rural areas compared with cities.  As such, we applaud Government plans to expand cellular coverage by building 873 new telecommunications towers including 278 in Sabah and 257 in Sarawak.  However, it’s clear that these initiatives can only be achieved with the right technology capable of supporting a working network in remote areas.

To address this and in support of the government’s SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) initiative, at Nokia Siemens Networks we are encouraging service providers to make renewable energies such as wind and solar to power base stations the first choice, especially those in off-grid/bad-grid locations. With renewable energy base stations, service providers can not only reduce their carbon footprint, but also lower operational expenditure with a positive impact on the bottom line.

It is estimated that up to 5% of Malaysian communications service provider (CSP) sites are “off-grid” i.e. there is no access to power and many more are considered “bad-grid” i.e. limited access to power.  This means that a significant proportion of Malaysians are denied access to broadband by virtue of where they live and work. However, we’re encouraged to see that local service providers such as Maxis are already announcing plans to extend their network in these two states.

The latest initiatives by the government, and service providers, will surely help improve livelihoods, create jobs and drive innovation towards national transformation.  But, one thing is for sure, if Malaysia is to achieve high-income, developed nation status with ubiquitous broadband it will require the collective efforts of government, corporate Malaysia, technology leaders and forward looking service providers.

TM’s HSBB/UniFi pricing, packages and more details after the jump!

CLICK THE IMAGES FOR FULL VIEW

3 Unifi packages- 5Mbps at RM149/mnth, 10Mbps at RM199/mnth, 20Mbps at RM249/mnth

HyppTV & VAS

Unifi Business Packages- Biz 5 at RM199/mnth, Biz 10 RM599/mnth, Biz 20 at RM899/mnth

Biz VAS

I don’t have the time to go through the packages as I am too busy with work today. Will review the Unifi packages later.

FULL CREDIT OF THIS POST GOES TO http://klcow.blogspot.com

Click Play to watch the video after the jump.

As I have mentioned earlier, TM’s is launching the HSBB service on the 24 March 2010 at Dataran Merdeka.

The HSBB public viewing/showcase will be open for public on 24 March 2010, 7pm-10pm and 25 March, 8pm-10pm.

Here’s part of the press release:

Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s (TM) launch of its next-generation High Speed Broadband (HSBB) retail service on Wednesday, 24 March 2010 at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur will feature showcases and interactive exhibitions that will demonstrate the high speed broadband lifestyle to members of the public.

The launch venue will be open to the public from 7:00 p.m. onwards and the HSBB showcase and interactive exhibitions will remain at Dataran Merdeka until Thursday evening, 25 March 2010. These showcases will feature rich multimedia applications for entertainment – including interactive games and IPTV.

TM invites everyone to see, touch and feel the exhibits and showcases to experience how it would feel like to live and work in a high speed broadband-enabled environment. Public viewing times for the showcases are as follows: 24 March, 7.00 pm – 10.30 pm and 25 March, 8.00 pm – 10.00 pm.
Aside from the showcases, a host of on-ground entertainment and activities are being planned including games and contests, lucky draws and open air concerts by popular acts such as Bunkface, Aizat, Pop Shuvit, Faizal Tahir, Tomok and Stacy, leading up to the official launch later in the evening. 

To mark the countdown to 24 March  2010 in a grand manner, the entire Menara TM will be lit up every evening starting from 18 March 2010 with a graphical countdown projection beam depicting the number ‘1’ of 1Malaysia leading up to the gala launch date.

The Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak will be the guest of honour at the main event in Dataran Merdeka on 24 March 2010, when he will launch both the National Broadband Implementation (NBI) initiative and TM’s next-generation HSBB service — which is also one of the NBI’s flagship initiative.

The NBI launch will feature a live crossover feed to Sarawak, while TM will be unveiling the new branding for its HSBB service. The HSBB retail offering will comprise triple-play services of voice, video (IPTV and Video on Demand), and High Speed Internet starting from speeds of 10Mbps and upwards.