TM launches pre-5G network, only available in SetiaWalk Puchong

Moharmustaqeem said TM is hoping to introduce pre-5G network to more users later this year but the rollout would depend on the demand and need of users in the area. – SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star

Telekom Malaysia announced that its pre-5G wireless technology, claimed to be the nation’s first and which has been in the works since Q4 last year, has entered commercial phase at SetiaWalk Puchong which consists of residential blocks, mall and offices.

Unifi acting executive vice president Moharmustaqeem Mohammed said there are currently about 1,000 households with Unifi Home Wireless Broadband that are already enjoying the pre-5G network in SetiaWalk.

“The technology is set to improve Unifi’s wireless connectivity services, especially for high-rise buildings and dense residential areas with low fixed broadband penetration, allowing for wireless Internet access sharing at home and on-the-go within LTE coverage areas,” he said.

Moharmustaqeem said the pre-5G network will help address many ongoing infrastructure challenges in areas without fibre coverage, offering speeds of up to 30Mbps (megabits per second) with a peak throughput of up to 80Mbps.

He claimed the pre-5G network, which uses Time Division Complex (TDD) technology, tops out at 500Mbps, which is twice the speed of a 4G network.

The Unifi Home Wireless Broadband plan costs RM79 a month and comes with a 60GB data quota, and users will also have to purchase the wireless router for RM565.

Users can connect up to 64 devices at one time but if they exceed the data limit, the speed will be throttled down to 128kbps (kilobits per second).

The company is having a promo from April 7 to 30 – users who sign up during the period will get double the data quota (120GB).

Moharmustaqeem said TM is hoping to introduce pre-5G network to more users later this year but the rollout would depend on the demand and need of users in the area.

“We need to have this conversation with more customers and we look to engaging with the community on the matter,” he said.

However, when asked about the company’s Twitter post that urged Streamyx customers to fix an appointment for the free Unifi upgrade before March 31, he remained coy.

“I wouldn’t be to hung up on this. If you continuously stay with us, there will be returns in terms of rewards and other promos,” he said, adding that the company will make an announcement later.