Fibre Optic Cable & Applications

As a UniFi broadband subscriber, you are sure to have wondered about the thin fibres of glass traveling along your premises. These are the favorites of modern telecom companies to bring you to the digital world. Signals travel through them as light. A great many applications prefer them to their copper variants. The following overview will definitely help if you are someone searching for information in the matter.

Fibre Optic Cables Usage
As mentioned above, telecommunication is the field fibre optic cables are widely used today. These are ideal to establish telephone lines. Light-weight and easy to weight, they are able to carry more information than their copper counterparts. Quite naturally, service providers are able to give customers the bandwidth they want using less space than that required in the past. The absence of radiation makes this form of transmission the safest option available. Silica, the important component of these cables is a non-conductor. It eliminates leakage of radiation minimizing the possibility of tapping signals. Following are the other areas where optic fibre is preferred to its metal variant.

Medical science
The potential of optic fibre is truly immense in medical science. In fact, it is ideal to make small needles doctors can insert into lungs, veins and other hollow organs in the body. It is also used in numerous instruments designed to enable the physician to inspect an internal organ without conducting a surgery.

Devices made of optic fibre are great to emit light to hard-to-reach places.

Military
The armed forces of the country too have only words of appreciation for this great innovation. The cables made of optic fibre are stable, offer greater bandwidth and utmost security for the signals transmitted. The great thing is that all this becomes available at an affordable rate. RADAR arrangements and missile launchers are the other applications that hugely benefit from this innovative technology. A small cable, the size of a pencil replaces thousands of miles of copper ones in remote systems.

Drones
Drone, or UAV (unmanned Arial Vehicle is sure to be familiar to many. Fibre optics has come to play a great role even here. These small fibre cables have come to replace their copper variants to communicate between its antennae and the control room. Remember, the use of drones is not confined to military use. Scientists have now developed drones that uses LACER and optical fibre cables to fly wherever their owners want them to.

Transportation
Transportation industry is another area where fibre cables are replacing their copper counterparts. The increasing demand for utmost efficiency has led to the creation of smart highways. The traffic signals, automatic poll booths and many other facilities you may come across here are now powered using fibre optic cables. They also power up electric trains of today.
The information that even Christmas decorations use these cables may surprise you. But, this is the fact. The displays organized in boutiques too utilize the power and efficiency of these cables.

Unifi Packages - Your Options

Unifi, the fiber optic cable service from TM offering Internet, video and phone are hailed to be the best in the country. The packages in the family are easy to use and offer numerous features. Given below is an overview of your options here.

UniFi home packages

TM boasts of more than 700,000 satisfied subscribers for its UniFi packages. Apply to any of the following options if you are someone exploring your options in the field.

VIP 5, 10 and 20

These are the oldest versions available. Here, users are allowed to choose from 5MB, 10MB and 20MB per second Internet speed. The number of channels offered, call rate and other features vary based on the plan you choose. Whatever is your choice, one thing remains unchanged; you are offered free installation of cables up to 45 Feet.

30Mbps Package

This is relatively new; in its experimental stage. It promises higher speed and uninterrupted service. You are offered two options. The first flavor allows you to have Hypp, Aneka, Ruby and Varna channels. Going for this one will cost you just Rm. 210.94 per month. The second one lets you enjoy all the channels from Hypp. However, you need to spend a bit more;  Rm 242.74 per month.

50Mbps Plan

This too is in its developmental stage. The fact is that it has not yet been rolled out. According to TM, this UniFi package is an add-on to the 30MB plan. You just have to spend a bit more to get 50MB per second Internet speed. The absence of clearly outlined plan for its arrival may be a cause of concern for millions of customers. However, the company states to fulfill the promise within a few months.

How the experiment affects existing customers

The 30-50 megabyte plan remains a mystery to customers and the media alike. When enquired about the trouble, the company informs that the subscription is open only in certain areas.

Location holds the key

It is reported that the reason for the company’s reluctance to offer 30 or 50MB to its existing subscribers is a planned trial. This, the firm says is done to ensure high standards of service to its loyal customers. TM also states that when the trial is over, the package will be open for all subscribers. At present, they are available only in certain residential areas.

If you are a new customer, you can enquire about the new plans in the company outlet in your locality.

Upon introduction of the new package, the company will offer an option to upgrade to any of the two new plans to its existing customers. The dues would be waived if the upgradation is done within an existing contract. If yours is a new subscription, you will have to sign a 2-year contract with the firm.

Even with all these prospects, the company remains silent when it comes to a clear-cut deadline for this beautiful promise for its millions of subscribers. The only choice available is to wait and see. Experiences teach that there is no point in doubting.  The firm enjoys a great reputation in the market.

Maxis Fibre Broadband Package: An Overview

Broadband service at affordable rate is something everyone desires. This is exactly what you get if you subscribe to Maxis Fibre. The company offers free installation and voice calls worth RM30 per month with no additional charge than your Internet bill.

Your options in Maxis Fibre

Following are the options the company offers its users.

10Mbps Package

This is recommended for first-time fiber Internet users. 10 megabytes per second speed, free installation, free voice calls worth RM30 and unlimited download are the facilities you receive here. If you are a Max 1 plan user, you are eligible for a 20% discount in your bill.

20Mbps Plan

This is the plan to go for if you want to enjoy fast browsing. It comes up with the same offers as mentioned above with a faster Internet.

30Mbps Plan

A heavy Internet user will definitely go for it. Enjoy videos without buffering along with all the other offers like unlimited download and free voice calls.

Maxis Fibre for business

Maxis Fibre Business is a new venture. The company claims that it has helped up to 11,000 businesses to stay in touch with their clients all the time. From free installation to unlimited download, the offers vary based on the plan you choose. There are four choices here; 4, 8, 16 and 32 megabytes per second Internet speed. The decision to go for Maxis Fibre Business entitles you to one-month free Internet and other attractive discounts.  Contact the company outlet in your locality to explore the possibilities here. Remember, this is a new venture. For this reason, the request for installation may take up to three weeks to get processed.

The 100MBPS plan

It is an ambitious plan from the company to reach out to customers all over the country. The price may appear a bit too high. However, 100MBPS is something none of its competitors offer at present. Go for it if you want to enjoy high speed and uninterrupted service. When combined with the ability to download unlimited, it becomes an all-time favorite of consumers throughout the country. And, if you use Maxis mobile, you are eligible for a small discount. There may be other benefits; contact the company outlet in your area.

Why go for Maxis?

This may come up with the question; why favor Maxis? The answer includes the following benefits.

· High speed internet: The Company feels that no one should settle with less than 10MBPS of Internet speed. For this reason, this remains the entry offer for the company.

· Free modem: The firm offers WIFI modem completely free of charge to its residential subscribers.

· Utmost flexibility: Max lets you relocate with peace of mind. Reinstallation just requires a nominal amount.

Maxis also offers tension-free enjoyment. It imposes no restrictions on your capability to download anything you want. You pay extra only when your voice call exceeds the allowed limit.

Conclusion

Maxis promises affordability and faster Internet. The only trouble is that its coverage remains slightly limited when compared with its competitors. Subscribers are promised a better world with the company’s attempts to collaborate with other major players in the field.

Improving Your Broadband Speed

Telecom companies have greatly increased the Internet speed they offer to its consumers. But, the unfortunate truth is that a majority of customers don’t see this in practice. The reasons are numerous. Your computer may be far away from your nearest telephone exchange. It becomes worse if yours is a copper connection. But, if you know that the cables of your phones are designed to offer faster Internet, you may try the following experiments.

Test the broadband speed

Explore the Internet. You will find a great number of portals designed for the purpose. Click any one of them and start the test. The process may take a few seconds to get completed. Still, the insights you receive will help you understand if the slowness is something you can take care of on your own.

Learn the basic measurements

A better understanding of your broadband performance requires you to have an idea of the basic measurement units like bits and bytes.  Do a research on how download and upload speed are listed on speed test portals. For instance, 1 kilobyte is 1,000 bytes. A negligence here will deprive you of the insights you need to do something to improve your broadband performance.

Be aware of your download limit

When testing your Internet speed, check to see if you have exceeded the download limit allotted to you. Certain service providers simply reduce the speed instead of charging you extra for the same. As a general rule, you should be informed if it happens. It may also happen that your ISP will reduce your Internet speed if you violate its traffic management policy. In such an instance, you will experience slowness only for a few hours, may be during the peak time. Understand that your ISP should notify you before responding to your actions in such a way that you may suffer for them.

Contact your service provider


The advice may sound silly. But, this is the thing you should do first if you experience slowness when browsing the Internet. The customer care personnel would help you understand the trouble. They would even suggest ways to improve it.

Check your browser

Make sure that you are using the latest version of your favorite browser. Doing this will not only ensure utmost safety, but will ensure maximum Internet speed. Check their respective websites and you will be instructed on the steps forward.  Know that certain browsers update themselves on their own when you stay online.

Install BT Broadband

Sometimes, electric interference from the devices in your home too may affect your Internet speed. In such a situation, a small device like BT Broadband will help a lot. It will filter interferences from electronic devices and help you enjoy staying online. Remember, it works well only with ADSL connections. Check the manufacturer website for more information in the matter.

Use short cables

Extension cable is another thing that may affect the performance of your broadband connection. The farther you stay from your telephone, the slower your Internet will be. Buy shorter cables, the ones you can directly connect with your computer.

Remember these tips, your broadband connection will surely improved.

Telcos in Malaysia - Choosing the Best

The attempt to get the best prepaid mobile subscription plan may appear daunting. It asks for a proper understanding of the packages available. You will also have to evaluate your usage pattern before taking the final decision. However, there is one thing consumers generally ignore; telcos. Going for the best is a must if you want to get the most from your hard-earned money. The overview given below will definitely help if you are someone seeking answers in this regard.

The major players
The giants in the industry are Digi, Celcom, Maxis and U Mobile. Among these; two enjoy greater popularity and widest coverage; Celcom and Maxis.

Celcom
The company is the most reliable in 4G  LTE/3G network, SMS and voice calls. It also enjoys more than 95% coverage in the country. If you are exploring your options in post-paid plans, Celcom is the best. Its entry level plan packs 5GB data usage, 60 minutes of free talk and 60 Free SMSes into one single package. When combined with the optimizer that offers free call facility as you reach the lowest limit, the offer becomes a true temptation. Spend a few more and you get much more. Visit the company website to know more about it.

Maxis
Maxis may lag behind in coverage. But, it is the best LTE network available in the country. And, the entry-level post-paid plan is ideal for moderate mobile users. The package is aimed at students. At a nominal rate of RM48, you get 100 free calls and 100 SMS and 1GB data usage is sure to tempt a youngster. You can get 2 gigabytes of data here; half for the day and half from 2 A.M. to 7 in the morning.

U Mobile
This too is one among the companies that enjoys a great reputation in the market. Its plans are suited for those who don’t mind 3G or 4G networks. Its unlimited package lets you enjoy relatively high speed at a lower rate. The unlimited call facility is an exciting offer if you are a heavy mobile phone user. The number of free SMSes available may disappoint a bit; it is just 50.

Digi
Digi also boasts of a great share in the large subscriber-base in the country. Its Smart78 is a plan ideal for those who want to stay connected all the time. Upgrade to the Nano sim and you get 4GB LTE Internet, unlimited free calls and roaming facilities. It also offers great add-ons designed for use for an entire family.

Prepaid options
Users say that U Mobile is the most reliable when it comes to prepaid plans. A research on the plans the competitors offer too may come up with affordable options. To be honest, there are no hard and fast rules to locate the best data package available in the market.

Conclusion
As mentioned above, getting the best deal is not an easy job. Service providers are coming with offers too difficult to resist for consumers. The only way out is to do your own research. Evaluate your phone usage, time on the Internet and the speed you desire and make a choice accordingly. Whatever is your option, one thing is sure; telcos are sure to challenge you at every step.

TM, Maxis, Astro - Healthy Competition

TM, as you know is a company that maintains highest standards in the industry. It stands far above its competitors both in customer-base and in the quality of the services offered. This does not mean to say that it is the only player in the field. The companies like Astro and Maxis are determined to go for a fierce competition with TM and UniFi. The following overview throws light on the aspirations of these three giants in the industry.

1. Maxis

Maxis is a giant in the industry that enjoys a huge customer-base all over the country.  It helps consumers to get connected whenever they want. The company offers 95% uninterrupted Internet, excellent-quality voice calls and a wide array of tools to stay in touch. If yours is a large-scale enterprise, Maxis is there with you with its Integrated Solutions. This helps you stay away from distractions and focus on your financial goals. The company also performs its corporate responsibility. The applications and tools are designed in such a way as to make learning a true enjoyment. 

2. TM Malaysia

TM (Telekom Malaysia) too is one among the major players in the field. The company boasts of having millions of customers all over the world. Environment-friendly and subscriber-oriented, their tools and applications are hailed to be the best available in the market. Choose from among the different broadband service packages like UniFi and other such plans the one you feel would work for you.  TM is there to help you even if you want to own a small business. All you need to do is to explore the company website to know more about it and apply online.  Once subscribed, you are sure to feel pleased with the integrated communication solutions the company offers.

3. Astro

A consumer media entertainment company, Astro too is one among the major players in the industry. The firm boasts of a large subscriber base in the entire Southeast Asia. Its focus is in four areas; radio, digital media, pay TV and publications. Reports say that Astro has a 60% penetration in the households of Malaysia. With a view to eliminate the digital gap between people, the company also offers an affordable entry-level package.

The joint venture

The increasing popularity of UniFi, the new broadband service package from TM caused great panic among its competitors. The immediate response of the two important rivals; Maxis and Astro was to start a joint venture. Astro claims to have 300,000,000 customers. It already offers B.yond, an IP TV service and high speed Internet broadband package. Cheaper than the company claims it to be much cheaper than the same offered by its competitors. According to Astro, Malaysia has more than 2,000,000 high-speed broadband-friendly homes. And, a collaboration with Maxis will help Astro make broadband available at affordable rates to millions more. The only concern is the 2-year contract customers are obliged to sign up when applying for TM’s UniFi package. However, Maxis and Astro are of the view that consumers would consider their offer since theirs is more affordable. Competition is something markets appreciate; it improves quality and reliability. And, the economy of the nation will improve at large.

Tips to Protect Your UniFi Account

If you are a new UniFi subscriber, you will definitely notice something; the network is not secure enough. This does not have to scare you away from subscribing to this awesome package. Changing the configurations here is quite easy; you just have to refer to your handbook. Remembering the points given below too will help you a lot.

1.      Change the router password

The password TM offers you is not personalized, it is a default one. A search on Google for the same will be enough for anyone to locate it. Read your handbook and do as per the guidelines to change your router password. The same applies even to your user ID. Do not forget to save the settings and add the new network. This is a must because when you change your default user name and password, the network won’t let your computer connect to the Internet.

2.      Check for your second secure account

If you have not noticed yet, your router from TM has a second account. This is designed so that the technician can assist you if you happen to forget your admin password. Make good use of it. Remember, when you make the required changes, you bid farewell to almost all form of external access. Keep your password saved in a safe place.

3.      Don’t settle for the usual way

When TM sends your account-related information as an email, it just gives your password unencrypted. This may not pose much trouble. But, try to avoid, just to stay safe. Changing your password at regular intervals will help you eliminate this risk.

4.      Disable remote management

Explore the Internet. You will find ways to disable all types of remote management on your computer. Entrusting the task with a tech-savvy friend is highly recommended. This will help you avoid unwanted surprises.

5.      Beware of the verify TM account scam

If you have made the changes mentioned above, you stay relatively safe from hackers. But, there is one danger; fishing emails. People have reported receiving emails from scammers asking them to verify their account. The message may ask you to give out your user ID, password and other related information on a particular website. Do not respond to them. The appropriate course of action is to contact TM and verify the source. If you feel that you have given out the information requested without verification, change the user name and password as early as possible.

Conclusion

TM is often criticized for offering a backdoor for hackers. But, you should understand that the design is quite simple. Reconfiguring the same as per your requirement is a breeze. A basic know-how-to will be enough to modify the settings. You can even request a reputed service center to do the job for you.

No company is free from drawbacks. And, TM UniFi package is not an exception. The exciting thing is that the firm offers an easy-to-understand platform. Make it as secure as you want.

If you face any trouble, you can always contact TM customer service center. It remains open 24-7 and is more than happy to help its users. There are also authorized UniFi dealers you can approach for assistance to solve any trouble you may face here.