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Time to Utilise Fibre-Optic Edge

Posted on: Thursday, 29 April 2004, 06:00 CDT

TIME dotCom is aiming to be the nation's broadband specialist with a suite of solutions for both commercial and residential use.

Its broadband, voice, data and video communications services are provided through its subsidiary TT dotCom (TTDC). Time's broadband offerings include BizNet and HomeNet, Netlink, Fusion, Zone and voice solution Nevo.

The latest addition to the portfolio is Webbit, a plug-and-surf wireless broadband access that promises speeds of up to 512 kilobits per second. It is expected to be launched by end of this month.

Time is looking to roll out services based on its strength in fibre optic channel - 5,200 kilometres of land and submarine fibre- optic cable which stretches along the North South Expressway, and metropolitan area networks in central business districts in cities. Infrastructure support also includes over 1,700 wired buildings and 24-hour network management online.

GROWTH EXPECTED Time sees growth in both business and residential sectors, and is confident that it has the right suite of packages to address the different markets.

While declining to say which sector will post the highest growth, Mohamed Fauzi Omar, chief operating officer/senior vice president TTDC (domestic/TDN), says the company has a full range of technology that translates into product packages.

Time, he adds, knows where it stands in the fledgling broadband market, and wants to be the preferred telco in this space. Within a timeframe of up to 2007, the company wants to garner at least 30 per cent market share.

The prognosis for growth is good with the broadband penetration rate across technologies having risen from 0.08 per cent in 2002 to 0.44 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2003, according to Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) figures.

IDC's latest report on consumer broadband estimates Malaysia will have 890,000 subscribers, with a RM1.13 billion broadband access market by 2008.

WIRELESS ROUTE Loo Jian Sern, a telco analyst with IDC Malaysia, says residential subscribers (across technologies) made up 90.3 per cent of the total last year, with a compound annual growth rate of 50.6 per cent. In 2008, residentials are still expected to rule with 92 per cent of subscriptions.

Time Broadband services such as HomeNet, BizNet and SoNet run on symmetric digital subscriber line (SDSL), a technology which notched 1,931 subscriptions in the fourth quarter of 2003 compared to asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL), used by Tmnet streamyx, which attracted 108,173 subscriptions over the same period.

Loo says the consumer broadband access market will be worth RM559.9 million by 2008, and digital subcsriber lines are still expected to dominate with 99.7 per cent in 2008.

IDC puts fixed wireless at just 2.3 per cent subscription but that could change with the new broadband wireless access services offered by telcos.

Both TT dotCom and AtlasOne were spectrum assignees in the 2.5 gigahertz to 2.7GHz band last year, but the former is the first to launch the service.

Jaring recently conducted a three-month live trial deployment of Soma Network's broadband wireless system in Kuala Lumpur for selected users, and is awaiting MCMC approval to deploy the service. The plan is to initially offer broadband voice and data services to 100,000 users in the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor Baru.

Jaring aims to become the first broadband wireless service provider to offer bundled services throughout the country by next year.

Webbit utilises synchronous code division multiple access (SCDMA) technology delivered over the 2.6GHz licensed spectrum. Time is working with US-based equipment provider Navini whose Ripware product range can operate in the 2.5/2.6GHz instructional television fixed service/multi-channel multi-point distribution service bands. The Ripware product line consists of base stations, element management system and modems.

It is meant as an alternative to wired last-mile connection, says Mohd Shahril Stephen, general manager of product management (multimedia).

Time had a three-month trial in Petaling Jaya and the service is currently available. Mohd Shahril says Kuala Lumpur is the next roll- out target within three to six months.

Time has 507,000 dial-up subscribers and it is confident the broadband take up rate will be good, calling it cost-effective for them to migrate.It estimates 27,000 to 28,000 Webbit customers by year-end, but they may not come from the pool of dial-up customers as the service is "open to all".

The company is confident both its wired and wireless services can run side by side.

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