The Internet: Is speed all that matters?

Image by koolb via Flickr

This is a summary from the livechat session published by TheStar online, interview with Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili between 3.30pm and 4.30pm on June 23.

The summaries are:

Infrastructure for broadband is only starting to roll out, thus broadband affordability is still quite low. The solution is to roll out broadband in a major way, which will then create a win-win for both providers and consumer.

Broadband for the general population (BBGP), we are proposing that we should opt for WiWi technology i.e. combination of Wimax and Wifi through the use of satellite infrastructure rather than laying out fibre-optic lines.

Foreign players are allowed to roll out broadband in Malaysia

Timeline and things to look out for:

• Expected Deadline : 10 years from now (earliest 3 years from now)
  
• Target speed : 20 Mbps for commercial, 2 Mbps for consumer.
  
• Expected cost: RM 30 per month (PIKOM proposal)