U Mobile celebrates the commercial launch of its 5G network by offering unlimited internet over the weekends.
U Mobile prepaid users can enjoy unlimited usage of 5G network over the weekends
Every Saturday and Sunday, prepaid customers of U Mobile can enjoy unlimited usage with uncapped speeds on both 5G and 4G networks. All customers of the Prepaid U35 plan and newly launched Prepaid U40 plan can enjoy this perk, starting from midnight every Saturday, ending at 11.59pm every Sunday. To enjoy the use of the 5G network, customers need to be using a 5G compatible device and be within 5G network coverage area. All other customers can of course enjoy the 4G network instead. To experience Unlimited 5G Weekends, customers will need to redeem it weekly via the MyUMobile app.
U Mobile has also announced the launch of the new Prepaid U40 plan. Priced at RM40 monthly, the new plan offers unlimited calls and data as well as unlimited hotspot for sharing data across multiple devices. Unlimited hotspot can be purchased as an add-on feature of other prepaid plans such as U25 and U35 for RM 5, lasting 30 days. Prepaid customers who want to experience the 5G network uncapped speeds can also purchase 5G Daily or Weekly Plans starting from just RM3 per day.
For more information on U Mobile Unlimited 5G Weekends and services, visit the official U Mobile website.
Malaysia is finally looking to get its 5G act together after over 2 years in limbo. While the country started its 5G conversation early in 2019, political instability, the pandemic and multiple changes in the plans for 5G have seen the country without widespread 5G connectivity until now.
In 2021, Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) was established to be the single “special-purpose” vehicle for the country’s rollout of 5G under the purview of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Since then, DNB has been in a tumultuous state with telcos refusing terms and even members of the public and experts criticising DNB’s presence.
However, in late 2021, DNB did an initial launch of 5G with only two telcos – TM and YTL Communications (YES) onboard. Since then, little has changed with DNB continuing to set up 5G infrastructure while it struggled to reach a consensus even with the MoF’s invitation to telco to take up a stake in the vehicle. In early October 2022, an agreement was finally reached with two telcos – U Mobile and Maxis – abstaining from claiming a stake in DNB. DNB is now owned by MoF (35%), YTL Communications (20%), TM (20%), Celcom Axiata (12.5%) and Digi Telecommunications (12.5%). Celcom Axiata and Digi are in the midst of a merger following the agreement between parent companies Axiata and Telenor to merge operations. In light of this merger, the resulting company’s stake was limited to 25%. As of 31 October 2022, five of the six telcos in Malaysia have finally signed an access agreement with DNB for access to the 5G network.
With all the drama done with, Malaysia is finally getting widespread coverage starting with key areas in the country’s central region of Klang Valley. Aside from YES – which has already rolled out its 5G offerings – telcos are beginning to provide access to users starting on 1st November 2022. Digi and Maxis have yet to announce any offerings for 5G. We’ve summarised the usage and plans available in the table below for easy reference.
Telco
5G Rollout
Details
YTL Communications (YES)
Already available
5G is available on: 1. Infinte+ Postpaid plans 2. FT5G Unlimited Prepaid 3. Wireless Fibre 5G plans
TM
31 October 2022
TM Unifi Mobile users will be able to access the 5G network for free until 31 December 2022. After which it seems like they will need to register for the new Uni5G plans to access the 5G network. Prices for subscriptions start at MYR1.
Celcom Axiata
1 November 2022
5G access will be available to all Celcom subscribers according to their plans for free until December 2022. Plans included: 1. Celcom MEGA Lightning (80, 98, 128, ,158 and 188) 2. Celcom Xpax Postpaid (40 and 60) 3. Celcom Xpax Prepaid (35 and 45)
U Mobile
3 November 2022
U Mobile subscribers of their recently launched 5G Ready U Postpaid plans will be able to use the 5G network with compatible devices. Prepaid users on U25 and U35 plans will need to redeem a “Speed Booster” for free which entitles them to 1 hour of 5G connectivity a day with up to 30 hours a month.
Digi
TBA
TBA
Maxis
TBA
TBA
It’s worth noting that Maxis, one of the nation’s largest telcos, has yet to ratify the access agreement. The company has cited that its board is still accessing the requirements for the 5G Access Agreement. In its statement to the press, Maxis states, “Maxis is committed to playing an active role in bringing 5G to the nation in line with the Government’s digital ambitions, and to utilising Digital Nasional Berhad’s (DNB) network for 5G services. The Company looks forward to bringing the best of 5G services and solutions to its customers and is confident of launching 5G in the near future”. The company has also recently appointed a new CEO, Goh Seow Eng, who has served in Advanced Info Service (AIS) in Thailand. Goh will be taking the reigns from Gökhan Öğüt, who has been the CEO of Maxis for nearly 4 years.
So, it looks like Maxis and Digi customers can expect an announcement in the near future possibly with revamped plans.
U Mobile is preparing its network for the forthcoming activation of 5G in Malaysia. In anticipation of the big flipping of the switch, the company is introducing new U Postpaid plans which are 5G ready and bring even more value to customers with larger data pools and the promise of better connectivity.
From Left: Norfazidah Abu Bakar (Chief Corporate Services Officer), Alex Tan Kok Leong (Chief Sales Officer), Navin Manian (Chief Marketing Officer), Tomkinson (Chief Information Officer), Woon Ooi Yuen (Chief Technology Officer) and Michael Tung (Head of Consumer Business) at the launch of the new U Postpaid Plans. (Source: U Mobile)
The telco is one of a handful that makes up the majority share of connectivity providers in Malaysia. However, they are the first in that group aside from YTL Communications’ Yes network to gear up for 5G. The new plans follow the recent sunsetting of 3G undertaken by U mobile. That said, U Mobile is boasting that it has better coverage of 98% of Malaysia. This figure is up from its previously reported 86%.
In addition to better coverage, the telco notes that recent trends show that the average Malaysian consumes 47% more data now with an average of 1.3 hours daily spent on the internet. This insight has led them to introduce what can only be called the most abundant data cap in Malaysia at the moment – 1,000GB or 1TB. The new data cap is a highlight of their new U Postpaid 98 which rounds up the current stable of U Postpaid plans at MYR98. For the lower U Postpaid 68 which costs MYR68, users will have access to 100GB of data a month while the lower U Postpaid 38 has a 30GB data cap at MYR38.
It’s not all about data with U Mobile either, with borders opening up, the telco is also considering the number of subscribers looking to go overseas. As a hallmark of both the U Postpaid 98 and U Postpaid 68, users will now be able to receive calls while roaming for free. This also complements their offering of 15GB of free roaming data in 63 locations around the world. These locations include Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, the USA and South Korea.
U Postpaid Plan Breakdown. (Source: U Mobile)
Users looking to get the U Postpaid 98 Plan can also look forward to sharing the enormous 1TB data cap with up to six U FamilyShare lines. Each line will set you back an additional MYR38 – one of the lowest prices in the current market. All lines under the new U Postpaid plans come with unlimited calls to all networks. It is worth noting that there is a 5GB hotspot or tethering quota applicable across the board.
The U Postpaid 68 and U Postpaid 98 plans also have access to U Mobile’s new device plans: U Paylater and U Savemore. The U Paylater plan offers users the flexibility of a 0% instalment package to own their new devices while the U Savemore plan offers devices at a discounted price with MYR0 upfront payment. You will naturally need to pay for the device during purchase under the U Savemore plan. Both options are available to U Postpaid 98 customers while U Postpaid 68 subscribers can only opt for the U Savemeore plan. The MYR0 upfront payment is also subject to your payment history, it is only available to those with a good record. Of course, users will be tied to a contract to enjoy these benefits.
The new plans join the U Postpaid 38 plan that was launched earlier this year. Users on these plans will be able to enjoy 5G connectivity once it is available as well. The plans are already available commercially. To subscribe, simply go to U Mobile’s website or visit a U Mobile centre.
In this week’s TechENT Download, we see a whole lot happening including things going back to normal when it comes to Malaysia with more measures being relaxed and the techENT team heading back to our offices.
ASUS has also been busy releasing many laptops including new additions to the ZenBook series as well as a new ExpertBook B9 which is powered by Intel’s vPro processors. The ASUS VivoBook S series also got 2 new entries bringing more colour and functionality.
Telcos in Malaysia are extending their 1GB of free data to everyone with no time limitations. Subscribers can redeem their 1GB via their respective apps.
HUAWEI and ZTE face more problems as the American Federal Communications Commission goes on the record saying that they pose a threat to national security and privacy. This new development comes after more than a year of sanction placed against the companies by the current U.S. Administration. The new move will be hurting HUAWEI and ZTE’s 5G business as more countries take the notion seriously. What does this mean for smartphones?
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The whole COVID-19 situation has made 2020 a little bit of a write off. There are at least a few things that made 2020 look a little better, some positivity. We now realise that we can be productive at home, we save a little bit more money and become a little more healthy by not eating out, prices of petrol goes down, we get our own little 1m bubble of personal space, and best of all – free data.
By now, everyone would have known that you can claim 1GB of free data daily from the major operators like Maxis, Digi, Celcom, UMobile, and Unifi Mobile. There are limitations to that though. The 1GB of data only applies from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. in the evening.
1GB of data may not sound like much at first. Start using them for just emails and sharing documents and even get on a messenger app though and you might be pleasantly surprised. Without watching Netflix, YouTube, stream at high-quality with Spotify, or downloading games, 1GB is way more than enough. 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. is also the usual working time for the average Malaysian. So the time limit made plenty of sense. At least that was the case until June 2020.
From the 1st of July, 2020l; which was yesterday, all the way until 31st December 2020, users of the major telecommunication operators get to enjoy the 1GB of free data daily for 24 hours instead of a restricted time of the day. That also means you get about 30GB of free data in the week.
If your home is equipped with its own internet, you would find that 30GB is a little too much to spend. We wonder how some people can have 60GB of data and still not have enough. Still, we like free things and so we will gladly take it with open arms. For more information regarding this new policy, you can head over to your telco’s websites. No, it is not too late to switch over telco too; we did not mention which to which.
