LTE 2013 Malaysia discussion v1 (true 4G)

Opening this thread for catering queries and discussion about LTE 4G technology in Malaysia soon.

Same as other countries in the world, Malaysia is going to embrace LTE true 4G next year 2013 onwards.
just 6 month to go from now, it will come very soon. so good to understand a bit now..





LTE - What about?
=============
LTE stands for (Long Term Evolution)
that going to replace 3G (WCDMA, HSDPA, HSPA+...) in due time.



LTE Speed:
========
Technically LTE downloading speed can reaching 300Mbps max by using MIMO technology.
Malaysia initially should be running at 100Mbps ~ 150Mbps peak, this also if under ideal condition.
For practical result we can refers to other countries existing LTE users feedbacks, that will be more realistic.





LTE Frequency band:
================
For Malaysia, LTE band will be running at:

a) 2600MHz (main band, confirmed)
+
b) 1800MHz (supplemantary band to be confirmed later time but this appeared in newspaper biz section)

note:
* Unlike 3G, LTE frequency band adoption is quite diversed by different country/region in the world.
There are 2600MHz, 2300MHz, 2100MHz, 1800MHz, 1700/2100MHz, 1700MHz, 1500MHz, 900MHz, 800MHz, 700MHz.

From Yahoo: Singapore Singtel & M1 also confirmed using 2600MHz + 1800MHz for their LTE (neighborhood countries mah, and telco here got partnership/share holding at there, Malaysia & Singapere always compatible, so this is strong indication of using both 2600MHz + 1800Mhz same here in Malaysia)





Malaysia LTE telco provider:
====================
MCMC already assigned spectrum of 2600MHz to 9 local telcos, ie next year there should be having 9 telco offering LTE plan (if no delayed like the wimax scenario)!

1) Maxis (getting 20MHz)
2) Celcom (getting 20MHz)
3) Digi (getting 20MHz)
4) U-mobile (getting 20MHz)
5) P1 (getting 20MHz)
6) YTL (getting 20MHz)
7) Redtone (getting 20MHz)
8) Asiaspace (getting 10MHz)
9) Puncak Semangat (new comer in mobile data field) (getting 30MHz)

P1 & YTL is going to run TDD-LTE, whilst the rest to run FDD-LTE.



Joint effort: telcos sharing base station or band spectrum
==========================================
9 telcos with fierce competition? That may not really happen.
It is known that some telcos 'tie up' already to share base station (RAN - radio access network) among them to reduce cost.

Maxis <> U-mobile
Celcom <> Digi

* The above 'alliance' quite the same line up as sharing 3G station now.
** Redtone, Asiaspace, and Puncak Semangat are expected to join either alliances.

updates:
(13/7/2012) Redtone announced joining Maxis for LTE infrastructure and spectrum sharing.



Which telcos will stand out in LTE war?
============================
This is unpredictable.
The above partnership apply to sharing infrastructure hardware among telcos to reduce operating cost, that having cost efficiency in pricing.
But when talk about performance (speed), if any alliance there also involve SHARING FREQUENCY SPECTRUM (bandwidth), that will be another story.
If merely based on technical data now, puncak semangat with 30MHz bandwidth should be the fastest LTE speed because got more bandwidth than 20MHz.



When getting started?
================
Should be starting early next year after MCMC granting them the spectrum license.
Some telco already finished upgrading to LTE infrastructure station now, some are doing now like Digi. All is waiting green light by the authority.
E.g. Star Biz 5/6 just shown this:





Modem for LTE:
============
Need to get new LTE modem. Existing 3G modem cannot be used for LTE.
However, LTE modem now usually come in 2 in 1 mode, ie they support LTE & 3G 42Mbps (backward compatibility)
On the contrary, pure 3G modem just support 3G no LTE.

** since LTE frequency band is diversed in different countries, so for frequent worldwide traveller one would need to bring at least 2 or 3 LTE modem. no more available universal modem like 3G modem.

*** LTE modem should also divided into FDD-LTE and TDD-LTE type.



Impact to 3G users
==============
New 3G plan subscription: if you are to sign up any 3G plan now that got binding contract period 1 year or more, need to think twice before acting.



Success of LTE Malaysia?
===================
same old question, always be the question of affordability.
and what volume quota for LTE plan since its so fast, a few gigabytes will be lapsed in a day.


Next thread will compose some data of LTE plan & cost available in other countries so we can compare to ours later see worth or not.

This post has been edited by coolstore: May 17 2014, 11:39 AM


Attached thumbnail(s)

ok, as promised, here i present other country LTE info:

citing HK LTE, running already in 2012 now.




current currency conversion rate: 1 ringgit malaysia = roughly 2.4 HK dollar


1) Three HK (www.three.com.hk)
============
* extracting those unlimited LTE data plan only (no additional charge after quota, but throttled speed after reaching quota)

a) Smartphone plan (bundled with subsidised 4G phone): HK$418, unlimited, quota 5GB, 128kbps after quota)
* add HK$30, quota upgrade to 10GB, add HK$60 quota upgrade to 15GB, add HK$90, quota 20GB.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot

b) Smartphone plan (sim card only): HK$228, HK$278, HK$358. quota 5GB, 128kbps after quota.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot

c) Tablet data plan: HK$198 3GB.
* add HK$30, quota upgrade to 10GB, add HK$60 quota upgrade to 15GB, add HK$90, quota 20GB.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot

d) Data plan (3g modem): HK$358, quota 5GB.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot



2) PCCW Mobile (http://www2.pccwmobile.com)
============

* PCCW mobile seems not having unlimited plan. they are charging after exceeding quota allowed.
** Offering 6 mths free for MNP (changing telco).

a) Smartphone plan (bundled with subsidised 4G phone): HK$389 quota 5GB, HK$429 10GB.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot

b) Smartphone plan (sim card only): HK$174 5GB with contract, HK$199 5GB no contract, HK$190 10GB with contract, HK$238 no contract.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot

c) Tablet smart plan (no voice) (bundled with subsidised tablet): HK$359 5GB with contract, HK$399 10GB with contract.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot

d) Tablet smart plan (no voice): HK$169 5GB with contract; HK$166 10GB with contract; HK$208 10GB no contract.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot


3) CSL HK (not CSL phone malaysia ya)
==============================

CSL HK having 2 brand that offering mobile service:

3.1) One2Free (http://www.one2free.com.hk/)
* extracting those unlimited LTE data plan only (no additional charge after quota, but throttled speed after reaching quota)

a) Smartphone plan (bundled with subsidised 4G phone): HK$419 quota 5GB.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot

b) Smartphone plan (sim card only): HK$267 5GB with 24 mth contract
* free unlimited wifi hotspot

c) Data plan only: HK$387, quota 5GB.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot


3.2) 1010 (http://1010.hkcsl.com)
* extracting those unlimited LTE data plan only (no additional charge after quota, but throttled speed after reaching quota)

a) Smartphone plan (bundled with subsidised 4G phone): HK$439 quota 5GB.

b) Smartphone plan (sim card only): HK$339 5GB.

c) Data plan only: HK$459, quota 5GB.
* free unlimited wifi hotspot


4) China Mobile (HK) (www.hk.chinamobile.com)
====================================
* extracting those unlimited LTE data plan only (no additional charge after quota, but throttled speed after reaching quota)

Data plan only: HK$398, quota 5GB. (existing promotion price HK$218, if MNP, minus HK$30 more)
* free unlimited wifi hotspot



Example testing picture from HK own review:
============================
(left hand side is using 4G, right hand side is 3G)
speed: 72.72Mbps (4G) vs 2.61Mbps (3G)





OK. done.

wait, BEFORE U GOING TO SHOUT 'WOW HK SO EXPENSIVE...", read following first:

i) HK salary level: if not mistaken they also have been running mininum wage HK$28/hour since last year, so monthly should be getting around HK$6000. For clerical job, salary start HK$7000 ~ HK$15000 also available.
ii) HK living cost: superb high cost, a plate of fried rice around HK$30 (RM12.5 according current rate).

so the broadband fees seems 'too much' to us, but actually not to them. It is down to ratio proportion of salary level vs expenses lah.


ii) the second interesting part we can see lots of plan bundled with FREE UNLIMITED WIFI HOTSPOT service to subcripber

at present, lowyat member pointed out the lately hot Maxis Fibre RM118 plan contains a terms that Maxis reserve to right to turn residential modem into public wifi hotspot. So it could be Maxis tactic that pave way for their 4G LTE plan additional bonus. One stone kill 2 birds.

This post has been edited by coolstore: Jun 7 2012, 11:53 AM

2600MHz is confirmed already, already pop up several times in news paper biz section.

1800MHz spectrum assignment also showned in newspaper not long ago.

* i do assume ppl here are more keen and interested sign up with existing 3g telco LTE rather than wimax telco bcoz more confident of their service (judging from past experience). and somemore p1,ytl are running TDD-LTE, if no dual mode LTE modem available from them, don't think much ppl wanna join this group. unless they are very cheap

singapore singtel & m1 also say they use 2600MHz + 1800MHz. (that's an indicator already, neighborhood roaming and those share holding/partnership thingy between telco here and singapore.





** btw, already updated hongkong LTE info in post #2 as promised while opening this thread - for reference.

the ipad LTE frequency band applicable within US usage only oh.... (the yahoo news already stressed this...)

or does ipad got asia band LTE variant?

LTE radio frequency band by ipad is 700MHz sth like that, they are built in mind for US LTE users, not cater for asia. unless got other ipad LTE stock version.

ALL wireless technology use radio frequency band to transmit data.

just imagine radio, you tune to wrong frequency, u cannot get to the desired radio station .

---

Added on June 9, 2012, 1:22 pmno quota? everyone everyday download 10G then...

This post has been edited by coolstore: Jun 9 2012, 01:22 PM

[quote=shawn87,Jun 9 2012, 06:03 PM]
[quote=coolstore,Jun 9 2012, 01:18 PM]
LTE radio frequency band by ipad is 700MHz sth like that, they are built in mind for US LTE users, not cater for asia. unless got other ipad LTE stock version.

ALL wireless technology use radio frequency band to transmit data.

just imagine radio, you tune to wrong frequency, u cannot get to the desired radio station .

imported car from japan using different freq also.. but yet still can receive local station

[/quote]

radio is an example i use to illustrate the importance of frequency band to wireless techonology only.
not means the same exact practise to metropolitan wireless techonology like 3g, LTE, wimax all these.

the frequency band supported by hardware in wireless modem is FIXED, cannot be 'tuned' or 'changed' at will like in the case for radio station.

you can read this yahoo singapore warning news very clearly about this



This post has been edited by coolstore: Jun 11 2012, 11:22 AM

128kbps is the highest possibility

just u-mobile please don't enforce 64kbps like in their 3G that is really sickening...

see later singapore signtel, starhub cap at how much

any celcom insider here who already grab the 'celcom LTE plan and pricing" ?

yesterday star paper biz section got latest news on LTE 2.6GHz matter, it said MCMC may not allocate 2.6GHz to all the 9 telcos that promised to last time...

go read it...

i guess the smaller telco may not get, need to lease from others.

in case Digi not allocated the band (as if the same happening to 3G license last time)... wau that will be ....

theoretically, yes.

LTE 2.6GHz, WiMax Malaysia 2.3GHz

higher frequency = weaker indoor penetration power.

but also higher frequency band = carry more data = faster speed.

no perfect thing in the world.

assuming LTE external antenna will be much needed by then seeing now 3G 2.1GHz also need to use external 3G antenna for better connection quality.

80mbps is comparable to hk LTE speed already

celcom claim their got over 100Mbps instead

i more concerned of local LTE plan pricing

it will be co-exist between LTE & 3G. (actually newer standard beyond LTE also already in development progress)

one is pricing matter, 2nd will be infrastructure matter.

correct, correct, correct

but this forum always got lobang for high speed and yet 'unlimited quota', hehe

anyway, LTE is the global network trend to go on. just hope malaysia telco learnt from the past 3G launching experience, don't repeat same unwelcome scenario

it will be great if capped at 512kbps

maybe it works this way:

if u are 3G plan only subscriber: only able to connect 3G network even in LTE area

if u are LTE plan subscriber: if got LTE, then use LTE. no LTE, switch to 3G automatically. this is the way overseas doing.

otherwise who wanna sign up LTE plan? just grab a LTE modem can use LTE speed with 3G plan. telco no stupid.

LTE is sth not 'universal' like 3G

the frequency band adopted by each country/region is different.

for asia, the japan one should be one with very unique band (i forgot their band)

LTE device made for US is not applicable to here bcoz we are not same LTE band.

and it is hardware matter, not firmware solution.

---

Added on July 6, 2012, 12:05 pmyes, existing version cannot, maybe in future their new ipad with LTE support got regional version. so don't buy water set.

This post has been edited by coolstore: Jul 6 2012, 12:05 PM

those are 3G modem, of course cannot be used for LTE, not frequency band matter.

---

Added on July 12, 2012, 9:07 pmno treat me mcdonald or kfc ar?

This post has been edited by coolstore: Jul 12 2012, 09:07 PM

oh, so now got a clear alliance:

u-mobile<>maxis<>redtone (to operate in east malaysia only or also in west this time?)