KL, A Wireless City

According to Bernama, under an MOU signed with MCMC, Packet One Networks (P1) will be setting up many WiFi access points covering Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley with the aim of increasing broadband coverage to 90 percent of the population by 2010.

Meanwhile, according to a newspaper report recently, P1 will be providing wireless access service by using a combination of WiMax and WiFi technologies.
P1, which is one of the 4 Wimax license holders. The other WiMax license holders are Bizsurf (M) Sdn Bhd, Asiaspace Dotcom Sdn Bhd and Redtone-CNX Broadband Sdn Bhd. Bizsurf, Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd (formerly known as MIB Comm Sdn Bhd) and Asiaspace Dotcom will cover Peninsular Malaysia while Redtone-CNX Broadband will serve Sabah and Sarawak. According to the original plan, these companies are supposed to provide WiMax service by end of 2007.

However, it is a joke to realise at the later stage that there is no certified WiMax mobile equipment at 2.3GHz (probably refer to the reasonable cost equipment).
Now, instead of providing WiMax broadband wireless access service, these companies are now using WiMax as backbone instead. This has defeat the original purpose of MCMC to award WiMax licences at 2.3GHz, i.e., for mobile broadband wireless access.

In this WirelessKL project, P1 is in fact using WiMax as the backhaul solution.

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Satellite Communications in Malaysia

Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd announced that Measat1R, which has been renamed Measat3a, will be launched in the third quarter of 2008.

MEASAT (Malaysia East Asia Satellite) is the name of a line of Malaysian communications satellites owned and operated by MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd.

As of 2006, the MEASAT satellite network consists of three geostationary satellites. MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2 were launched in 1996 and MEASAT-3 in 2006.
The MEASAT-1 and 2 satellites were designed to provide 12 years of both direct-to-user television service in Malaysia and general communications services in the region from Malaysia to the Philippines and from Beijing to Indonesia. With the launch of MEASAT-3, the coverage extends even further to an area encompassing 70% of the worlds population.

According to the news, Measat3a has been designed to be co-located with Measat3 at the 91.5 degree E orbital hot slot. The satellite will provide 12 high-powered C-band transponders providing coverage across a region bounded by Africa and Eastern Europe in the West, through to Japan and Australia in the East, and 12 high-powered KuBand transponders for direct-to-home customers in Malaysia and Indonesia. The satellite is constructed by Orbital Sciences Inc and is planned to be launched on a LandLaunch Zenith3SL launch vehicle.

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HAPS is coming to Malaysia

According to thestar, a communications network provider QucomHaps Malaysia Sdn Bhd says it will deliver wireless broadband access via a high-altitude platform station (HAPS) service in the country in early 2009.

A High Altitude Platform Station or HAPS is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is to remain relatively stationary at high altitude.

They can be used as communications platforms, for weather surveys, traffic reports etc. Because of their relative short distance from earth compared to satellites (20 km compared to up to 40,000 km of Geostationary satellite) they could even be used to provide mobile telecommunication, without the need for ground based base stations, and without the long delays associated with satellite communication.

The concept of HAPS has been there for quite some time but has never really take up commercially. I still remember when I visited Yokosuka Research Park a few years ago, the researchers there had shown me their works on HAPS.

Among the challenges, a HAP would have to be kept in a relatively fixed location and orientation, particularly if it is desired to use fixed–position antennae, so systems to maintain orientation will have to be designed and powered. Modulation schemes, spectrum utilization, technology and standards for inter–HAP links, etc. must all be designed.

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WiMax spectrum in Malaysia

Someone was asking me about the WiMax service provisioning in peninsular Malaysia. Will the 3 companies who have been awarded WiMax licence to operate in Peninsular to operate at the same place?

Well first, we look at the spectrum assignment (http://www.mcmc.gov.my/Admin/WhatIsNew/20374698WiMax%20Press%20release_160307_final_v2.pdf) :
In peninsular Malaysia, Bizsurf was awarded the 2330 to 2360 bandwidth, MIB 2360 to 2390 MHz, and Asiaspace 2300 to 2330 MHz. Meanwhile in East Malaysia, Redtone-CNX was awarded the 2375 to 2400 MHz bandwidth.

Judging from the overlapping of frequency band and near adjacent system frequency, the 3 service providers in peninsular Malaysia will have to coordinate in order to avoid excessive interference among the different networks. In addition, the subscriber market may be too small for the 3 service providers to install their own set of equipment. As discussed earlier, sharing of network equipment among the operators and let the radio network be planned by a company may be a way to achieve optimum network performance. Anyway, the actual deployment may subject to many commercial and political influences.

Can Wimax helps us improve broadband penetration rate?

The MyICMS plan hoped to achieve a household broadband penetration of 75% by 2010.
Accoding to MCMC, as at Q2 2007, there are 1.1 million (4.1% of population) broadband subscribers in the country. This is equivalent to only 12.8% household penetration.

Referring to the statistics from MCMC below (source: MCMC), the ADSL penetration has not increased much over the last few quarters. With the same rate of increment, we will not expect ADSL service to contribute much toward the target of MyICMS. However, we noted that the number of Wireless LAN subscribers has increased significantly over the last few quarters indicating the willingness of users trying out alternative broadband wireless access solution.

Most existing WLAN solutions are mainly WiFi based with no mobility support, limited coverage area, short coverage range, and relatively low transmission rate, typically at 11Mbps or 54Mbps. The actual throughput will be even lower, i.e. about half of the transmission rate.

The general public is hoping that WiMax service which has been planned to be available by end of this year will provide a better alternative to them . WiMax has much more to offer compared to WiFi: longer range, wider coverage area, higher speed of up to 75Mbps (depend on amount of spectrum allocated), mobility support and higher security. However, there are other factors that determine the success of a wireless broadband service provisioning business. One should not forget that there may be lack of low cost modem at this moment.

In addition, from the past history of broadband wireless service provisioning in Malaysia, we learn that sound business plan is one of the prerequisite for successful business operation. Should the operators depend too much on foreign technology and experts in service provisioning, they may follow the path of other pioneer of wireless broadband service providers toward failure. This will definitely hamper the effort of Malaysian government in achieving the 75% household penetration rate by 2010.

Wimax: sharing of infrastruture by service providers

Malaysia's four Wimax licence holders (Asiaspace Dotcom Sdn Bhd, Redtone-CNX Broadband Sdn Bhd, Bizsurf (M) Sdn Bhd (a unit of YTL Corp) and Packet One Networks Sdn Bhd (formerly known as MIB Comm)) have set up a consortium to build a common infrastructure for their wireless broadband service.

As the Wimax ISP are providing service in different location, it is not possible for them to share the transmit towers or base station locations. However, they can share the usage of high speed backbone network. This make economic sense from trunking point of view as the backbone connection may not be fully utilised by any operator at any moment.

Wireless Mesh Networking Research Assistants wanted

Research officer vacancies in Wireless Mesh Networks.

NasionCom - in trouble?

On 15 Feb 2007, SC raps Nasioncom and directs company to re-issue 2005 financial statements

NHB had submitted false information to the SC with respect to revenue on sales that were not transacted, in its 2005 financial statements. The SC’s investigation revealed that NHB’s group revenue of RM194,984,186 as reflected in its 2005 financial statements contained a total of RM143,109,727 sales that were not transacted. These sales were recorded in the financial statements of two NHB subsidiaries, namely Nasioncom Sdn Bhd and Express Top-up Sdn Bhd.

Effective from 3 Aug 2007, Bursa Malaysia has put NasionCom Holdings Bhd as an affected listed company pursuant to Guidance Note No. 3/2006 (GN3) of the Listing Requirements

Internet Service Providers in Malaysia

I found this piece of information (from here) that I think is useful for future reference. It is a list of various ISPs in Malasyai, including Broadband, Cable, Wi-fi, Wi-MAX, Wireless, Hotspots & Dial-Up Access.

1. Airzed http://www.airzed.com/ Penthouse 2, Tower D, Plaza Mont Kiara, 2 Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
   
2. Arcnet NTT MSC Sdn Bhdhttp://www.arc.net.my/ 18th Floor, UBN Tower, 10 Jalan P Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
   
3. Atlas One - Broadband Internet Provider http://www.atlasone.net/ Lot 47, Subang Hi Tech Industrial Park, Batu 3, 40150 Shah Alam
   
4. Biz Surf - Broadband Internet services http://www.bizsurf.com/ 74-1 Jalan 27/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
   
5. Celcom.nethttp://www.celcom.net.my/ 15th Floor Menara Celcom, 82 Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
   
6. Digi's Mobile Internet with GPRS & EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution)http://www.digi.com.my/mobile/edge/
   
7. Giga Broadband - VDSL http://www.vdslnetwork.com/ 29th Floor, Wisma Denmark, 86 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
   
8. Gold Information Systems - Wireless broadband provider http://www.gissb.com/
   
9. iDiGi Internet Serviceshttp://www.idigi.com.my/
   
10. iZZi - Mobile wireless broadband, iBurst http://www.izzi.com.my/
    
11. Jaringhttp://www.jaring.my/ Mimos Berhad, Taman Teknologi Malaysia TPM, 57000 Kuala Lumpur
    
12. Jaring Online System (Top-Up Account, Manage Password, Support & FAQ)https://www.online.jaring.my/
    Jaring Webmail - Check your Jaring mail from anywherehttp://webmail.jaring.my/
    Jaring Wireless Broadband & my015 telephony (with SOMA Networks)http://www.jaring.my/wireless/home_user.html
    Jaring Wireless Broadband Speed Test http://bandtest.jaring.my/
    
13. Maxis Nethttp://www.maxis.net.my/
    Maxis Wireless LAN (W-LAN) Servicehttp://www.maxis.com.my/corporate/data/wlan/wlan_main.asp
    
14. Metro FON - Fiber optic networks. Residential, office broadband provider, ETTH, ETTO http://www.metrofon.com.my/
    Optical Communication Engineering OCE 19 Jalan Semangat, 46200 Petaling Jaya
    
15. NasionComhttp://www.nasioncom.com.my/ 5-5 The Boulevard, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur
    
16. Penang FON - Fiber broadband http://www.penangfon.com/ Optical Communication Engineering Sdn Bhd Wisma Cintra, 68 Lebuh Cintra, 10100 Penang
    
17. PutraNet http://www.putra.net.my/ Smart Global Network (M) Sdn Bhd.Level 16, Menara Genesis, 33 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
    
18. Time Nethttp://www.time.com.my/ TIME dotCom Berhad.Level 1, Wisma TIME, 249, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
    
19. Time Broadband http://timebroadband.time.net.my/
    
20. TMnethttp://isp.tm.net.my/ 3300 Lingkaran Usahawan 1 Timur, 63300 Cyberjaya
    TMnet Hotspots - Wireless Broadband Internet Access http://isp.tm.net.my/hotspot/
    TMnet Technical Supporthttp://www.tmmsupport.net.my/
    TMnet Streamyxhttp://isp.tm.net.my/streamyx/ House of Internet, Kelana Park View Tower, 1 Jalan SS6/2, 47301 Petaling Jaya
    TMnet Webmail - Check your TMnet mail from anywherehttp://webmail.tm.net.my/
    
21. Webbit - Time Wireless Broadband http://timebroadband.time.net.my/webbit/ Level 1, Wisma TIME, 249 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
    
22. ZapZone Wireless Hotspot http://www.zapzone.com.my/ Suite 8.01, Level 8, Menara Tan & Tan, 207, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur