There are really too many complains that I’ve read online with regards to the lousy and slow Internet in Malaysia. I’ve done research and feel that the government is already slowly improving it. Following articles here, here and here, the government is already in a partnership with Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) to slowly improve and provide us with Broadband from 10Mbps to 100Mbps. God knows when that will happen.

What are your alternatives

• JARING. Back in 2001, I was surfing the Internet with Jaring’s 56k Internet. Pretty much satisfied with what I had, until 3 years later, I decided that 56k was too slow since I download quite a bit. They do have different packages running, such as wired and wireless (which comes with a free 015 line which enables really affordable International dialing!) Oh, and please ensure that the service is available in your area. As far as I know, it’s not available in my area (Johor Bahru) yet!
• P1 WiMAX. Shame on you if you haven’t heard about it. But that’s fine since it’s not so widely available to everywhere yet. Check out the availability map before you start deciding if you like it. I’ve heard of people who say it’s good and others who will never recommend that. Seriously, it depends on your area and your expectations.

I seriously only recommend the above two ISPs. There are always people unsatisfied with everything, no matter where you go. Even when you get over to Japan, with the cheapest Internet (In terms of USD per Mbps), there are people who are complaining that it’s bad in a way or another. Learn to be satisfied with what you already have.

What do I ask for?

I’m only expecting stable Internet, with less ping timeout to anywhere. The latency (or lag) cannot be prevented. 4 or 5 (or even 6) years ago when I first subscribed to TMNet Streamyx, can you imagine that I was unable to connect to certain IPs due to the incomplete route? Things definitely have improved.

I’ll ask for more speed when I know they can afford to provide. For now, I’m satisfied with 1Mbps. Oh, and I just upgraded from 512kbps to 1Mbps, which I feel is around the same, no much difference.

The government is already slowly moving into IPv6 from IPv4. What else can I ask for?

If you’ve yet to subscribe to TMNet Streamyx at home or your office and you’re reading this, you found the right article. This article shall bring you through what you might start ranting about in the future.

I got a message from someone on Windows Live Messenger (aka MSN!):

[email protected] says:
Small Favour Needed

Please help me to perform speed test on this URL

http://66.96.192.92/bigtest.tgz

Let me know what’s the speed you are getting, Internet connection speed
and ISP.

Eg: TMnet Streamyx, 1 Mbps plan, getting 100 kb/s

Thank you.

This message started me thinking.

I do know of almost 50% of my peers using Streamyx telling me that their Internet speed isn’t of satisfaction. I never ever complained that my Internet is slow. It’s totally fine to have slow Internet, but I need something stable. TMNet has done well with regards to this. *Cheers*

Before you start complaining…

1. Read Streamyx’s FAQ! Point #5 states that “Best effort” describes a service that is provided without any service level assurance. Now you see, what you get is what you should get. Complaining probably won’t improve your Internet. So stop ranting.
2. Also read the Fair Use Policy! We wish to also highlight that as an Internet Service Provider (ISP), TM only provides access to the Internet and does not guarantee content delivery and performance where it is not within the domain of TM as an ISP. In fact, our international traffic management policy is designed to cater for all our customers so they have an optimal surfing experience within the normal limits of Internet usage.

Let me simply explain what you should understand from the above text.

You should understand that you may not get the speed you subscribed and paid for unless you’re surfing www.tm.net.my/www.streamyx.com. I hope  I am right. Please correct me.

Do a speed test before you start calling over to 1300-88-9515/100 and start asking them why your Internet so slow.

Before I start on this entry, I wish to say that this is my personal experience for the past few months using this service.

Introduction

I am staying at a rented room with my sister and thus we thought that we’re not going to register for wired Internet. Instead, we should just get SingTel’s Mobile Broadband (Mobile 1000).

Someday, some months back, we went down to SingTel at Bugis. Wow, when you sign a two year plan, you get the HSDPA modem (Huawei or Samsung) free. Free registration. Blah blah. We always love promotions, right? And so we signed up (Yes, 24 months contract).

First two months

First two months was ok. Decent bandwidth that I can get. I mean, pages don’t take very long to load. The latency is not that bad.

Now

1. MSN cannot connect. This is crap. Totally unacceptable.
2. Tibia (MMORPG) lags like hell. I logged in and tried to walk. I couldn’t even walk at all. I would lag for the next 60 seconds and get booted off for no packets sent/received. Damn it. You shall pay for what I paid CIP Soft.
3. Websites don’t load at all. Not even SingTel.com. Don’t even think about browsing facebook.com.
4. Emails not readable/reply-able. I cannot even get on the Internet smoothly, how can I read and reply my emails smoothly?
5. Think I can blog?

What can I do?

1. Get home, rest, shower and do face mask. After so much stress and sleeping late because the Internet tends to be not so bad after 12am.
2. I called SingTel 3 times in 2 weeks. I am still not getting any reply from their technical team regarding this shit.
3. Watch Hot Shot (篮球火). It entertained me for 1 hour.

Screw SingTel. I’m just bored. Internet sucks and I can’t do much.

SingTel, I want..

1. Waiver for my Internet bill for the past 2 months and current. (I paid them already, thinking it will improve)
2. Termination of contract.
3. Compensate me for my time (having to sleep late to use Internet)
4. Compensate me for my loss in not being able to get onto Tibia. You’re going to pay for my premium account.

If you’re using SingTel Broadband on Mobile..

I’d like to know how’s your Internet. Comments please.

How many pieces of bills do you pay every month? A normal family man or person living alone would need to pay 2-3 bills monthly. It can be hard to remember, and it happened to me. Sigh.

What?

Max Alliance sent me a letter today, over at my former rented place address threatening to take legal actions if I don’t pay my bills for my previous Broadband Internet Service (MaxOnline) with Starhub by 29th June 2008. (Woo, just 2 more days.)

I suddenly recalled that I still have part of my previous bill unsettled as I always have the practice to deposit $100-150 into Starhub/Singtel’s account and slowly debit it. That would save lots of trouble.

Settled my bills online – only $49.22. So I guess they won’t give me any trouble.

How to remember to pay bills?

1. Try using Sandy, I am Sandy online secretary service that reminds you to do anything virtually. Sandy don’t sleep!
2. Have your mobile’s calendar to remind you the monthly billing date of your bills and you’ll remember to settle them.

What else? Let me know

Lesson learnt

Once you receive your bills, have them paid the next day or within a couple of days. Dragging it will only cause forgetfulness. Unless you’re broke?