I used to think that Singaporeans get a better deal (compared to Malaysia) when it came to telecommunication services, as they were a country with double our broadband penetration, and better technology laid out (fiber vs copper), as well as better competition between companies.

However, it appears they suffer due to a monopoly as well.

Check out Consumers United Against Starhub Price Hike

Here’s an excerpt. Sounds a lot like what we’ve been saying too, strangely enough.

This is THE time we, the consumers, stand UNITED and send a strong message to monopolistic businesses and instituitions in Singapore, which constantly subject us to price hikes and unfair business practices.

These are the following reasons on where we stand and why YOU should sign on this petition:

1. Starhub’s terms and conditions are unfair and baised against the consumer. We should be allowed avenues to terminate the contract in the event of price hike, without incurring penalties.

2. New price hike should apply to new sign-ups only, and NOT to consumers with existing contracts.

I love this part in particular…what if we did the same to TMNet?

4. Finally, we urged all Starhub cable TV subscribers to continue paying the current rate for their subscribtion and ignore the price hike until Starhub has given us, the consumers, a satisfactory response to our complaints.

On the other hand here’s some good news. Malaysians note - our cable coverage for football is the best in the region. Malaysia (Astro) beats Singapore, Indonesia, & Thailand! Check this out - “Malaysian Sports cable TV Viewers Get Best Deal“. Thanks to IZ for the tip.

How many of you here are bloggers? How many of you here use Streamyx? How many of you think broadband here needs a kick in the ass? Read on to find out how we can create greater competition in the ISP sector in Malaysia - and how we can give other smaller ISPs a marketing edge against Streamyx.

As some of you might know, me and the team at Josh Lim Ventures are responsible for this site , which campaigns for better broadband internet services here and advocates reform and competition. However, more recently, we’ve launched a blog advertising network, www.advertlets.com - an asian blog advertising network, which allows local advertisers to be heard over hundreds of local blogs. One of the most unique features to Advertlets is blog demographics, which we collect using a propietary polling system. That means, advertisers can choose which blogs to advertise on, segmented by the gender, age range and profession of each blog’s visitors. Despite a certain minister’s remarks, through our research and polling we have found that the majority of Malaysian bloggers are not unemployed women…but actually, female students aged 21-25.

Anyway, we’ve somehow managed to combine our interests of blogging and improving broadband here. In summary, we have launched a new service that would enable ISPs to compete against each other and target each others clients directly in online advertising, even with a limited budget. In short, it means for example, through our advertising system across blogs, Digi Broadband or Jaring for instance, could target verified TM Net users and offer a better deal to them. This is done through a system that display different ads across hundreds of Malaysian blogs based on users IP addresses (each local ISP is allocated a certain ISP range).

I would appreciate any assistance for RedesignMalaysia members in getting this out to the media, or the the attention of the ISPs. Please post these on your blogs too. We’ve done a lot of work on this - and we’re sure that this will be significant “ammunition” for up and coming ISPs who need to accumulate a good user base to be able to deliver good service. Thanks.

Bernice Low writes on Tete-A-Tech on CNet a much needed, erudite explanation of the current situation that’s going on - TMNet promising unlimited bandwidth, but delivering much less. Although most of us here are probably aware of these issues, its good to have a more elaboration of opinion than the usual “TMNet sucks! Cheat ppl one!” sentiment.

And of course, addresses the whole lame duck argument that TMNet makes for bandwidth throttling - about Bittorrent traffic being illegal, therefore they are justified in blocking it. Interestingly enough, has anyone checked out Bittorrent.com lately? It’s looking less like a free for all piracy fest, and now has a level of legitimacy somewhere between Youtube and the iTunes music store.
Some quotes from the article: “Similarly with a telephone or mobile line. If it is used to harass someone (stalkers, heavy breathing, etc.), does that mean the service provider must be held responsible? “….”In short, it’s none of TM Net’s business what its consumers use their bandwidth and Internet connection for, because TM Net itself will never be made liable for any of those illegal activities.”

And on the issue of service quality:

Quote: “Here’s my theory on what TM Net is doing: It is generating profit or trying to do so by being as measly and Scrooge-like as possible with bandwidth, while charging the maximum public-tolerable amount for that same bandwidth.”
Which brings to mind a very real possibility: TMNet is committing fraud/misrepresentation to its customers.

Though thanks to the wtf inducing “best effort” clause included in every customers agreement, that kind of negates the possibility of legal action. Or does it?

So, what can we do about it, from a legal and consumer standpoint? Your suggestions are welcome.

A question for all visitors. Assuming you had a budget of RM3.5 billion, and the relevant governing agencies working with you, as well as access to the media to influence the public (newspapers, TV, etc). Also assuming that you have power over the ISPs and can revoke their licenses, or penalize them.

What would you do to improve the following items?

1. Broadband penetration in Malaysia.
   Currently at about only 2%.
2. Broadband coverage in Malaysia.
   Affluent areas like Kelana Jaya & Bandar Utama are well covered…what about the rest?
3. Broadband quality of service in Malaysia.
   Ever met a happy Streamyx user?
4. Broadband service pricing in Malaysia.
   Shouldn’t it be cheaper than your household electricity bill?�

And so you understand the situation, some statistics (PDF Format)

Household Internet Usage Survey 2005 (MCMC)
The National Broadband Plan (MCMC & KTAK)

And some of my thoughts:

1. It’ll probably be best� to start with a plan for the� Klang Valley. Its where its most needed. Remember, dialup penetration throughout Malaysia is surprsingly, 14%.
2. The more customers there are in a serviced area, the more the ISP profits. See this, and this (under the Business section).
3. Should there be penalties for ISPs that fail to meet expectations? And how harsh should they be? The link provided deals with water issues. Broadband falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Energy, Water & Telecommunications.
4. Singaporeans can get 5Mbps at S$ 49.95 a month. Which is more likely to happen here, assuming that we have ISPs providing 5 Mbps packages: RM116.61 (currency conversion)� for 5Mbps, or RM49.95 (dollar for dollar)� for 5Mbps?

What do you think, people? Leave your comments - clicking on “comments”, think carefully, and then type away…

Josh Lim

“They see the pennies instead of the pounds, losing sight of the ‘pot of gold’ in the distance. They are interested only in making profits and protecting their investments, putting the future of the whole industry in jeopardy,” he said.

Read the full article at The Star Online Tech Central

Morten Lundal, DiGi’s chief executive officer, said DiGi wants to be ready to implement their 3G serivce in the shortest possible time.

“It will be a roll-out of innovative products and services designed to attract even the most discerning customer,” he said.

� Read the full article at The Star Online Tech Central

Improving cellular coverage

Dissatisfied customers

3G comes to town … finally

Out to get pirates

Cybercafes and porn

The MSC spreads its wings

A proactive budget
Read the full article at The Star Online Tech Central

Besides its natural riches, Malaysian soil is also re-splendent with another commodity — vast lengths of communication fibre straddling the nation. However, while our natural resources are consumed voraciously, the underground communication fibre network lies largely bereft of users.

Confronted by a situation that faces many countries goaded by consultants to dig and lay fibre as a national imperative, the nation is now awash in fibre while a little more than just 1% of Malaysian consumers have broadband access.

Read more at TheEdgeDaily