The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission has released a mandatory standard for Quality of broadband service in Malaysia starting 1 January 2008.

Here are the conclusions(Applies to all ISPs):

• 80% of installation orders must be fulfilled within 24 hours from the time and date requested by the customer.
• 80% of service restoration must be completed within 24 hours from the time and date requested by the customer.
• 90% of billing complaints must be resolved in 15 business days of receipt of the complaint.
• Network latency to the nearest edge node(BRAS), shall be no more than 85ms(95% of the time)
• Bandwidth utilisation between the user and the nearest edge node of the regional broadband network(BRAS) should be no less than 80% of the subscribed level(95% of the me)-it means local sites will load faster
• Packet loss should not exceed 1% between the user and the nearest edge node of the regional broadband network(BRAS)

BRAS-Broadband Remote Access Server

On top of all theses mandatory standards, all ISPs must produce a report to MCMC every six months.

Mandatory Standards for Quality of Service(Broadband Access Service)-PDF file

The question is:

• What if the customers are still not satisfied on the service offered? (MCMC will be judging the service based on the report produced by the ISPs, what about consumers?)
• Do I still pay RM77 when service is always not available, or when the technical guy is taking his sweet time to come over to my place?
• What happens to the ISPs if the mandatory standards are not fulfilled?
• Why “best effort” still remains? Does MCMC support these terms?
• Why wait until January,2008? Does it mean that we will suffer until then and no action can be taken on the ISP?

Comments are most welcomed.

Update: You can read more on this at : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/486176

Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the Government hopes that the laying out of the WiMAX infrastructure will help improve the uptake of broadband access here which is currently less than 1% of the population.

He said WiMAX could also help bring broadband Internet to the rural areas.

Read the full article at The Star Online Tech Central

The shame of it all is that if the cellular companies weren’t so beholden to 3G, they’d simply co-opt WiFi and continue to rule the roost. A 2G/2.5G network that integrates WiFi hot spots at its edges and in outlying geographies is a far simpler proposition and far, far cheaper than the present 2G/2.5G-3G integration.

Read the full article at The Edge Daily.

TM Net is using music as a way to promote its streamyx services. So if you’re a fan of old-school rocker Amy of Search or would like to hear the vocal chops of Malaysian Idol 2005 winner Jaclyn Victor, make your way to one of the venues of TM Net’s Broadband Fiesta 2006.

Read the full article at The Star Online Tech Central

All they have to do is to obtain the login IDs from the staff to get on to the WiFi network.
Read the full article at The Star Online Tech Central

“This development brings the advantages and pervasiveness of the GSM platform to the notebook market, where sales of more than 60 million laptops have been forecasted worldwide this year,” he said in a statement.

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

“Together with WiMAX, we believe that such broadband wireless access technologies will provide a complementary service evolution to subscribers,” said Kohrt.

Read the full article at The Star Online Tech Central