After revamping its postpaid and prepaid plans, Yes appears to have revised its wireless broadband offering for both mobile and home broadband usage. Similar to its new Yes Kasi Up proposition, the data costs less than RM1 per GB on most of its plan options.
Yes On-The-Go broadband
The base “on-the-go broadband” starts from RM45/month for 50GB of data which is equivalent to 90 sen per GB. Interestingly, the higher plans costs slightly more per GB with the RM65/month option offering 60GB and the top of the line RM148/month plan offering 150GB.
Yes is providing a Huddle XS 4G LTE modem which looks different from its predecessor. According to a post by a dealer, the portable wireless modem supports up to 10 devices and speeds up to 50Mbps. Unfortunately, it still charges via micro-USB.
The Huddle XS is bundled for free on all plans with a 12-month contract and there’s no activation fee required. However, an advance payment of 1-month subscription is required during sign up and this amount will be rebated back to your account. You can learn more about the plan here.
Yes Home Broadband
If you need a fixed wireless broadband solution, Yes also offers a home broadband option that comes with a fixed wireless router. The entry-level plan starts at RM68/month for 70GB and the remaining higher-tier options are similar as the “on-the-go broadband” offering.
Instead of a portable wireless model, Yes is bundling its Zoom 4G LTE home modem which can connect up to 32 devices. The device is bundled over a 12-month contract but take note that there’s an activation fee of RM100 during sign up. An advance payment equivalent to 1-month subscription is also required and it will be rebated back in the 1st month. For more info, you can check out the Yes Home Broadband page.
If you need more data quota, the top up options are quite expensive. An additional 1GB/month costs RM10 and 10GB/month extra costs RM75. As a comparison, its prepaid plan offers 1GB/day for RM1 and RM10/7 days for 10GB.
Other wireless broadband options
In terms of value, the entry level MiFi offering from Yes is quite affordable especially when compared to Digi’s wireless broadband plan which starts from RM45/month for 15GB base + 10GB of streaming data. For those who need loads of data at home especially for YouTube and Netflix streaming, Celcom’s top-of-the-line Home Wireless XL at RM150/month offers 150GB of data and 1TB quota for video and music streaming.
If you prefer to go unlimited, Maxis currently offers unlimited wireless broadband for RM138/month or RM108/month for existing postpaid customers. Another unlimited alternative is Unifi Air which costs RM79/month.
Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) has exceeded the target set under the National Digital Infrastructure Plan (JENDELA) for the deployment of fixed broadband infrastructure by achieving 124 per cent of its overall committed premises for the year 2020.
Group chief executive officer Imri Mokhtar said TM had managed to deploy fixed broadband infrastructure to 272,185 premises nationwide as of December 9, 2020.
“We are now excited to continue our roll-out plan to achieve 2021’s target with another 300,000 premises to be fiberised by the first half of the year,” he told Bernama after appearing in Bernama TV’s ‘The Nation’ programme today.
Imri reiterated TM’s commitment to improve broadband coverage under the JENDELA initiative with 7.5 million premises nationwide expected to be connected to fixed broadband by the end of 2022.
He said TM has already provided fibre broadband connectivity to roughly five million premises in the country so far with another 2.5 million premises expected to be fiberised within the next two years.
“TM is also ready to explore various alternative cost-efficient technologies to deliver internet connectivity to another 1.5 million potential premises that have been identified as gap areas,” he added.
Meanwhile, Imri said TM is focusing on building a strong foundation by prioritising the nation’s fixed broadband infrastructures and fourth generation (4G) networks before Malaysia transits into the fifth generation (5G) technology.
“As we establish 5G mobile sites later, these sites need to be connected with fibre, so the fiberisation will complement our efforts and position Malaysia in a stronger footing as we move into 5G,” he added.
Imri said TM was also ready to develop fibre infrastructure across the country to support the implementation of JENDELA and prepare for the 5G execution under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“When it comes to technology evolution as well as investment, it needs to be a fit-for-purpose solution and in terms of timing, we don’t want TM to over-invest into it too soon.
“As per what the market demand will be, our country will be not less competitive with regard to technology advancement as we move towards a more digital Malaysia,” he said. — Bernama via Malay Mail
Mobile and fixed broadband connectivity has become more crucial during the current pandemic as most people are now working and learning from home. Speedtest has revealed its Global Index for December 2020 which reveals some interesting trends worldwide.
Narrowing down to our ASEAN region, it appears that Malaysia is still struggling behind most of its neighbours when it comes to mobile speeds. However, Malaysia did fare better for fixed broadband with a top 3 position in the region.
For mobile, Singapore leads the pack in the region with an average speed of 66.82Mbps, followed by Thailand with 51.75Mbps and Vietnam with 34.51Mbps. Malaysia ranked #7 at 25.6Mbps, which puts it behind Laos (28.28Mbps) and Myanmar (26.08Mbps).
When it comes to fixed broadband, Thailand is #1 in the region with download speeds of 308.35Mbps, overtaking Singapore which clocked an average speed of 245.31Mbps. Meanwhile, Malaysia takes the #3 spot at 93.67Mbps. On the global scale, both Thailand and Singapore are leaders in the fixed broadband space, beating Hong Kong which is ranked #3 with 226.80Mbps and Romania at 190.60Mbps.
It is obvious that Malaysia has a lot of catching up to do. Its average 25.60Mbps speed for mobile is ranked #87 worldwide, while the average fixed broadband speed of 93.67Mbps is ranked at #44.
As illustrated in the graph below, Malaysians had experienced a significant dip in mobile speeds during the initial phase of the MCO. The trend was also reflected in OpenSignal’s report and it’s clear that several telcos were struggling to cope with the increased demand.
At the moment, the Malaysian government aims to improve the country’s current 4G speed and coverage with the JENDELA plan. Some of its key objectives include increasing 4G coverage from 91.8% to 96.9% and increasing speeds from 25Mbps to 35Mbps by 2022. Apart from mobile, the plan aims to provide 7.5 million premises with access to gigabit fixed broadband access. The increased number of mobile sites as well as fiberisation is meant to serve as a strong foundation before 5G is deployed. The government also aims to shutdown 3G networks by the end of this year to free up valuable spectrum for 4G.
The MCMC has recently sent out invites for JENDELA Phase 1 which will cover a total of 1,661 locations in 106 clusters throughout the country. To address connectivity issues at underserved rural communities, the projects will be funded via the Universal Service Provision (USP) fund.
If you need a new Android TV at home, Celcom is now bunding Sharp TVs on its Home Fibre broadband plans. The TV bundle is offered to new and existing subscribers on a 100Mbps plan and above.
Celcom is offering two TV options – 60″ 4K UHD (4TC60CK1X) or a 42″ Full HD (2TC42BG1X). Both comes with Android TV which supports Chromecast and Google Assistant. With Google Play Store included, you can seamlessly watch YouTube, Netflix and popular video and music streaming content on the big screen.
The 60″ 4K TV retails for RM4,999 but it’s going for only RM2,400 outright or RM100 x 24 months on instalment with a Celcom fibre plan. Meanwhile, the smaller 42″ Full HD version is retailing for RM1,749 but you can get it for RM1,200 outright or RM100 x 12 months on instalment.
As an added bonus, you will also receive a RM500 Sharp voucher for the 60″ TV or RM100 Sharp voucher for the 42″ Full HD option. This voucher can be used for purchases on the Sharp online store.
To recap, below are the monthly broadband plan subscription on Celcom and you can enjoy additional savings if you sign up with a Celcom Mega postpaid plan.
100Mbps – RM120 (RM99 with Postpaid)
300Mbps – RM140 (RM119 with Postpaid)
500Mbps – RM200 (RM179 with postpaid)
The broadband plans are tied with a 24-month contract and Celcom is now bundling a TP-Link AX10 router which supports WiFi 6. Celcom also offers a faster 1Gbps option but it is only available in areas covered by Celcom’s own fibre network in Sabah.
For more info, visit Celcom’s Sharp Android TV promo page or check out their FAQ.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Chairman Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek has revealed that his team will respond to complaints on poor connectivity within 24 hours. He said this during a live interview with Bernama this afternoon.
Dr Fadhlullah said the MCMC listens to complaints of the people and will try to work with various parties to provide a solution. He acknowledged that not all problems can be solved immediately and they have to manage expectations. Some issues might take a longer time to fix and they would need to inform the people of what is going to be done.
He said people would accept if they know that something is being done but they will be angry if nothing is being done. The MCMC Chairman said his team in every state will be on the ground within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.
The public uses several ways to express their complaints and the MCMC said they do pickup the issues that were raised through social media. Dr Fadhlullah gave the example of Tanah Merah where a father had made a tent on top of a hill so that her daughter can get good signal for online learning. After the situation was reported in the news, MCMC had sent a team to the location within 24 hours.
In less than 3 weeks, Celcom had erected a new tower which provided 4G coverage for the village. The quick deployment was made possible with the cooperation of MCMC and the local authorities to speed up the necessary approvals.
For users who are still having issues, he urged them to make an official complaint through the Aduan SKMM portal. Telcos will be given three days to respond and if they fail to provide a report, they will be penalised for violating the Mandatory Standards of Quality of Service.
Most fibre broadband plans in the country including Unifi are usually tied to a 24-month contract. This is a standard industry practice as the telcos are providing the modem, wireless router and installation for free. But what happens if you’ve completed your 24-month contract and you just want to upgrade or downgrade your plan?
Turns out that TM requires a new contract refresh regardless if you’re within or beyond an existing contract. This even includes upgrading your Unifi plan without requiring a new router.
Nak tanya pendapat @amanz@Soya_Cincau@1Obefiend. Unifi's T&Cs said must renew contract for any change of plan, even though currently not under any contract. AFAIK, Maxis don't do this. Supposedly Astro just charge processing fee. https://t.co/j6Z8azHHBx
Unifi user (@me_siam) had told us about this policy when he/she was planning to upgrade from a RM79/month Unifi 30Mbps plan with 60GB of quota to a RM89/month Unifi 30Mbps plan with unlimited quota.
This condition is also stated in its FAQ dated October 2020. To get further clarification, we’ve asked TM if a new contract was necessary if an out of contract customer wishes to change their plan with no new hardware required.
Unifi requires contract refresh for all upgrade/downgrade situations
Below is TM’s official response:
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) wishes to highlight that we do not offer any change of plans without contract. For any changes to a unifi customer’s subscription plan, their minimum subscription period will be refreshed as specified in the new package’s Terms & Conditions (T&C).
The customer’s minimum subscription period will also be refreshed following any replacement of equipment or change of plan to an ongoing promotional campaign. For a package upgrade order from 30Mbps to 100Mbps, the customer may be required to upgrade to a new CPE (depending on the compatibility of the existing CPE with the customer’s new plan). The customer will be informed of the T&C and the options available should there be any requirement to change their equipment. This is to ensure they receive the best customer experience.
We usually offer our existing unifi customers a better value proposition as compared to their existing plan for any upselling or customer retention programme. In this case, we do refresh their contract for the value of the new plan.
TM does review its T&Cs from time to time to best suit customers’ needs.
Based on the official reply, there’s no option for you to change your plan without being tied to a new contract. Understandably, some existing Unifi customers are still using very old hardware which definitely requires replacement. This may include a new modem and dual-band WiFi router to support the faster speeds.
But in other circumstances, there are customers that bought their own WiFi routers and all they need is just a speed bump. Logically, if customers do not require any new hardware, why is there a need to be tied to a new contract?
Current plan is Unifi Basic at RM79/mth which is the lowest they have got. Wanted to upgrade to RM89/mth. Heavier usage during MCO, especially with WFH & online classes.
The Unifi customer who has reached out to us is not even getting a speed upgrade but merely changing from a plan with 60GB quota to an unlimited option. It doesn’t make sense to get trapped into another 24-month tenure just for this minor plan change.
No contract from other providers if no new hardware required
Similar to mobile postpaid plans, contracts should only apply if you’re getting a new device or if the telco is offering additional discounts or rebate. So what are other fibre broadband providers doing?
According to Time, its customers may upgrade or downgrade without any penalty or contract reset if there’s no free router involved. As shown above, a contract reset only applies if customers take up the free router offer or if they downgrade within the contract period.
Checks with Celcom also revealed that there’s no contract refresh for customers who wish to downgrade or upgrade their Celcom Home Fibre plans after they completed the 24-month contract. However, customers may be subjected to a new contract if they opt for an offering or promotion.
Similarly, Maxis only imposes a contract refresh if customer receives new devices. If the customer doesn’t require new hardware, Maxis does not impose a new contract.
Consumers shouldn’t be forced to accept a contract refresh
From the looks of it, it seems like TM is trying to trap its users unnecessarily with this contract refresh policy. After fulfilling the initial contract, customers should be free to upgrade or downgrade their plan without being tied to another 24-months.
Consumers generally dislike contracts because it restricts their freedom to switch when there are better deals in the market. Extended contract might not be ideal for those who are renting as their existing tenancy agreement might have less than 24 months remaining. Sometimes consumers may have a sudden change in demand and they only want to upgrade for short period of time during the MCO.
If TM wants to lock a customer for another two years, they should offer the customer additional benefits. They could provide the latest WiFi 6 router or a Mesh WiFi solution for free, which is similar to mobile telcos offering free phones on contract to loyal customers. Alternatively, they could also offer extra discounts for staying with Unifi for another two years and this can be seen as a loyalty reward.
In the previous example, the customer just wants to step up to an unlimited plan for an extra RM10 per month. TM could have offered a contract-free option of paying RM89/month or a discounted rate of RM79/month that’s tied to a 24-month contract.
If TM doesn’t offer extra value, it makes more sense for the customer to switch to other providers such as Maxis if they are going to be forced into a new contract anyway. For RM89/month, Maxis offers 30Mbps for both download and upload, and it comes with unlimited quota. As a comparison, TM’s 30Mbps Unifi fibre plan has a lower 10Mbps upload speed.
What do you think? Let us know if you’ve encountered a similar issue when trying to upgrade/downgrade your Unifi plan after 24-months.
Since most of Malaysia has been placed under movement control order (MCO 2.0), Telekom Malaysia (TM) has recorded a 15% increase in overall internet traffic usage compared to the first MCO in March 2020. It looks like Unifi users are consuming significantly more data year-on-year.
According to the broadband provider, the new MCO 2.0 has made most Malaysians rely heavily on internet connectivity for online communication to stay connected and productive for working and learning at home. TM says it has the capacity and diverse network connectivity nationwide and worldwide to support immediate and large spike in demand for Internet bandwidth, as part of its continuous network optimisation effort.
In a statement to Bernama, TM says they have existing partnerships with world’s technology giants and social networks. The local hosting of content in Malaysia has resulted better internet experience for consumers. Last year, TM shared that overall data consumption had increased by 30% during the initial MCO. It said 20% of its internet traffic is international and there was only a 5% increase during the MCO which are mainly used for streaming, online gaming and teleconferencing.
In addition, the telco is also supporting the PENJANA initiative by offering free 1GB data daily for productive apps and services. On top of that, Unifi Mobile is also offering an exclusive data plan for SPM and STPM students where they can get 15GB data for RM20/month.
TM is also providing free broadband at selected People’s Housing Program (PPR) for 2021 SPM and STPM students. The connectivity at 59 out of the designated 130 PPRs will be managed by TM.
The telco has recently shared that it has exceeded its JENDELA targets for 2020 with the deployment of fixed broadband access at 272,185 premises. It aims to cover 300,000 more premises with fibre by the first half of 2021. At the moment, TM has provided fibre access to 5 million premises throughout Malaysia and it aims to fiberise another 2.5 million more within the next two years.
TM has announced that its Unifi Fibre broadband, Unifi Mobile and Streamyx services in Perak are having disruption due to a cable cut incident. The telecommunications giant believes that the cable incident was caused by vandalism and they are working to rectify the issue as soon as possible.
We have detected a cable cut incident affecting unifi (mobile and fiber) and Streamyx subscribers in Pantai Remis, Sitiawan, Tanjung Malim and Tapah. Multiple main connection cables are damaged. pic.twitter.com/2l8qupTOkY
According to their update on social media, the cable issue affects Unifi and Streamyx users in Pantai Remis, Sitiawan, Tanjung Malim and Tapah in Perak. It added that multiple main connection cables are damaged.
Due to the complexity of the connection, TM says the restoration will take some time and their technical team is working around the clock to restore its services as quickly as possible. Further updates will be shared on their Facebook and Twitter account.
Kenapa UNIFI negeri² utara Malaysia slow malam ni ?
Ini sebabnya
Just finished the call with TM. All Northern Region is affected by 'fiber cut' at Tanjung Malim at about 8pm where the traffic will pass through their Internet GW at Cyberjaya.
— Abdur Rahman Al Amin Bin Ismail (@RahmanIsmail_) February 3, 2021
Based on complaints on social media, it appears that the issue has affected connectivity for Northern region users which also includes Celcom and Maxis fibre customers on TM’s HSBB network. It is believed that users may experience slower connectivity due to congestion.
Hi, we're aware that our Fibre users in Northern region might experience service disruption & rectification is currently ongoing. Your patience while we resolve this is appreciated. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted. TQ
The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry of Sabah, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and MEASAT have deployed ConnectMe Now satellite connectivity at Kampung Waluhu in Ranau, Sabah. This came following a recent incident of students that had to put themselves at risk to get good connectivity by going into the forest with the potential of encountering wild animals.
Apart from deploying the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and High Throughput Satellite (HTS) solution, the Sabah state government is sponsoring 300GB ConnectMe prepaid vouchers as an immediate solution for the community of Kampung Waluhu to aid them in their daily activities. The village is located at a remote area that has limited radius of terrestrial broadband network.
According to the MCMC, a new communications tower will be built at a suitable location under the JENDELA plan. This would provide better mobile coverage for residents in both Kampung Singgaron Baru and Kampung Waluhu. Although the tower is a long-term solution, it will take time to complete and the satellite broadband is deployed as an immediate solution for the residents.
Sabah’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Haji Yajub Khan said “We are very sympathetic to the students who places their lives at risk to get an internet network to attend online classes. I am glad that MEASAT’s CONNECTme NOW service is fast and nimble enough to be set up anywhere, bridging digital divide across our Sabah rural communities.”
Commenting on the deployment, MEASAT COO Yau Chyong Lim said, “We are pleased to be able to provide CONNECTme NOW to the community of Kg Waluhu and help them overcome the challenges of broadband communication. While there is proactive focus by the Government on strengthening the existing terrestrial networks, it will still take a long time to upgrade connectivity in underserved areas. Satellite-based broadband services are the ideal, practical and immediate solution in providing connectivity to communities in rural areas and it can be ready in just a matter of days.”
ConnectMe Now has over 1,000 sites across Malaysia and claims to provide over 100,000 broadband connections for residents residing outside 4G or terrestrial coverage areas. The satellite-based service provides speeds up to 30Mbps and it offers 100% coverage throughout Malaysia.
ConnectMe Now is a prepaid service that can be deployed within a couple of days and there are no contract or upfront investments required. ConnectMe will deploy the equipment including the satellite dish and WiFi access points for free at rural communities that have no 3G or 4G coverage. For areas without a power source, ConnectMe can deploy a solar-powered solution. The local community can gain access by buying prepaid vouchers which costs RM10 for 1GB (valid for 30 days) or RM40 for 5GB (valid for 60 days).
If you’re still stuck with slow ADSL connectivity, it must be frustrating to not have access to faster broadband while your neighbours staying a few blocks away are able to enjoy fibre broadband connectivity. Aaron Epstein, a 90-year-old senior citizen in the US also faced a similar situation and had taken a drastic approach. He spent USD 10,000 (about RM40,420) on a newspaper ad to vent his frustration at AT&T. Guess what? It actually worked.
The quarter-page ad on the Wall Street Journal is essentially an open letter to AT&T CEO John Stankey to tell him that his internet experience sucked. It read “AT&T prides itself as a leader in electronic communications. Unfortunately, for the people who live in N. Hollywood, CA 91607, AT&T is now a major disappointment.”
The ad added that AT&T is advertising broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps but yet they are only offering 3Mbps for his neighborhood, while the competition is offering speeds of over 200Mbps.
According to Arstechnica, Epstein has been a loyal AT&T customer since 1960. He was also one of the first in Los Angeles to upgrade to DSL when it was offered in the 90s. Each time he called them to ask about faster speeds, he was always told by customer service that they are working on it but without providing a definitive date. Although he subscribes to a 3Mbps plan, he claims to be getting just 1.5Mbps most of the time which makes online streaming frustrating.
I mean how upset one must be, over slow home internet speeds, to pay for a personal quarter-page national ad in print @WSJpic.twitter.com/Zk9umKD0t1
After the story went viral and was featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, AT&T had finally went to his premises to install fibre broadband in just two days. It was reported that Epstein and his wife are now getting over 300Mbps which is 100X faster than its old 3Mbps DSL connection.
Epstein told Ars Technica that the installation had costed AT&T “thousands and thousands of dollars” just to hook up his house. The CEO of AT&T had also reached out to Epstein and told him that he saw the WSJ ad that was shared by his staff. The communications provider said they are also working as quickly as possible to complete the fibre expansion in the neighbourhood.
In Malaysia, the government is aiming to fiberise a total of 7.5 million premises by 2022 under the JENDELA plan. At the moment, TM has covered a total of 5 million premises with fibre broadband connectivity and it was reported that TM has exceeded last year’s JENDELA target by deploying fibre infrastructure to 272,185 premises nationwide as of 9th December 2020. The broadband provider aims to cover 300,000 premises in the first half of 2021.
For existing Streamyx customers residing in areas without Unifi fibre broadband access, TM is also offering Unifi Air as an interim solution which provides unlimited 4G broadband for RM79/month. However, this is only offered for premises that are located within the Unifi 4G LTE coverage.
If you’re facing connectivity issues, MCMC has urged the public to lodge a formal complaint through the Aduan SKMM portal if they do not receive a satisfactory response from their telco. The commission also promises to respond to complaints within 24 hours.
Maxis has started teasing its upcoming hardware solution that promises to improve the WiFi experience at your home. This appears to be a new Mesh WiFi product which could replace its current AirTies Air4830 solution that’s now offered for free on its higher-tier fibre broadband plans.
Mesh WiFi routers are designed to help expand your home’s WiFi network by minimising dead zones and to offer a seamless connection across your devices at home. For larger homes, you may be required to purchase additional nodes to offer an expanded coverage.
From the image above, Maxis’ new Mesh WiFi routers look slim and it comes in black. The teaser says “A crowded home doesn’t mean you can’t own your space” and “Don’t let any other device get in the way of your WiFi experience”. This indicates that it could better address WiFi congestion issues and support more devices on your home network.
We can’t identify the model of the router and we hope that it can support the newer WiFi 6 standards. Maxis will revealed the full details on Thursday, 18th February 2021.
AirTies Air4830
At the moment, Maxis is bundling 2 units of its AirTies Mesh WiFi solution on its 500Mbps (RM219/month) and 800Mbps (RM299/month) fibre plans. For those who are subscribing on the lower fibre options, the Mesh WiFi routers are offered at RM25/month (24-month contract) on Zerolution for a pair or RM300 outright per unit. The Air4830 routers boast 2000Mbps connectivity with dual-band support (5GHz/2.4GHz) and it connects directly to your existing stock router.
Apart from Maxis, other providers such as TM, ViewQwest and Time are also offering Mesh WiFi solutions for its home fibre customers. Celcom currently doesn’t offer Mesh WiFi for its home fibre plan but they are currently providing a TP-Link AX10 WiFi router which supports WiFi 6.
Most fibre broadband plans in Malaysia typically come with a 24-month contract in exchange for free router with no additional upfront payment required. But what happens if you need to terminate your fibre broadband during the contract due to unforeseen circumstances?
To find out, we’ve compared the contract termination policies of our main fibre broadband providers such as TM Unifi, Maxis, Time, Digi and Celcom. The information are obtained from their respective FAQ and T&C, with additional clarification from the broadband providers themselves.
Unifi
TM Unifi is Malaysia’s pioneer nationwide broadband provider and they have fibre access to about 5 million premises in Malaysia. When it comes to termination, TM has updated its termination penalty which varies depending on when you subscribe to their Unifi Home Fibre plan.
As clarified by TM, users who subscribed before 2018 would only need to pay a one-off RM500 penalty if they wish to terminate within the 24-month period. However, subscribers from 2018 onwards, you’ll have to pay the remaining months of their package subscription.
That’s a huge difference under the revised terms and you’ll have to fork out significantly more if you terminate much earlier during your contract period. For example, if you’re on a plan that costs RM199/month, the penalty would be RM1,990 if you have 10 months remaining or RM995 if you have 5 more months to go.
For those who are on Unifi Lite (aka Streamyx), the penalty within contract is a one-off RM350.
However, if you are terminating because you are moving to an area without Unifi Fibre broadband coverage, TM will be able to waive the penalty charges for you. If you’re in this situation, you can request for a waiver and this provides flexibility especially for customers staying in rented homes.
To terminate your subscription, do note that you must provide a 30 day notice and you’ll also need to return the BTU (Broadband Termination Unit), which is the device that is connected between your wireless router and the fibre port. If you fail to return the BTU at your nearest TMpoint, there’s a penalty of RM500.
Maxis
Maxis is probably the biggest challenger to Unifi as it boasts having the widest fibre broadband access in Malaysia by tapping into TM’s HSBB, Sarawak’s SACOFA, Celcom Timur Sabah and TNB’s Allo fibre infrastructure.
Similar to Unifi, it appears that Maxis has also revised its termination penalty for subscribers that are still on contract. As listed in their T&C, Maxis Fibre Broadband users that subscribed before 23rd November 2020 would only need to pay a one-off penalty of RM500 if you terminate before your 24-month contract is up. However, subscriptions that start on or after 23rd November would require you to pay either RM500 or the remaining months in your subscription, whichever is higher.
Just like the previous Unifi example, if you’re paying RM199/month for your broadband plan, you would need to fork out RM1,990 for penalty if you cancel with 10 months remaining in the contract.
Unlike TM, it looks like Maxis isn’t too accommodating if you’re moving to a new location without coverage. According to its T&C, Maxis will terminate the service if they cannot provide the service to you at your relocated premise. As a result, you may be required to pay the early termination charge as provided in the above mentioned Clause 14.
However, on the bright side, Maxis doesn’t require an early notice for termination but you still need to return the BTU to the Maxis Centre. It is also worth noting that if you fail to return the BTU, the penalty is lower at RM200.
Time
For Time Fibre Broadband customers, the termination fee during the contract period is a one-off RM500. However, you would still need to provide an advance notice by informing Time over the phone or by dropping them an email.
However, if you plan to relocate to a new area without Time fibre coverage, the penalty will still apply if you terminate within the contract period. For those who can’t commit to a 24-month contract, it is worth pointing out that Time also offers a contract free subscription option. To sign up without a lock-in period, there’s a one-time charge of RM400 (100Mbps and 500Mbps) or RM500 (1Gbps) during the sign up process.
If you wish to terminate, you’ll need to provide a 30-day notice but those with a contract-free subscription, a notice period of 7-30 days before your next billing cycle is required.
What’s interesting is that TIME doesn’t require you to return the BTU if you cancel within or after the contract. The devices are practically yours to keep which makes the termination process much easier than TM and Maxis.
But take note that Time may charge you for additional device penalty if you take up any special device offers such as the Free Mesh WiFi promo.
Digi
For those who don’t know, Digi also provides home fibre broadband and they are offering some serious competition with lower monthly subscription fees. Looking at the FAQ, Digi appears to be the most consumer friendly option for early termination.
If you cancel within the contract, the penalty is also a one-off RM500 and you can cancel at anytime by walking into any Digi Store without any early notice. If you are moving to a new location without fibre coverage, Digi says customers can request for a penalty waiver and they will review the request on a case by case basis. Another great convenience is that you don’t have to return any device including the BTU to Digi.
Celcom
Celcom is also quite similar to Digi where they are only charging a one-time penalty of RM500 for early termination within 24 months. If you’re moving to a location without fibre coverage, Celcom will also be able to waive the RM500 penalty upon request.
Unfortunately, Celcom Home Fibre customers are still required to return the BTU but you don’t need to come to them. The blue telco is making the process easier by arranging a TechXpert to pickup of the device from your home. If for any reason that they couldn’t collect the BTU from you, there’s a penalty of RM200.
Side by side comparison
Among all telcos, it appears that Time, Digi and Celcom offers the lowest cost for termination within contract. Whether you’re 12 months or 4 months remaining, all you’ll need to pay is just RM500. For newer subscribers on Unifi and Maxis, the new policy now requires you to pay the full remaining subscription fee of your contract which can be very costly.
Fortunately, most providers except Maxis and Time have a clear policy that allows you to request for a penalty waiver if you move to a location without fibre coverage. This is fair considering coverage isn’t the customer’s fault and the provider should be responsible for not having their service available in more premises.
Also worth noting is that both Unifi and Time requires an early notice which is something you need to think ahead before cancelling your fibre line. Another hassle you would need to deal with is the return of the BTU. This is a tedious process as you would need to take time off from work just to return the device at the service centre. Only Unifi, Maxis and Celcom requires the BTU back but it is good to know that Celcom offers a pickup service from your doorstep.
Paying for remaining months in the contract is unscrupulous
The policy of demanding full payment subscription for the remaining months is totally unfair to consumers. Why would customer have to pay full amount for something they no longer use? This type of policy would only make sense for device instalment contract like a smartphone, as the customer will be able keep and use the device after early termination.
The one-off penalty of RM500 should suffice to cover the provider’s cost for installation and free router/devices to the customer. The policy to demand payment for the remaining months only benefits the provider as they will gain the same revenue as if the customer continued with the 24-month subscription.
Another policy which we find weird is the need to return the BTU. Why can’t the customer keep it even after the 24-months contract is over? If there’s a cost to it, they could just factor it with the contract and this would also make the termination process seamless with one less step to worry. Besides, what would the provider do with the old BTUs?
What do you think of the termination policies for customers within contract? Let us know in the comments below.
In the past, we’ve grown accustomed to rather lacklustre bundled routers when it comes to home broadband plans in Malaysia. However, as the digital needs of users increase, telcos have also responded with improved equipment—including mesh systems, and even WiFi 6 routers. Now, Maxis has introduced new mesh-ready WiFi 6 routers as part of its home broadband bundles—depending on your package, the new router is available for free.
Sound good? Here’s what you need to know.
What’s so special about this?
WiFi 6, as a technology, isn’t so much about raw speed for individual devices. Instead, it’s about improving the network when a number of different devices are connected at the same time. Most home networks probably have at least 4–5 devices connected at any given time, which is why WiFi 6’s ability to communicate with more devices at once, along with other features, is important.
However, you should note that you need WiFi 6 (AX-compliant) devices to take full advantage of WiFi 6’s capabilities. Many modern laptops and mobile devices already come with WiFi 6 support, so you’ll need to check with the specs of each individual device you have, or are planning to buy. In the meantime, older WiFi 5 devices will still work with WiFi 6 routers.
Maxis’ WiFi 6 routers, and how to get one for your home
As mentioned, the new Maxis WiFi 6 router is available for free with all new installations of Maxis Fibre 100Mbps plans and above. Installation is also provided for free by Maxis’ “internet experts”, Maxperts. Here’s a quick breakdown:
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Maxis also promises that existing EasyMesh devices are supported by its WiFi 6 router, which means that those of you who need further coverage can expand your network via mesh satellite nodes. For some context, EasyMesh is a WiFi Certified standard which ensures that network hardware is compatible regardless of manufacturer, which means that you’ll be able to pick up different models—so long as they’re EasyMesh-compliant.
If you need more mesh nodes, Maxis has confirmed that you’ll need to pay RM25/month for 24 months for a pair. To buy the nodes outright, you’ll be charged RM300. Meanwhile, for 500Mbps and 800Mbps plans, two units of mesh WiFi will already be provided for free in the bundle. If you need more, you’ll be subject to the fees mentioned above.
At the moment, the full specs of the WiFi 6 router is not available, although Maxis assures us that these will be made available soon. From what we know, the router is manufactured in partnership with Korean company, Kaon, as well as network giants Huawei. Based on an educated guess, it looks like Maxis is providing the Kaon Broadband Router, which is WiFi 6 compatible (of course), while supporting IPv4 and IPv6 protocols.
In case you didn’t know, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has a satellite broadband service that’s called the Starlink. SpaceX has deployed over a thousand small satellites in low earth orbit which promises to provide high-speed internet access with significantly lower latency compared to existing satellite providers.
Starlink is currently running as a beta service in select markets. Beta users can expect speeds of 50Mbps to 150Mbps with latency of 20-40ms. That’s rather impressive as the latency of typical satellite broadband is around 500ms. There’s also no data caps during the beta program.
Beta Starlink customers will receive a kit that consists of the Starlink receiver, wifi router, power supply, cables and mounting tripod. By default, the mounting tripod allows you to install it on the ground level but there are options for roof installation. As reported by The Verge, the equipment costs USD 499 (about RM2,020) while the monthly subscription fee costs USD 99 (about RM400).
Starlink Order page
In Malaysia, the service is still not available and it is scheduled to be available in 2022. Interestingly, they are now allowing Malaysians to order by placing a full refundable deposit of USD 99 (about RM400) on their website.
If you’re interested to signed up, do note that it isn’t clear if Starlink has received approval to operate as an internet provider in Malaysia. To provide a commercial broadband service, SpaceX would need to a Network Facility or Service Provider license (NFP/NSP) from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
At the time of writing couldn’t find Space X or Starlink on the MCMC’s licences register. This is important as such services are regulated and it is to ensure that it doesn’t cause any interferences to existing wireless services. Consumers are also likely required to apply for an Apparatus Assignment (AA) before they can install the dish at their premises.
We’ve also reached out to the MCMC on the status of Starlink in Malaysia. We will update this post once we have received more details.
At the moment, the main satellite broadband provider in the country is MEASAT’s ConnectMe which currently offers download speeds of up 30Mbps. ConnectMe will soon offer faster speeds up to 100Mbps once they launch MEASAT-3d which is currently scheduled for 2022.
For home users, ConnectMe is priced at RM198/month for 60GB of quota and RM298/month for 100GB of quota. To address connectivity issues in rural areas, there’s also a prepaid-based ConnectMe Now service which requires zero upfront cost and users can subscribe via prepaid vouchers.
Recently, we’ve published a comparison of penalties imposed by fibre broadband players for customers that cancel before their contract expires. What we noticed is that some had changed their T&C which requires customers to pay the full subscription amount for the remaining months of their contract.
As mentioned in the earlier post, it is unfair to make customers pay in full for something that they no longer use. We’ve reached out to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and here’s their official response on the matter.
When we asked the MCMC if there are any regulations in place which caps the penalty charge to a fixed amount to protect consumers, they told us that there’s a General Consumer Code of Practice (GCC) in place to provide guidelines for self-regulation.
The commission points to Part 2 Provision of Information under Terms & Termination, it is a Service Providers’ duty to inform a consumer on pertinent details detailing a contract including its minimum contract term (if applicable), minimum period & the manner of notification of termination and amount or method of calculating any charges payable for early termination.
The MCMC said “Thus, it is important for consumers to read the legal contract as every word is part of the legal agreement. When SP does not provide that information, then it may possibly be breach of GCC and will be subject to regulatory action.”
The answer is also the same when we asked the MCMC if providers are allowed to demand back hardware (such as the fibre broadband BTU) even after they have fulfilled their minimum contract period. In their official reply, they told us that consumers would need to read the Terms & Conditions before subscribing.
The MCMC said “Consumers have a responsibility to reach a service contract as that is based on a willing buyer willing seller principle. Consumers opt to subscribe to a service and not forced into one. It is not the BTU that is to be returned but the modem router usually. Therefore, for such moveable item, it will be defined in the contract.”
Consumers are responsible for accepting the T&C
Based on the response, it appears that telcos can charge any amount for penalties as long as customers are agreeable to the terms. When we posted our comparison, both TM and Maxis would require its new customers to pay its remaining subscription fees in full. For example, if your subscription fee is RM199/month and you have 10 months remaining, the penalty charge would be RM1,990, which is ridiculously high.
Previously, both providers charge a one-off RM500 penalty for early termination, which is what other fibre broadband players are currently charging. RM500 is a fair amount for telcos to recoup their initial cost for installation and for providing the hardware.
However, it is also worth mentioning that TM can waive the penalty if you’re relocating to a different address that is out of coverage. Unfortunately, this waiver isn’t available for Maxis fibre broadband customers.
In conclusion, it appears that customers would have to fend for themselves when it comes to such unfair contracts. Before signing the contract, always ask questions especially when it comes to early termination, fair usage policy, speed cap and monthly data limits. You can ask the sales representative to point out the terms so that it is absolutely clear of what you’re getting yourself into. Always keep a copy just in case if there are any sudden changes without prior notice.
As mentioned by the MCMC, it may possibly be a breach of the General Consumer Code if the service provider fails to provide these crucial information and action can be taken. However, once you’ve signed the subscription contract, there’s nothing much you can do.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has introduced a fast track process to resolve access issues in high priority areas. This was announced as the MCMC has received complaints from consumers that communications services in some high priority areas are delayed due to prolonged commercial negotiations among service providers.
Under the fast track process, service providers must promptly resolve commercial negotiations within 10 business days. If they are not settled within the stipulated timeline, they are required to escalate the issue to MCMC for resolution. The MCMC will then make an assessment and may issue a direction to service providers to comply.
The high impact areas are listed as follows:
Federal and State government administration centres
Transportation hubs (e.g. MRT stations, airports and train stations)
Transportation lines (e.g. railways and highways)
High economic impact areas (e.g. industrial parks and economic corridors)
Identified government projects under RMK-12
JENDELA projects
High priority areas identified for 5G deployment
Areas where there are exclusive providers
The MCMC has highlighted that the new fast track process will take into effect immediately. Service providers are required to escalate the issues for resolution to the MCMC via email to fast.track [@] mcmc.gov.my.
For consumers that are having issues with their service providers, they are urged to file a report with the MCMC if they didn’t get a satisfactory response from their telcos. The MCMC has promised to respond to complaints within 24 hours and they have a team in every state to look into the problem.
To provide more choice for consumers, the MCMC and the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) have announced last year that they are working together to address exclusivity arrangements between telcos and property developers. The commission has received complaints from the public that such exclusive arrangements deprive users from accessing their preferred telecommunications provider.
As Malaysia recovers from the current pandemic, U Mobile has introduced four new “unlimited” wireless broadband postpaid plans for online learning and Work from Home (WFH) usage. Priced from RM48/month, you’ll get unlimited data for selected apps along with a separate quota for everything else. If you’re an existing U Mobile customer, you can enjoy 50% off on the monthly subscription.
The base WB48 Study plan at RM48/month provides you with unlimited data for Zoom and Google Meet, along with 20GB of data. Moving up a notch is the WB68 Work plan at RM68/month which provides unlimited data for Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Office, plus 30GB of data.
If you need more unlimited perks, the WB88 Work & Play plan at RM88/month offers unlimited data for Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Office, Shopee, Lazada, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Garena Call of Duty: Mobile and Garena Free Fire. For everything else, it also comes bundled with 50GB of data.
For the ultimate option, the WB128 Max plan at RM128/month provides the same unlimited perks as the Work & Plan plan but you’ll get a total of 150GB of data for everything else.
The 4 plans are offered without a contract and you’ll receive a data-only SIM that can be inserted into any compatible MiFi modem. If you don’t have one, U Mobile is selling the Huawei E5577-321 4G LTE MiFi for RM299 outright.
50% off for existing U Mobile customers
If you’re a new or existing customer on Giler Unlimited GX68, Unlimited Hero P79, P99 or P139 postpaid plans, you can 50% off for the WB68 plans and above. If you’re eligible, you can enjoy the WB68 Work plan for only RM34/month while the WB128 Max plan would only cost you RM64/month. The discount is offered for a limited time and it is applicable for 24-months.
Take note of the speed cap
According to the T&C, the wireless broadband plans do come with a speed cap. Below are the expected internet speeds for each option:
WB48 – up to 10Mbps
WB68 – up to 20Mbps
WB88 – up to 20Mbps
WB128 – up to 30Mbps
Do note that you’ll need to pay one-month subscription as an advance fee when you sign up for the wireless broadband plan.
For more information, you can check out U Mobile’s Ultra Unlimited Broadband Wireless product page. You can sign up online or visit a U Mobile store near you.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued an invitation for the installation and provisioning of broadband access services via satellite at 839 locations throughout Malaysia. This will be implemented under the JENDELA plan and it would cover states such as Johor, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak.
Most of these locations are in remote areas where provisioning of public cellular services and mobile broadband will take a considerable time to deploy. Satellite broadband is seen as a quick and interim solution as high-speed broadband can deployed in just a matter of days. 178 (21%) will be deployed in Peninsular Malaysia, 138 (17%) are in Sabah and 523 (62%) are in Sarawak.
The MCMC aims to deploy all sites successfully by October 2021. Residents at the 839 locations will enjoy free WiFi access with an average speed of 35Mbps. Interested parties are invited to register their interest and submit their draft universal service plans under Regulation 5 of the Communications and Multimedia (Universal Service Provision) Regulations 2002.
According to the RFP document, the designed Universal Service Provider will be entitled to claim the CAPEX and OPEX cost from the Universal Service Provision (USP) fund. In 2019, the fund has gained RM1.53 billion in contribution from telcos and RM0.34 billion in interest.
At the moment, MEASAT’s ConnectMe has been deployed at over 1,000 sites in rural Malaysia. Targetted at areas without fibre and 4G access, ConnectMe can provide 100% nationwide coverage with speeds of up to 30Mbps. The service can provide higher speeds up to 100Mbps once the MEASAT-3d satellite is launched in 2022.
Under the Connectme Now initiative, satellite broadband can be deployed at remote areas with zero cost upfront. Users can gain access to the WiFi service via prepaid vouchers which are sold at RM10 per 1GB or RM40 for 5GB. When the service was deployed at Kg Waluhu in Sabah, the state government had sponsored 300GB worth of Connectme prepaid vouchers.
Celcom has introduced Celcom Max, which combines its Home Fibre broadband and Celcom Mega postpaid in a single bill. This allows you to enjoy lifetime savings of RM21/month and the option to get a pair of Celcom Mesh WiFi for free.
There are 3 Celcom Max options available that’s bundled with the Celcom Mega postpaid plan. The base Celcom Max plan with Home Fibre 100Mbps and Mega RM80 postpaid costs RM179/month and you can get 3x the home fibre speed (300Mbps) with the postpaid plan for RM199/month. Meanwhile, the highest Home Fibre 500Mbps option with Celcom Mega will cost you RM259/month.
The base Mega RM80 postpaid plan comes with unlimited calls to all networks and 40GB of high-speed data. The home fibre broadband plans come with unlimited high-speed quota. You get 50Mbps upload speed for both 100Mbps and 300Mbps plans, and 100Mbps upload speed for the 500Mbps option.
For better connectivity, Celcom is offering the Celcom Mesh WiFi for free on the 500Mbps plan. If you subscribe on the lower 100Mbps and 300Mbps Celcom Max plans, the Mesh WiFi 6 routers are offered for RM25/month.
The Celcom Mesh WiFi solution appears to be TP-Link’s Deco X20 which is a home Mesh WiFi solution that supports WiFi 6. According to Celcom, it can connect up to 150 devices and you can enjoy better WiFi coverage, stability and performance. A pair of the Mesh WiFi nodes is rated to provide optimal coverage for homes between 3,000 to 4,000 sq ft.
Celcom has officially launched its Celcom Max offering which is the telco’s answer to Maxis One Prime. Max promises to offer lifetime savings of RM21/month when you sign up a home fibre broadband plan together with a Celcom Mega postpaid plan of at least RM80/month.
There are a total of 3 Celcom Max options available. The base 100Mbps fibre plan with postpaid starts from RM179/month while the 300Mbps fibre broadband plan + postpaid is going from RM199/month. The highest 500Mbps option with a postpaid plan is priced from RM259/month.
For the base RM80/month Celcom Mega postpaid plan, you’ll get 40GB of high-speed data plus unlimited calls to all networks. You can upgrade the postpaid plan at extra cost to enjoy more high-speed or unlimited quota.
In addition to the RM21/month savings that you can enjoy for life, you can also save more when you add-on an Android TV or a Microsoft Surface laptop. The Sharp 60″ Android TV which retails for RM4,999 is offered for RM2,400 and customers can purchase it on instalment for RM100/month over 24 months. Meanwhile, the smaller 42″ Android TV option is offered for RM1,200 which can also be purchased on installment for RM100/month over 12 months. The TV bundle also comes with free Sharp vouchers worth up to RM500.
If you need a new computer for work or learn from home, Celcom is also offering Microsoft Surface Go 2 and Microsoft Surface Pro X bundle deals. The Surface Go 2 LTE 128GB is offered for RM142/month for 24 months, while the Surface Pro X LTE 256GB is going for RM242/month for 24 months. Both Surface options support 4G LTE connectivity and are bundled with a Type Cover.
On top of that, Celcom Max customers will also enjoy free 6 months access for Iqiyi, Dimsum or Netflix. Celcom is aware that Dim Sum will end its services in September and they are working to replace it with a new streaming option.
To provide faster WiFi speeds at home, Celcom is bundling its TP-Link AX WiFi 6 Router for free to all Celcom Max customers. The blue telco is also offering a Mesh WiFi option which is designed to provide a wider and seamless coverage for your home. The Deco X20 Mesh WiFi 6 solution is offered for RM25/month for a pair and you can get it for free if you subscribe to the highest 500Mbps Celcom Max plan.
During the launch event, Celcom CEO Idham Nawawi has shared that Celcom’s Home Fibre Broadband service covers over 5 million homepasses. The telco has its own fibre network in Sabah via Celcom Timur and it has partnered with other fibre providers such as TM and Sacofa to expand its fibre footprint throughout Malaysia.
Free first month bill waiver for first 100 Celcom Max users
As an introductory offer, Celcom is waiving the first month bill if you’re among the first 100 to subscribe to Celcom Max. For more info, you can check out the Celcom Max page.
