ashley: where are you staying?

For existing users it’s not really worth changing to save a few bucks as you’d have to pay for installation/connection again.

Just to clear a few facts..

1) You NEED a phone line for any form of DSL, that’s how it works, through a limited frequency range over an existing phone line. Therefore you have to pay the line rental if you use it or not..same in any other country.

2) The other ’system’ that doesn’t need a phone line is Cable broadband using co-axle cable. Seen as though there is no existing Cable TV provider in Malaysia this is not a viable alternative.

3) There are various other options in the form of Wireless offerings from Izzi, Maxis, Digi and Jaring. None are particularly good.

4) DSL is a generic term, I think andrew is confusing DSL with SDSL (Symmetric DSL where the upload and download speed is the same). It is available for business lines from TM. Consumers generally only need ADSL (Asymmetric where the download speed is higher than upload) as they don’t use heavy upload. Having SDSL won’t give you any better performance downstream than ADSL as it’s the same technology.

5) ADSL quality is dependant on many factors including the distance of your home from the exchange, the quality of the copper cable from your house to the exchange, the number of users at your DSLAM, the contention ratio and so on. Corporate lines tend to have a lower contention ratio and thus higher quality of service.

6) Streamyx local loop performance is generally fine (download a file or load a local web site based in a Malaysian data center - you will get max speed for your package). The issue is with the International links and the lack of capacity on overall architecture. We are quite distant from both the US and Europe where the majority of rich content is hosted. Australia is in a similar position and while their quality is much higher, so is the price and you have to pay for your package per Gigabyte - it’s not unlimited. Be thankful your broadband is not data limited, I think the day might come though were there are different packages for heavy users. Those downloading heavily should pay more.

That’s all ;)

wanna ask, what is your personal preference of connection speed? I just move to PJ area and looking for a internet connection. Am trying not to use any landline required, so I have tried Izzi, which has bad signal at my area and U surf which has extremely bad signal at my area as well. Maxis, well haven’t tried that yet. I am so bloody piss with living without internet (2 and half months now), amazingly I haven’t pulled out my hair yet!!

they say that streamyx doesnt provide the speed they promise. that is one of my consideration against getting it, but no one can answer me for sure. I don’t find it rather worth it, cause obviously they hiked up the amount to cover the rental. unless u subscribe for a smaller package which is settle 1mbps (1mbps is RM110 under streamyx combo). I think your RM88 package is the 1mbps package right?

perhaps my researched is flawed.

i dont think it’s included. it’s in the fine print somewhere.

munak: hmm, from my little knowledge i thought dsl is broadband is dsl? i think streamyx is adsl. anyway, totally agree that more money should be spent on improving infrastructure and the market should definitely be opened up. as for now, i’ll take whatever savings i could make, hehe.

a-taaaahhh!

We are a growing country, our network infrastructure must grow too, in the past a countries growth was seen based on its highway and transport infrastructure but things have changed in the current world, a country’s development is seen based on its network and technology infrastructure. We can spend insane amounts to send ppl to space but cannot spend a few millions to upgrade the network structures. When private companies do try to do that, they are shot down by our monopolising providers aka telekom. And like naeboo said, i cant remember any ISP providing DSL. I think last time Jaring got but they are probably somewhere in the depths of hell so there goes the DSL