According to SKMM website,

900MHz: Digi has the least spectrum, compared to Maxis and Celcom
1800MHz: All (Digi, Celcom & Maxis) have equal

Looking at what they have, I think it's more difficult for Digi to do LTE 1800 because most of their 2G users are on 1800MHz, so it's difficult for them to free up their 1800MHz for LTE. Whereas its easier for Maxis and Celcom because they have large 900MHz, where they can push their 2G users to 900MHz, free up their 1800MHz for LTE.

I think likely Digi will do 2600MHz first and 1800MHz later. But I may be wrong, we shall wait and see which frequency they will launch first.

As usual, Digi still silent about their LTE plan. Maxis and Celcom already showing off their plans. Digi still quiet.

Fade up with digi turtle slow actions.

Although their website http://www.digi.com.my/tomorrownetwork/ says as of today 3008 out of 5572 sites have already been upgraded to LTE

"After the upgrade, our network will be able to provide High Speed Internet covering at least 95.8% of all Malaysia, as well as being fully-equipped to handle LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology. "

As I suspected. Most telco is releasing LTE for data use only. No voice over LTE as for now. What a disappointment

yeah

refer here for celcom LTE : http://www.lowyat.net/2013/01/07/3224/celc...or-by-mid-year/

celcom will be rolling out the LTE service to Klang Valley, Penang and Johor by mid 2013


using device LTE : E392u-6 USB modem, CPE B593 router, Media 10 FHD tablet and Ascend P1 LTE smartphone

HUAWEI E392 Versions
HUAWEI E392u-12: 4G Bands -- FDD 800/1800/2600Mhz .
HUAWEI E392u-21: 4G Bands -- FDD TDD 2600Mhz .
HUAWEI E392u-22: 4G Bands -- TDD 2600Mhz FDD 2100/1800/900/DD800Mhz .
HUAWEI E392u-X?: 4G Bands -- FDD 700B13/2100Mhz .
HUAWEI E392u-92: 4G Bands -- TDD 2300/2600 Mhz .
HUAWEI E392u-6 : 4G Bands -- FDD 2600/2100/1800/900Mhz . celcom choose this U-6 FDD alone only
HUAWEI E392u-9 : 4G Bands -- TDD 2500Mhz .
HUAWEI E392u-511: 4G Bands -- FDD 2600Mhz


This post has been edited by chuahcs79: Jan 8 2013, 01:34 AM

MAIS communications

ur from puncak semangat people?

Simple. because celcom dont use LTE TDD.

quoted frm Digi website : The current network upgrade will expand high-speed Internet (EDGE, 3G) to cover 95.8% of all Malaysians.

http://www.digi.com.my/tomorrownetwork/faqs.html?tab=1

EDGE and 3G is high speed internet ...wonderful !

This post has been edited by steventan85: Jan 8 2013, 12:17 PM

Are you aware about the implications of the switch? From traditional voice to VoLTE? I personally don't see this coming any time soon, due to the nature of the Malaysian market, where still a sizeable portion of the market is still not using smartphones and thus, data.

Yes that's so true.. it will take years before we can see pure voice over LTE in Malaysia. Dont think anyone who are not from telco industry would be aware of circuit switch and packet switch..

Lets be clear on the definition of voice over LTE:

1. Voice over LTE with 2G or 3G fallback, or commonly called CSFB (circuit switch fallback)
This is what being implemented in 99% of LTE network worldwide and supported by almost all LTE smartphones. Example of this is you're doing data on LTE and when you make/receive voice calls, you'll be pushed to 3G or 2G just for voice calls, and your data session will also go to 3G / 2G, hence speed is reduced. And once you have ended your voice call, your phone will go back to LTE, back to LTE speed. This is because your LTE can't handle voice calls. If you're talking about this solution, Maxis and Celcom will have it soon. I'm sure their LTE network is capable of this today.

2. Pure voice over LTE, or commonly called HD (LTE) voice:
The difference is you dont have to go to 2G / 3G when making or receiving voice calls. Your LTE can handle it. So your data session will remain. This will require (1) nationwide coverage of LTE (I think this will only happen in 5-10years, even 3G coverage of Celcom and Maxis is now only ~80%); and (2) availability of devices that support voice over LTE (currently there is very very limited). As of today, only Korea has done this, this is because they have >90% population coverage of LTE network and they worked with their exclusive device partner to have devices that support this.

So called HD voice, is there a difference in call quality ?

Besides clarity, I think they will be other add on services. Maybe background sound, or voice with repeat, or can change the tone....I don't know, just making wild guess.

But what I'm certain is it will eradicate the current voice mechanism. So, instead of minutes, calls will now be in KB's or MB's. People will now only be needing Data and no more minutes, sms and data. All will be lumped into one, data. Besides that, it kills battery ultra fast too. Can google up and read more about it.

IMHO, there is no rushing need for LTE other than for ISPs to serve areas unreachable by FTTH with mobile broadband replacing fixed lines.

A well planned 3G DC-HSPA+ network with very good coverage and is in a better position to even take on FD-LTE(with limited spectrum blocks allocations) and even the HSBB fibre networks.

DiGi is in no hurry to rush out their LTE network. They might be waiting to launch a network with significant coverage instead of choosing to slowly expand. Just look at the current pilot areas which Maxis has. They are ALL well served areas with FTTH and it's not a good strategy because the LTE service would just become another overlapped service competing against the HSBB and the upcoming cable tv broadband. How about the underserved areas which have been waiting for years to get fibre? Do Malaysian telcos only please the affluent and elites with all the best things even if they don't necessarily require all of them at once while ignoring the masses?

I wished Telenor(DiGi) would just acquire P1. That way it'll give them a a separate network to position themselves with a pure data/internet service provider instead of mobile voice. You know, the 3G networks are going to be around for quite some time along with LTE. The real benefits with LTE's additional speed has little much to do with voice and the other traditional mobile telco services, with the only exceptional good thing it is good for is for consumer broadband internet services which is confined mostly in the desktops.

Having said that, it is understandable why DiGi has no rush to push out their LTE with their tomorrow network. It's just pure hype. Having fibre-like speeds on your smartphone is nothing more than just hype because the mainstream consumers expects to download chunks of data for ISOs, games, movies and updates which expensive LTE data quotas would not make sense. You might prefer a TD-LTE network that could adjust better to asymmetrical speeds that in return becomes cheaper RM per byte with a better tolerance for higher contentions?

Could it be that DiGi is more interested to find a separate network to run its own internet services as a pure ISP?

Why the hell puncak semanaget can get 30mhz ? while the three giants got only 20mhz ?

puncak semangat actually get 40MHz..

according to skmm in news.. they get more because they are new.. so they can compete with existing players..

agree that well planned dc network is sufficient without need of lte.. but trust me there are several areas that are highly congested even the operator has done all upgrades they could and use all resources (spectrum) they have.. be it celcom, maxis, digi or u-mobile

Then they should have concentrated on working on their backhaul first don't you think. That's what DiGi is silently concentrating with their Tomorrow's Network advantage. The backhaul plays a very important role to keep sites pumped enough of bandwidth to prevent congestion in real world situations. Creative methods to offload the networks is also an important startegy.

The title of being Asia's 1st to launch commercial LTE has long been taken by others. So launching 1st is not a priority now.
The one who launches the widest coverage, cheapest packages and cater with the surge in network capacity without compormising customers experience is the REAL winner.

I don't understand Malaysian mentality of constraining themselves and always creating competiton only in their areas of choices.
Just look at TM, Maxis, DiGi and UMobile. It's always DU, TTDI, Subang Jaya, Putrajaya and Bangsar. They always get the golden shower first hand and then if demand dies down the whole momentum halts. Who would be interested for expensive high quota LTE packages when you already have HSBB at home? Would a wise person spent unnecessarily on several overlap services which you don't get to use all of it meaningfully? There's a living to make and there's a more to life other than your smartphone and PC at home.

Yes thats what I thought, of course backhaul upgrade is required before they can do LTE

Agree with you being first may not be important. You may think so, I may think so. But their board of directors, top management may think otherwise. They probably think being first would make their customers feels secured that the customers are making the right choice.. Probably. We have seen Maxis is still proud being the first to launch 3G and U Mobile is still proud being the first to launch DC-HSPA+..

I dont understand neither. But i'm sure they have their own reasons to choose those areas.. Probably some VVIPs live there that they have to make sure the VVIPs' house get LTE coverage, or maybe those areas are really congested that they have no other choices but to deploy LTE, or maybe those areas are high revenue generating areas which they think it would be easy to sell and get ROI quickly.. Whatever it is I'm sure they have their own good reasons

I agree with you but you will need to uderstand there are hundreds of different requirements by customers.. I've seen people who willing to pay premium for excellent mobile internet but dont really care for home internet (most of the times not at home), vice versa.. There are also people who need excellent mobile internet for themselve when outside as well as home internet for their children.. And there are lots more different requirements out there

And yes there are lots more things to do in life, but slowly internet has been playing key roles in our daily life. Almost everything you do require internet

Dont get me wrong here.. I respect and agree with your views. I'm just saying that your views are applicable to certain group of people. There are other people who have completely opposite views but still correct..

For those interested with LTE HD voice, another launch of this

http://lteworld.org/news/t-mobile-launches...tails-lte-plans

Hmm it make sense....so are they in the market yet ?

I wonder those telco will implement quota with LTE package or not, If the quota is low like 1gb to 5gb...really no point to get LTE