3G in Malaysia gains in popularity
Anissa S. Febrina The Jakarta Post/Kuala Lumpur
Indonesians now have one more thing to envy their neighbors in Malaysia about -- the rapid development of the most-advanced, rich-in-features 3G telecommunications technology.
First introduced in April, there are now more than 50,000 subscribers in Malaysia using handsets based upon 3G telecom technology that even allows them to utilize conference call facilities.
Mobile phone subscribers there for the last nine months have been enjoying the service along with video streaming, fast downloads, live traffic checks and even home surveillance.
Aside from those into "serious" 3G utilization, younger subscribers can enjoy it for music downloads and sports event streaming.
3G technology enables cellular subscribers to enjoy all the above services through their cellular phones, in addition to much faster data transfer and larger memory capacity.
Indonesians seem anxious for the service as mobile phone manufacturers here such as Nokia and Ericsson have reported significant sales of their 3G handsets, despite the country not yet having 3G services.
The first 3G trials in Indonesia will not take place until after the middle of next year. The trials will be carried out by PT Natrindo Telekom Selular, a telecoms firm that was acquired earlier this year by Malaysia's Maxis Communication Bhd.
3G technology was first introduced in Japan. As of this year, 40 percent of its mobile phone subscribers use 3G networks only. The country is expected to upgrade soon to the next stage, 3.5G.
Maxis, along with another top firm, Telekom Malaysia, received a 2x15 MHz paired spectrum plus a 5 Mhz unpaired spectrum during a "beauty contest" selection held in 2002 in Malaysia, which spectra can be utilized for 3G services for a duration of 15 years.
It paid US$13.2 million for its frequency spectra and invested a total of 400 million ringgit (about US$106.7 million) on 3G development.
The full 3G service was first launched in July 2005 and has since been taken up by 22,000 subscribers out of Maxis' total 6.5 million subscribers throughout Malaysia. Telekom Malaysia launched its 3G service in April.
Maxis will expand its coverage to Johor Bahru and Penang by the end of 2005, and plans to essentially double the number of 3G sites built.
"We are very encouraged by the growth in mobile data which points to the fact that Malaysians are slowly but surely moving toward the adoption of advanced mobile data services, a prelude toward 3G services receptivity," Maxis CEO Jamaludin Ibrahim said at a presentation during a media visit to Kuala Lumpur last week.
Maxis also aims to make 3G services fun and affordable as customers only need to get a Maxis 3G-customized phone and a 3G SIM card. The service can be enjoyed by both prepaid as well as postpaid mobile phone users, opening the door to all 15 million mobile users in the country.
While standard video call rates are double voice call rates, Maxis is offering video calls at voice call rates for an extended one-year promotion. Video content packages are priced at between 8 ringgit and 15 ringgit.
In line with 3G development in Malaysia, Maxis also offers a supporting product to boost the connectivity of its subscribers. This takes the form of a data card product branded Maxis 3G Connect -- which enables high-speed access connectivity to audio and video streaming, e-mails with large attachments and corporate information stored behind firewalls.