An audit conducted by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has found that local telecommunications companies have been providing sub-par 3G services to consumers. This was largely attributed to the cost-effective measures taken by the telcos by utilizing a lower frequency band instead of the primary band recommended by MCMC.
According to the commission, most local telcos resorted to employing 3G towers on the 900MHz and 1800MHz frequency bands instead of the primary 2100MHz band. These lower frequency bands have greater reach, allowing for less 3G towers to be built, but at the cost of lesser data capacity that can be carried on the network. As a result of this prioritisation of coverage over optimum data speeds, consumers are left with slower-than-usual 3G speeds.
As a telco expert revealed to The Star:
“Some players have economised on investing in 2,100MHz to push coverage instead of higher capacity and speed. They are trying to compromise on quality. They may be stretching their dollar by not putting in enough base stations despite having made a lot of money all these years.”
The MCMC has issued a warning to all local telcos, informing them to have a plan ready by the end of the year to fix the issue, failing which the commission will be issuing heavy fines.
(Source: The Star)
