So, the long awaited YTL Communications wireless broadband solution had its soft launch tonight. The actual product launch will be on the 19th of November 2010 (barring some major catastrophe or other). Let’s have a quick run through of what little information was released tonight:
We will be three to five times faster than existing 3G networks
That’s good to know. Unfortunately for us, the current theoretical maximum speed of a 3G (not 3.5G) network is 2.4Mbps stationary. Multiply that by 5, and you end up with 12Mbps; which is fast for us poor sods in Malaysia… but in general? No. How about when used in conjunction with the crowd favourite 4G? Maybe if you are on mind-altering drugs… otherwise, no. You should also take into consideration that my calculation of 12Mbps was with the upper ceiling of 5 (times faster than existing 3G networks). The lower limit would then be set at 7.2Mbps…
3G was made to carry voice, when it tries to carry data, it struggles. 4G was made to carry data.
In that case, your “4G network” should be wiping the floor with the 3G network right? Here’s an interesting one… the folks at YTL choose to demo their “4G network” against the Celcom 3G solution… and managed 11Mbps vs 0.89Mbps (CELCOM). Yes, ELEVEN MEGABITS, you read it right. Umm… check this other quote out:
The ITU requires 100 Mbps (mobile) and 1 Gbps (fixed) speeds, among other criteria, to qualify as true ย4Gย.
Unless I fail horribly at reading and require LASIK, I’m pretty certain that 11Mbps < 100Mbps. Don’t know about you guys, but in comparison to what the ITU requires, it sure looks like the YTL “4G network” is struggling like a Somalian kid trying to benchpress the Michelin Man.
Other useful links relating to the ITU 4G standard: The official ITU 4G Press Release, and the IMT-Advanced (4G) page on the ITU website.
With the Yes ID, you will be able to use data, voice and SMS, all on the same network.
I hate to be the one to break it to you… but I’m pretty sure we’ve been doing that since WAP days.
“Your Yes ID and email can be as cool as [email protected]. How cool is that.” — Wing K Lee, CEO YTL Comms
Not as cool as if my username was [email protected] or [email protected]. What’s your point?
We believe that consumers should only pay for what they use. Just like electricity.
Uh oh… I’ve got a really bad feeling about this. Compare per minute call prices between Hotlink prepaid and Maxis Postpaid not including any promotions/gimmicks… which do you think is cheaper? If you don’t know the answer to this, I’m literally at a loss for words… please stab yourself in the eye with a spoon. The statement above instantly makes me think of:
- expensive rates per usage
- low caps
- high caps will pay through their noses
Sorry kids, I’m a realist. Deal with it. The above scenarios are most likely to occur based on the quote above.
Wing K Lee explains: “You can log on to multiple devices simultaneously. You won’t get logged out, when you log on on another device.”
What happens if I channel bundle 10 devices, and pull attempt to pull 11Mbps per device. Will I get 110Mbps or will your network screech to a halt? Do we even WANT to know what the contention ratio will be like for YTL? On the bright side, it can’t be any worse than the asshats over at Telekom Malaysia.
This is what we achieved on our speed test, 11Mbps! #YTLC http://twitpic.com/33ka6q
Yes, apparently 11Mbps is an ACHIEVEMENT. I… I… don’t know why my face is in my palm.
@ReneTVG This is amazing! Keep it up! ๐ RT @Yes4G This is what we achieved on our speed test, 11Mbps! #YTLC http://twitpic.com/33ka6q – HERE
I… palm… face… no… help!!! I swear this guy must have just got out of a time machine from 1990. Wait, maybe he was being sarcastic? Yes, that would make more sense… must be sarcasm… Amazement at such low speeds for 4G which ITU regulations require to be able to carry 100Mbps while mobile. Well, if he wasn’t being sarcastic then maybe it’s the same mind-altering drugs that the guy further up was on… must have been passed around.
IN CONCLUSION!!! I’m really… really… really… disappointed with what I’ve heard (and seen) thus far. No actual figures have been released, so who knows, maybe it’ll be ridiculously cheap to make up for the somewhat yawn inducing speeds. Well, we shall see on the 19th of November… until then!!!
EDIT: Here are my predictions for speed (12Mbps) and for price. My speed prediction was pretty good… we’ll find out price soon enough!!!
surely this is better than anything else out there. maybe you should be the next maxis for us? i think this is really good!
Giving nothing but praise can only result in complacency. I give credit where it is due – but based on yesterdays soft-launch it is difficult to do so. When I get my test-unit then we will see.
i “like” this post. actually laughed out loud.
Thanks… Glad you enjoyed it.
our country’s only High speed broadband package, unifi provided by TMNet is only around 10mbps.. if 4G is more than that, shouldn they market it as ‘Super High Speed Broadband’, rather than just 4G? we’re in malaysia, and 10Mbps seems like an achievement.. maybe 100mbps will arrive at our shore in the next generation..
some people just can’t be enough with what changes others has brought. Yes well IMT said 4G shud be 100Mbps instead of 11Mbps, but which part of YTLC marketinf said they were bringing it at 4G speed at all? Have anyone heard of 3Gx at all??? What is it even about??
The name 4G is just a marketing name and shall not be taken as the 4G speed. It’s not misleading but I think this review misleads people into believing that YTLC is bringing in 4G connection???
Enlighten me pls..
Even tough 11mbps is not even close to the standard, it is a good leap for malaysia’s network. If it really can achieve 11mbps after it is lauched for months.. then it is a good sign…But I am afraid it could not cope with the load after couple of months…btw i don’t think there is any phone selling in m’sia is compatible with this “4g”. So the advertisement which using a phone to call is also another misleading.
Dude… U pull no punches… I am eagerly awaiting your review of this “new” service.. As a long suffering Internet user cursed with the monkeys from Maxis, the Neanderthals from Celcom, the Mentally Challenged Telekom zombies I was really looking forward to something radical… U da man!!
I call things as I see them… if something sucks, I will say so… but I also believe in giving credit where it is due. I’ll wait a couple of days to properly test the Yes network the way they intended it to be before delivering my verdict.
11Mbps is nothing compared to what 3G LTE can achieve and mind you, LTE is not even 4G. So it’s really misleading for YTL and even P1 for promoting their services as 4G.
Just look at P1’s wiggy, they promised speed of up 10Mbps and I believed many users are not even able to hit 1Mbps consistently.
But I will give credit to YTL for doing something different rather than just launching their “4G” service as another mobile broadband provider.
After having speed of 20mbps for the last 3 years and 10mbps for the 4 years before that (in California – with not fair use limit and censorship), I cannot stand it here in Malaysia.
Yea, my mum says M’sia is calling skilled graduates back from other country but F this shit hole I am getting out of here ASAP.