WebSite Malaysia.Net

KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and WiMAX service provider Packet One Networks Sdn Bhd have joined forces to offer high-speed broadband (HSBB) services.

Under the agreement, TM will be providing HSBB (access) and HSBB (transmission) services to P1.

This 10-year agreement will give P1 access to 1.3 million homes in HSBB areas nationwide.

TM group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, quipped that the collaboration is a "sambung balik after the potong" (reconnection after disconnection).

He was referring to P1's popular "Sudah Potong" (Disconnection) advertising campaign when it entered the wireless broadband market in 2009. The campaign encouraged people to switch to wireless broadband services.

"This partnership will enable TM to accelerate high-speed broadband services to more Malaysians," he said.

Zamzamzairaini said the partnership shows that TM is fulfilling its promise to the Government - that it will offer open-access to all Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission-licensed service providers, as stipulated in the HSBB public-private partnership agreement that was signed in 2008.

TM has also signed similar service agreements with telco giants Maxis Bhd and Celcom Axiata Bhd.

Michael Lai, P1 chief executive officer, said the collaboration will bring Malaysian websurfers the best of wired and wireless Internet access.

"We are expanding our broadband offering and will be providing a service that combines both wireless and fibreoptic solutions for our customers who want premium speeds," he said.

He said customers can expect such services to be in the market sometime in the first quarter of next year.

Lai said P1 is working on the technical aspects to ensure quality service. Pricing of the service has also yet to be determined.

He added that the collaboration will help satisfy customers who want better and faster data-transfer speeds.

"P1 customers are big consumers of data, with an average of 12GB per month. Highspeed broadband can meet their needs," he said.

The HSBB service will also allow P1 to offer Internet Protocol Television and Video on Demand services. But Lai declined to say when these would be rolled out by the company.