My Wireless

KL, A Wireless City

2008-05-23T00:18:00.000+08:00

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

2008-02-28T10:25:00.000+08:00

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

2007-12-21T09:24:00.000+08:00

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

2007-11-22T19:27:00.000+08:00

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?

2007-11-08T13:21:00.000+08:00

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

2007-11-08T13:01:00.000+08:00

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

2007-09-16T02:09:00.000+08:00

Research officer vacancies in Wireless Mesh Networks.

NasionCom - in trouble?

2007-09-15T23:46:00.000+08:00

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

2007-09-15T23:19:00.000+08:00

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.

Airzed http://www.airzed.com/ Penthouse 2, Tower D, Plaza Mont Kiara, 2 Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Arcnet NTT MSC Sdn Bhdhttp://www.arc.net.my/ 18th Floor, UBN Tower, 10 Jalan P Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
Atlas One - Broadband Internet Provider http://www.atlasone.net/ Lot 47, Subang Hi Tech Industrial Park, Batu 3, 40150 Shah Alam
Biz Surf - Broadband Internet services http://www.bizsurf.com/ 74-1 Jalan 27/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Celcom.nethttp://www.celcom.net.my/ 15th Floor Menara Celcom, 82 Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur
Digi's Mobile Internet with GPRS & EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution)http://www.digi.com.my/mobile/edge/
Giga Broadband - VDSL http://www.vdslnetwork.com/ 29th Floor, Wisma Denmark, 86 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Gold Information Systems - Wireless broadband provider http://www.gissb.com/
iDiGi Internet Serviceshttp://www.idigi.com.my/
iZZi - Mobile wireless broadband, iBurst http://www.izzi.com.my/
Jaringhttp://www.jaring.my/ Mimos Berhad, Taman Teknologi Malaysia TPM, 57000 Kuala Lumpur
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/
Maxis Nethttp://www.maxis.net.my/
Maxis Wireless LAN (W-LAN) Servicehttp://www.maxis.com.my/corporate/data/wlan/wlan_main.asp
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
NasionComhttp://www.nasioncom.com.my/ 5-5 The Boulevard, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur
Penang FON - Fiber broadband http://www.penangfon.com/ Optical Communication Engineering Sdn Bhd Wisma Cintra, 68 Lebuh Cintra, 10100 Penang
PutraNet http://www.putra.net.my/ Smart Global Network (M) Sdn Bhd.Level 16, Menara Genesis, 33 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
Time Nethttp://www.time.com.my/ TIME dotCom Berhad.Level 1, Wisma TIME, 249, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Time Broadband http://timebroadband.time.net.my/
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/
Webbit - Time Wireless Broadband http://timebroadband.time.net.my/webbit/ Level 1, Wisma TIME, 249 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
ZapZone Wireless Hotspot http://www.zapzone.com.my/ Suite 8.01, Level 8, Menara Tan & Tan, 207, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur

WiMax Spectrum

2007-04-26T12:39:00.000+08:00

Many Malaysian thought that WiMax system can only be operated by the 4 companies who have been awarded the 2.3GHz WiMax license recently. This is not true. According to the IEEE 802.16-2004 standards (in which WiMax system is based on), a WiMax system can operate from 2 – 11 GHz or 10 to 66GHz.
Thus, any telecommunication service provider in Malaysia who has unuse spectrum in that frequency ranges can theoretically operate WiMax system if it wants. Other possible frequency bands below 11 GHz are the 2.5GHz, 3.5GHz and 5.8GHz.

4 companies awarded WiMax licenses

2007-03-17T11:27:00.000+08:00

Government of Malaysia awarded four companies on 16 March 2007 with licences to operate WiMax networks. The companies are: Bizsurf (M) Sdn Bhd, MIB Comm Sdn Bhd, Asiaspace Dotcom Sdn Bhd and Redtone-CNX Broadband Sdn Bhd.

Bizsurf, MIB Comm and Asiaspace Dotcom will cover peninsular Malaysia while Redtone-CNX Broadband will serve Sabah and Sarawak.

According to the Star, MCMC expects the winners to roll out their WiMAX services to 25% of the population in the areas given to them by year-end. Also, it expects the Internet access speed to be no less than 1Mbps. MCMC also stipulated that the wireless 1Mbps service should be at “an affordable price.” At the end of third year, the companies are expected to roll out the services to at least 40% of the population in the areas they control. MCMC also wants each company to invest between RM250mil and RM300mil during the first three years of WiMAX implementation.

MIB Comm Sdn Bhd (owned by YTL-e and Green Packet) may get WiMax License

2007-02-15T10:55:00.000+08:00

A news from TheStar says that the companied owned by YTL-e and Green Packet may be awarded the WiMax license.

Malaysia broadband penetration by end of 2006

2006-12-20T16:22:00.000+08:00

The government aims to achieve a broadband penetration of 25% of total households by end of 2006 under its MyICMS master plan. However, as at Q3 2006, the penetration rate is only 10% of the total households. Judging from the past few quarters statistics (7%, 8%, 9.1%, 10% in Q4 2005, Q1, Q2, Q3 2006 respectively; http://www.cmc.gov.my/facts_figures/stats/ViewStatistic.asp?cc=23807127&srid=85569401), it would be extremely hard if not impossible for Malaysia to achieve the specified target in its MyICMS master plan.

Non-cellular communication based wireless technologies such as WiMax, WiFi mesh, etc, could be the way to improve the situation. I believe that this is why the Ministry of Energy, Communications and Multimedia is acting carefully in selected companies to be awarded WiMax licenses and the evaluation process has been delayed. According to a report by the edge, 3G spectrum holders would be side-stepped if other candidates have the capability to roll out WiMAX on concerns that they may not roll out WiMAX wholeheartedly. Three of the country's four 3G spectrum holders are among the 17 applicants. They are Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Maxis Communications Bhd and MiTV Corp Bhd. Time dotCom Bhd chose not to participate.

Non-cellular communication based wireless technologies have a number of advantages:
1) low cost deployment (the equipment are normally relatively cheap as compared to cellular base station, etc)
2) fast deployment (no need to lay cable vs ADSL)
3) possible to be used in unlicensed band: This is important in encouraging innovation of new technology which can further improve quality and cost. Typical example is that the original WiFi/IEEE 802.11b has now been improved into many versions, a, g, e, n, s, etc. The emerging of WiFi mesh has allowed radio coverage extention while minimising backhaul connection cost

WiMax license will not be granted in 2006

2006-12-20T15:59:00.000+08:00

According to news from ITU's newslog:
The MCMC had originally intended to announce the winners by 31 October, but has yet to provide a revised timetable for issuing the concessions or confirm how many licences will be granted. It has requested that all applicants re-submit their applications outlining nationwide business plans, as it will not grant concessions to companies looking to roll out only regional services. The government has said it will offer as many as four WiMAX licences, though it may only distribute two concessions in the first tranche.

About WiMax technology & prospect

2006-07-28T09:53:00.000+08:00

Here is a good introduction to WiMax.

The prospect of WiMax is definitely good. It is expected that Total Asia Pacific WiMAX Service Subscribers Expected To Reach 13.98 Million In 2011

WiMax deployment status in Malaysia: 20 July 2006

2006-07-20T10:17:00.000+08:00

The Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission (MCMC) received 17 submissions for the controversial 2.3GHz broadband wireless access spectrum – commonly known as WiMax – tender exercise but will only evaluate the applications after addressing the concerns of the government.

The MCMC said this in a statement after Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik called for a tender recall, alleging that the commission did not follow the ministry’s specifications for the tender bid.

Potential of WiFi Broadband Wireless Access (BWA)

2006-07-20T10:06:00.000+08:00

Although recently WiMax has received much attention, but I do feel that the potential of WiFi has not been fully exploited. Refer to theStar for an article on the potential of WiFi.

With the introduction of WiFi mesh, I have no doubt that it would definitely promote further the exploitation of WiFi for BWA.

Let's read an anticle on the advantages of using WiFi mesh for provisioning of BWA.

Green Packet's last mile wireless solution

2006-07-20T09:54:00.000+08:00

Re: theStar

Currently, the only company with last mile connection is Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM), which owns this facility through its fixed phone lines to homes and offices.

However, Green Packet, a Malaysian high tech company, will soon offer competition to TM’s Streamyx Internet service. The company has developed a product called SONmetro. This technology offers high speed, affordable wireless access to “the last mile,”

While there are other technologies for wireless broadband access, Green Packet is convinced its product offers higher speed Internet access at an affordable price. Putting its money where its mouth is, it will soon network Klang Valley to its wireless Internet facilities.

The company will start to deploy its SONmetro infrastructure next month (Aug 2006) and launch the service possibly before year-end (2006). It will extend the network to other towns in a later phase.

At the same time, Green Packet is scheduled to set up a similar wireless Internet network in Bahrain, to be followed by Saudi Arabia and Dubai next year.

2nd 3G licence award in Malaysia March 2006

2006-03-04T18:02:00.000+08:00

In the second 3G licence award by MCMC, the winners are

TTdotCom Sdn Bhd and
MiTV Corp Sdn Bhd

The loser was

DiGi.Com Bhd

Digi is the third largest mobile operator in the country, which many people had expected to be the frontrunner for the spectrum. However, the decision of MCMC has caused a big surprise to the public. One of the possible reasons that Digi was not successfull is probably it does not offer much difference in terms of evolution of services and network as compared with existing 3G license holders (Maxis and TM).

As for MiTV, it has abondon of content which is lacking in Maxis and TM. This may be an appealing factor for this company.

Meanwhile, TTdotCom – a unit of Time dotCom Bhd in which Khazanah Nasional Bhd has a stake – gets a new lease of life and it plans to use the 3G spectrum to roll out broadband services.

Point to point directional antenna alignment

2006-03-03T00:10:00.000+08:00

During a recent consultancy work, I faced a problem in getting good antenna alignment.
I was reported that the packet error is very low or zero, latency is high (a few hundred ms), but very low throughput. The SNR is about 10dB.
The most possible reason: distance too far (1km in this experiment with IEEE 802.11a). However, if this is the case, the packet error should be high. But, may be due to no or minimum connection.
In addition, given the fact that antenna beamwidth = 30 degree. The alignment should not be too critical. If I move closer I can get higher SNR or throughput, then that may be the problem is due to distant too long.

Here is a practical procedure that I am going to try.

WiFi Mesh Routers Design and Development Company in Malaysia

2006-01-28T12:15:00.000+08:00

While chairing a technical seminar, I came to realise that a local company in Malaysia is also doing R&D in WiFi Mesh: Actinium Network. According to its official website, Actinium Network Sdn. Bhd. is a research & development company, MSC status company that focuses on design and development of embedded system, and wired/wireless solutions. In fact, they already have products in the market all over the world.

Chatting with their CTO, I found that we shared a common view on the positive prospect of WiFi mesh products, in particular in the provisioning of low cost broadband wireless solution.

First WiMAX certified products : Jan 2006

2006-01-28T11:40:00.000+08:00

WiMAX Forum Announces First WiMAX Forum Certified Products
The WiMAX Forum revealed the first companies and products to complete certification and interoperability testing, including Aperto Networks' PacketMAX 5000 base station, Redline Communications' RedMAX AN-100U base station, SEQUANS Communications' SQN2010 SoC base station solution, and Wavesat's miniMAX customer premise equipment (CPE) solution.

About one year ago, the price was about US15,000 for one pair of BS+CPE. This is definitely too high for pervasive broadband wireless access. Hope fully with the more certified WiMAX products, the price will drop very fast. Meanwhile, I am also looking forward to the incorporation of WiMAX chip into notebooks which will make to CPE price much affordable for end users.

3G market expected to expand soon with more phone models

2005-12-02T15:00:00.000+08:00

Celcom expects that its subsbriber base will increase very soon from current 20K to 150K by end of next year with the coming of more 3G phone models with much more affordable price.

A survey conducted by MCMC in 2004 showed that 75% of subscribers spent less than RM100 per month. It is yet to see what kind of applications would really attract people to use the costly 3G services.

VDSL Network Sdn Bhd uses VDSL-FSO

2005-11-29T14:50:00.000+08:00

VDSL Network Sdn Bhd (VDSL) has teamed up with a US-based technology partner Cyjaya to provide very high-speed broadband access in the country and is working on a rollout plan for the service in the Klang Valley next year.

VDSL would build its own network infrastructure using VDSL-FSO (very high bit rate digital subscriber line - free space optics) technology.

The advantage of this technology is that the time needed to set up the network is much faster as it operates based on, among other things, ABLFSO (air blown lambda fibre space optic) technology for its backbone infrastructure and even in some cases, wireless broadband for last mile connectivity to the consumer.

2nd round of 3G license bidding

2005-11-24T15:45:00.000+08:00

After much anticipation, we saw only 3 companies applying for 3G licences in this second round of bidding. According to MCMC, the three companies are:
i) DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd,
ii) TT Dotcom Sdn Bhd, and
iii) MiTV Corporation Sdn Bhd