I just switched to become a freelance months ago. So I opt to the mobile broadband, and travel a lot across Malaysia. Then I got sick and got diarrhea, not sure if it is colon cleansers that working or I got a minor food poisoned. Speaking of Malaysia broadband, I seriously have no idea how to describe anymore. Of course, by counting the ISP, you can have a lot of them, but stability and friendliness?

Recently due to my girlfriend who is going to use my laptop for a few weeks, so we hooked up with Windows XP again. By looking at my Celcom broadband statistic, I must say, I am quite impress but not respect. These are why!

Impressed: Stability

So far Celcom broadband gave me the most stable broadband I’ve experience. Not even Streamyx (wired broadband) can provide. I tested at Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur, Puchong, Perhentian Island and some villages across the east coast. Celcom runs well in all these location

Impressed: Friendly user

Almost like plug and play. Install the mobile partner software and connect. That’s all. I even tried on using my Nokia E71 as the modem as well as using my Nokia E71 as internet device. Not a problem at all

No respect: Speed not as promised

I was promised to have up to 3.5mbps to 7.2mbps, normally I would expect at least 900kbps to 2mbps. I only get 50kbps to 80kbps the best. Not even close to the minimum speed they promised.

No respect: SIM Card error

I get a few times SIM card error. I’m still not clear why this happen though. Whenever I come across to unable to connect with an error 619. I will just replace the SIM card onto a mobile phone and tried to online or make call (though it is impossible), then only it would connect. It’s like giving them SIM card a boost. Still no idea…

Of course, I would keep this modem for myself only. Since there is no contract, I can terminate anytime I want. Until I need to travel, I think once I settle down, I don’t need this connection anymore

It came to my mind when Malaysia politician starting to play onlien portal and online weblog. Is Malaysia ready for broadband? Not exactly, no.

Monopoly

Let’s be clearer, wired broadband only done by TMNet, Streamyx. Not only it doesn’t have any competitor, it is also government owned company. With current corrupted politic scene, I believe I don’t need to elaborate too much on this one.

Limited demand made no progress

Malaysia laws has a lot of grey area. Nobody want to step into the laws, not because Malaysian are kind-hearted, it is because you can’t get anything back even years. Most broadband users I know just put patient on the first line, not to even call for support, because we all know that it is useless.

I have had enough with Malaysia broadband, I really do feel helpless, I tried Streamyx, Celcom and P1, none of their connection are close to “stable”. Seriously, if not because of Malaysia passport that can go around the World, I would dump it and went for another better country. Bet you not, Indonesia broadband is way better than Malaysia, though they are still a little expensive. But hey, they are much more stable than any of Malaysia broadband, still worth it.

Recently there is more and more problem with my broadband (provided by the trutly P1 Winmax under the help of Intel) I know Intel in Europe are having some big trouble, and possibly losing a few billion US Dollar, but the investment it put into P1 shouldn’t have a problem yet. But my P1 connection is having a serious frequent disconnect. I am not talking about every hour or so, it is every seconds or so. I get to online for like what? 10 seconds average and get disconnect. I cannot browse like usual, I cannot do my research, I cannot reply my clients’ emails and I definitely cannot download a files from the Internet, not to mention I want to upload an image. Instead of boost up their system, they go take Phenphedrine and shrink down the whole system!

A month ago they (P1) stated that they’re having some upgrade and improvement. Instead of having improvement, I get these:

1, No representative to talk with.

There’s no easy way to get to talk with their support team, unless you call them (cost money it is 1300 number if you’re wonder). Calling them with have to at least (I tried the fastest way to click without listening the crap) takes a minute, due to the advertisement on the first voice, instrcuture who to look for one the second press and yada yada yada, only a human start talking.

2, A technician need weeks and months to come.

I called for a technician to come a month back. Until today, no news from them, they don’t even do any follow up (scare being scold?). I need to keep calling back to them to remind (read: remind) them. That doesn’t mean the frequent you call the faster the technician come too.

3, Starting to get more complaint than ever

I hook into some IT forum to see if I can get advice or not, but I ended up in their ranting-land. The more I look into it, the more it’s like the common Malaysia business, promise to give the good, deliver the lowest. Shit you not, beside some international company that able to give a decent (not the best yet), other than international company, you’re just an item for them to suck your money.

Above all giving me the feel of 1. Avoid me (customer), 2. My money is not important but yet they want to tie it, 3. It’s all we can do. I am thinking of a way, a way to give them a bang to solve their internal problem. One day, I’ll go to their headquarter and record every single word they tell me and how they tell me in video and post it up to YouTube. To make sure it gets more exposure, I will ping it to all blog aggregate and Digg the video. This will definitely move Intel (the biggest boss in the back) to improve P1 instead of receiving complaint and not wanting to do anything. Wait for me P1!

1, First 10 days out of the 15 day trial I got a good 90% speed, but after that it dropped to 50%. I don’t mind, cause as long as it can online. So I didn’t call in to bug for speed. Then, the upload speed dropped to 3kbps (screenshot) for more than a week, after a week I called in to make a report. They told me a technician will come asap. Wait… 2 weeks plus, nobody wanna come and I started to keep on calling, still nobody come. Email complaint from the site has no reply at all.

2, My area has been very heavily promoted a month ago. Now I got frequent disconnect. Call in, telling the same thing, change static IP, ping IP, restart modem. Just like how Streamyx asking you to plug direct to modem and bla bla bla.

3, When I ask for a call back from the support, no reply after I hang up.

4, When I call in the support and they’re experiencing large number of call, I press the # key (To wait in line), it say it’s invalid/no such code. So hang up and call again to listen to the “We are located on the ground floor of Packet-1 bla bla bla…”

So, basically P1 is the same like (Probably worse) Streamyx for me. With Streamyx, at least I got a better disconnection rate than with P1. Somehow, I can get the Streamyx support to my house easier than P1. It took me more than RM50 credit just to solve this unsolve problem. I think P1 is either still in the beta stage of their business.

I just want to ask, if it’s possible I file a complaint and terminate this service? Because by using this, I’m paying more. With Streamyx, I’ve never been this angry before.

Shit you not, only the best acne treatment could save my angry face now. Off to check my blood pressure. See if there’s any update from P1 or not.