3G technology in Malaysia gains in popularity<\/p>\n
Anissa S. Febrina, The Jakarta Post, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Indonesians now have one more thing to envy their neighbors
\nin Malaysia about -- the rapid development of the most-advanced,
\nrich-in-features 3G telecommunications technology.<\/p>\n
First introduced in April, there are now more than 50,000
\nsubscribers in Malaysia using handsets based upon 3G telecom
\ntechnology that even allows them to utilize conference call
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
Mobile phone subscribers there for the last nine months have
\nbeen enjoying the service along with video streaming, fast
\ndownloads, live traffic checks and even home surveillance.<\/p>\n
Aside from those into "serious" 3G utilization, younger
\nsubscribers can enjoy it for music downloads and sports event
\nstreaming.<\/p>\n
3G technology enables cellular subscribers to enjoy all the
\nabove services through their cellular phones, in addition to much
\nfaster data transfer and larger memory capacity.<\/p>\n
Indonesians seem anxious for the service as mobile phone
\nmanufacturers here such as Nokia and Ericsson have reported
\nsignificant sales of their 3G handsets, despite the country not
\nyet having 3G services.<\/p>\n
The first 3G trials in Indonesia will not take place until
\nafter the middle of next year. The trials will be carried out by
\nPT Natrindo Telekom Selular, a telecoms firm that was acquired
\nearlier this year by Malaysia's Maxis Communication Bhd.<\/p>\n
3G technology was first introduced in Japan. As of this year,
\n40 percent of its mobile phone subscribers use 3G networks only.
\nThe country is expected to upgrade soon to the next stage, 3.5G.<\/p>\n
Maxis, along with another top firm, Telekom Malaysia, received
\na 2x15 MHz paired spectrum plus a 5 Mhz unpaired spectrum during
\na "beauty contest" selection held in 2002 in Malaysia, which
\nspectra can be utilized for 3G services for a duration of 15
\nyears.<\/p>\n
It paid US$13.2 million for its frequency spectra and
\ninvested a total of 400 million ringgit (about US$106.7 million)
\non 3G development.<\/p>\n
The full 3G service was first launched in July 2005 and has
\nsince been taken up by 22,000 subscribers out of Maxis' total 6.5
\nmillion subscribers throughout Malaysia. Telekom Malaysia
\nlaunched its 3G service in April.<\/p>\n
Maxis will expand its coverage to Johor Bahru and Penang by
\nthe end of 2005, and plans to essentially double the number of 3G
\nsites built.<\/p>\n
"We are very encouraged by the growth in mobile data which
\npoints to the fact that Malaysians are slowly but surely moving
\ntoward the adoption of advanced mobile data services, a prelude
\ntoward 3G services receptivity," Maxis CEO Jamaludin Ibrahim said
\nat a presentation during a media visit to Kuala Lumpur last week.<\/p>\n
Maxis also aims to make 3G services fun and affordable as
\ncustomers only need to get a Maxis 3G-customized phone and a 3G
\nSIM card. The service can be enjoyed by both prepaid as well as
\npostpaid mobile phone users, opening the door to all 15 million
\nmobile users in the country.<\/p>\n
While standard video call rates are double voice call rates,
\nMaxis is offering video calls at voice call rates for an extended
\none-year promotion. Video content packages are priced at between
\n8 ringgit and 15 ringgit.<\/p>\n
In line with 3G development in Malaysia, Maxis also offers a
\nsupporting product to boost the connectivity of its subscribers.
\nThis takes the form of a data card product branded Maxis 3G
\nConnect -- which enables high-speed access connectivity to audio
\nand video streaming, e-mails with large attachments and corporate
\ninformation stored behind firewalls.<\/p>",
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