Minister: Malaysian Telcos need to improve their services!

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik highlighted that telecommunication companies in Malaysia need to improve on the following four key areas:

1. Extending coverage throughout the country - putting up more transmission towers and units to cover every town and village (achieving full coverage nationwide), providing uninterrupted services all the time at every location. No more excuses such as "no line la"...
   
2. Conducting audit checks on the authenticity of registered pre-paid line users - 17.8 million pre-paid users (90%) registered as at 16 December 2006 in an compulsory exercise. An additional 2 weeks extension was given for the remaining 10% to register.
   
3. Providing number portability - changing mobile operator will not be a major hassle for the users as they can retain their favourite number should this be implemented.
   
4. Better broadband connectivity - with more channels made available to the users such as 3G, Wimax and direct fiber optic connection. Hopefully with this, Internet connection speed can be further increased tremendously.
   

This is aimed to provide better mobile phone access and broadband services by the end of the year by translating the huge profits obtained each year.

(Source: TheStar InTech, 20 Feb 2007)

China - Straight to 4G, instead of 3G

Instead of 3G, China launched the 1st world 4th generation mobile communication systems (4G) in Shanghai's Changning district on 28th Jan 2007.

Currently, there is no 3G services offered in China. The 4G offered in China can provides up to 100Mbps in wireless data communication. (The current 3G can only offer up to 2Mbps).

Another wonderful technology advancement achieved by the Chinese to showcase their supremacy in all areas.

For more reading, click here -China Skips 3G, Goes Straight to 4G (www.ecommercetimes.com)

Cambodia bans 3G mobile phones to curb porn

Without 3G mobile phones, how the prospect of having 3G Services in Cambodia will be?

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday banned video-capable mobile phones in Cambodia to curb the dissemination of pornography, because they can be used to spread obscene images.

"Maybe we can wait for another 10 years or so until we have done enough to strengthen the morality of our society,'' he said. Alcatel, a French telecommunications firm, announced in February that it would provide 3G mobile services to CamGSM, a Cambodian mobile phone network.

Alcatel officials in France were not immediately available for comment Friday. Hun Sen said Cambodia is facing a severe decline in social morality and that curbing pornography is one way to help rescue the country.

The third-generation mobile phone "is way too advanced for us. Hearing each other's voices and exchanging text messages should be enough. If we go further than this, it could be more difficult for us to control'' pornography, he added.

***********************

More stories on 3G developments in other countries:

• 3G soon in China
• Russia- the next country for 3G
  

2 more 3G services licenses - Malaysia

Latest updates: The Star Online

Friday March 3, 2006

TTDotcom, MiTV get 3G licences

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has awarded 3G licences to TTDotcom Sdn Bhd and MiTV Corporation Sdn Bhd.

DiGi Telecommunuications Sdn Bhd, one of three applicants for the two licences up for grabs, was not successful in its bid for 3G spectrum.

Russia - The next country for 3G

After China, the next country that is going to offer 3G services is Russia - another giant country with a huge market for 3G. Read the news below from Yahoo!News.

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia will this year begin offering licenses for third generation (3G) mobile telephones, Telecommunications Minister Leonid Reiman said.

The traditional market for mobile phones was approaching saturation in Russia, meaning that the time had come to begin granting 3G licenses, he said in remarks carried by the Novosti news agency Monday.

On January 1 "there were around 120 million mobile phone subscribers in Russia and it is obvious that with a population of 150 million we must soon reach saturation level," Reiman said.

Third generation mobile phone technology allows operators to offer such services as music, TV, video and Internet access to customers with compatible handsets.

3G spreading its wing to China soon

3G in China? With Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is coming, analysts predicting that China will experience its 3G services as early as the 1st half of this year.

What's the effect to the world market of the mobile devices? New market worth US$ 12 billion is waiting for the major 3G equipment vendors such as Siemens, Ericsson, Motorola and Nokia.

For more information, read this article: Telecoms world looks to China for 3G boost (Yahoo! News)

3G Services in Malaysia = POOR

The recent survey conducted by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on the Hand Phone Users Survey 2005 resulted in the following outcomes:

There are still a lack of awareness among consumers and those that are aware of the 3G services can't find compelling reasons to migrate.

Reasons for not wanting to migrate to 3G: (multiple response question)

1. Don't need the service at the moment (54.8%)
2. The phone is too expensive (37.0%)
3. The service is too expensive (31.2%)
4. To 'wait and see' (28.9%)
5. Others (15.1%)

As at the end 0f 2005, the number of 3G subscribers in Malaysia

• Celcom - 45,000 3G subscribers
• Maxis - 30,000 3G subscribers

Are you a 3G subscriber? Share with us your personal experience on using the 3G services.

3G services launched by Celcom

Celcom launched the 3G services, the 1st in Malaysia, on Tuesday (17 May 2005) to join the ranks of 33 countries where 77 operators are offering such services.

What is 3G?
3G is a short term for Third generation wireless service. It can bring wireless transmission speeds up to 2Mbps, which allow for high-quality wireless audio and video. The 3G technology also promise that it will "keep people connected at all times and in all places."

The 3G Plus Points listed by the Star (18 May 2005, P2)

• watch a movie or clips of movie trailers on your cellphone
• download and listen to music while on the move
• get instant news coverage
• wide variety of games
• video call and surf the Internet

More information on 3G can be obtained from http://www.fcc.gov/3G/

P/S: How can we put this services into practice? May be we can attend our lectures by using our 3G mobilephone in the very near future.