TM’s consumer division, unifi today has announced that it has deployed its pre-5G network in Setiawalk, Puchong. Using its existing TDD network as foundation alongside the implementation of Massive MIMO solution, the new network is apparently able to deliver higher throughput than existing its LTE network.
As a comparison, the Acting EVP of unifi, Moharmustaqeem Mohammed stated the new pre-5G network now have the capacity of up to 500Mbps as compared to existing LTE network which maxed out at 200Mbps. Additionally, Mohar stated that the transition is being done seamlessly because there is no change to customers’ packages or equipment.
The reason why unifi choose to deploy the new pre-5G network at Setiawalk in Puchong is because that there are a variety of customers within this area, including residential and businesses. Each of them has different needs, which provides TM the opportunity to test the capability of its new network according to various demands and scenarios.
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Before you get excited though, do note that this doesn’t mean customers wireless internet connection will reach 500Mbps when they are connected to unifi’s new pre-5G network though. According to one of the unifi’s technical team members that we spoke to, the average speed that customers will actually experience is between 30 to 80Mbps since wireless network generally operates through resource sharing basis.
Nevertheless, it is still an improvement since on previous unifi’s LTE network, customers speed was around 5Mbps if they connected through FDD-based devices or up to 20Mbps on TDD-based device.
For now, unifi didn’t specify whether its pre-5G network will be deployed to other areas within the country but nevertheless, has stated the new pre-5G network is just one of the alternative technologies that the TM is working on in order to deliver high-speed broadband to its customers.
