U Mobile 3G network is now available in almost every state in Malaysia, thanks to the 3G Radio Access Networks (RAN) sharing with Maxis Berhad (Maxis).
Via the partnership, U Mobile customers will now enjoy 3G service at an additional 1306 Maxis sites nationwide automatically. These Maxis base station will utilize the 3G spectrum allocated to U Mobile to serve U Mobile customers.
Through the 3G RAN sharing activation, U Mobile now covers major cities and towns including Kangar, Alor Star, Kota Bahru, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, and Melaka. In addition, the provision of 3G network services to East Malaysia remains on schedule and will be launched in early 2013.
In addition to the 3G partnership, U Mobile also has a 2G domestic roaming agreement with Maxis that allows U Mobile customers to roam on 7300 Maxis 2G base station nationwide.
According to Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Chairman of U Mobile Sdn Bhd, the RAN sharing with Maxis will allow cost saving for U Mobile of RM2 billion over the next 10 years. He pointed to MalaysianWireless that the saving translates in to an average RM200 million a year.
The discussion with Maxis took over 7-months before the partnership was materialized according to Tan Sri Vincent.
Currently, U Mobile operate its own 3G base station in the Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, and Johor.
On back of the 3G RAN share activation and the launch of its “Connecting Lives” campaign, U Mobile’s 14 outlets offered a special promotion to its customers to stand the chance to take home a Samsung GALAXY Nexus or Blackberry Curve 9360 for only RM3.
An early bird promotion was also held only at U Mobile’s flagship Berjaya Times Square outlet, where the first 15 customers who signed up for any of U Mobile’s postpaid plans, walked away with a free ZTE F116 phone and an exclusive 8GB Dragon thumb-drive. U Mobile also organised a lucky draw where new postpaid voice plan subscribers stood a chance to win a HTC Flyer Tablet. A new ZTE MF60 MiFi modem was also given away to one lucky new broadband plan subscriber. U Mobile auctioned two units of Huawei Ascent P1 and five Sony Xperia Tipo Dual devices.
For more details on the new U Mobile coverage areas, please refer to the U Mobile website.
