U Mobile
Encyclopedia
- Not to be confused with ümobile, a similarly named company in the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
U Mobile Sdn Bhd is Malaysia’s newest 3G
3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
service provider and was founded in 1998 as MiTV
MiTV
U Television Sdn. Bhd. is Malaysia's third pay television operator. It was launched in September 2005 after having obtained all the necessary approvals from the censorship board on its broadcast contents...
Networks Sdn Bhd. U Mobile is a wholly owned subsidiary of U Television Sdn Bhd which was formerly known as U Telecom Media Holdings Sdn Bhd and MiTV Corporation Sdn Bhd.
Utilising the 018 prefix allocated to the organisation by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission or Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia is the regulator for the converging communications and multimedia industry in Malaysia...
(MCMC) , U Mobile seeks to enrich the lives of consumers by making communication, entertainment and information easily accessible through advance technology via one convenient, ubiquitous platform.
In addition to offering mobile telephony and mobile data, U Mobile intends to be Malaysia’s first ever true mobile TV service provider with its Mobile LiveTV service that utilises internationally accepted Digital Video Broadcast – Handheld (DVB-H
DVB-H
DVB-H is one of three prevalent mobile TV formats. It is a technical specification for bringing broadcast services to mobile handsets. DVB-H was formally adopted as ETSI standard EN 302 304 in November 2004. The DVB-H specification can be downloaded from the official DVB-H website...
) technology . U Mobile targets to commence its mobile service and Mobile LiveTV user trial before the end of 2007.
Based on Bloomberg's feed, KT Freetel, one of U Mobile's foreign investor, has announced that it is selling its 16.5% stake (62.6 million shares) to U Mobile’s major shareholder.
History
In April 2007, U Television Sdn Bhd signed Malaysia’s first ever nationwide domestic roaming memorandum of understanding which paved the way to an agreement with the country’s widest mobile network operator Celcom (M) Bhd allowing U Mobile’s customers to experience nationwide coverage from day one of market availability as U Mobile continues to progressively rollout its own high-speed mobile 3G3G
3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
service nationwide . The agreement was completed in June 2007.
In December 2007, U Mobile announced that two of the world's leading 3G communications operators KT Freetel
KTF
KTF was a South Korean telecommunications firm, now merged into Korea Telecom, specializing in cellular, or mobile, phones. Since 1999, it has also developed extensive overseas operations. The company is credited with developing customised ring back tones...
and NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo
is the predominant mobile phone operator in Japan. The name is officially an abbreviation of the phrase, "do communications over the mobile network", and is also from a compound word dokomo, meaning "everywhere" in Japanese. Docomo provides phone, video phone , i-mode , and mail services...
have jointly invested USD$200million (est. RM669 million) for a total of 33% stake in U Mobile. The announcement is arguably one of the most important mobile communications deal in Malaysia to date as it has the tremendous potential to shift the business model of the local telecommunication industry from a coverage dominated landscape to a products and content driven one through the influx of knowledge and expertise from the global leaders.
In March 2008, U Mobile launched its first ever publicly available product called Surf with U. Surf with U is a data only plan for mobile users provided using U Mobile's own HSDPA-driven mobile network. The following month, it rolled out its first mobile service, the postpaid U38 plan. In July, U Mobile launched two new postpaid services, U68 and U98, and the 018 Prepaid service.
2006
- March 2006: Awarded the IMT-2000 spectrum assignment by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia CommissionMalaysian Communications and Multimedia CommissionThe Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission or Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia is the regulator for the converging communications and multimedia industry in Malaysia...
(MCMC) - April 2006: Began operations at Bangunan Singer, recruited first employee
- June 2006: Moved operations to KL Plaza
- August 2006:
- Presented detailed business plan to MCMC
- Signed 3G3G3G or 3rd generation mobile telecommunications is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 specifications by the International Telecommunication Union...
Contract Award with EricssonEricssonEricsson , one of Sweden's largest companies, is a provider of telecommunication and data communication systems, and related services, covering a range of technologies, including especially mobile networks...
(HSPA Infrastructure & Managed Services)
- October 2006: Established operations headquarters at Berjaya Times SquareBerjaya Times SquareBerjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur is a twin tower complex containing a shopping centre and five star hotel located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was opened in October 2003 by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad...
and the technical operations centre at Lot 28, Subang Hi-Tech - November 2006: Completed first video call test on own network
- December 2006: Commencement of internal trial with U Mobile employees
2007
- March 2007: Spectrum Assignment issued and prefix allocation of 018
- April 2007: Signed Nationwide Domestic Roaming MoU with Celcom (M) Bhd
- June 2007:
- Joint announcement with Nokia Siemens NetworksNokia Siemens NetworksNokia Siemens Networks is a global data networking and telecommunications equipment company headquartered in Espoo, Finland. It is a joint venture between Nokia of Finland and Siemens of Germany...
to launch commercial DVB-HDVB-HDVB-H is one of three prevalent mobile TV formats. It is a technical specification for bringing broadcast services to mobile handsets. DVB-H was formally adopted as ETSI standard EN 302 304 in November 2004. The DVB-H specification can be downloaded from the official DVB-H website...
service (Mobile LiveTV) in Malaysia by second half of 2007. It is the first such announcement ever made in the country - Signed Malaysia’s first nationwide Domestic Roaming agreement with Celcom (M) Bhd
- Joint announcement with Nokia Siemens Networks
- September 2007: U Mobile Sdn Bhd and U Mobile – the brand and logo – was unveiled to the Malaysian public for the very first time
- November 2007: U Mobile introduces early-bird Friendly User Program to the public
- December 2007: U Mobile announces strategic partnership with KT FreetelKTFKTF was a South Korean telecommunications firm, now merged into Korea Telecom, specializing in cellular, or mobile, phones. Since 1999, it has also developed extensive overseas operations. The company is credited with developing customised ring back tones...
and NTT DoCoMoNTT DoCoMois the predominant mobile phone operator in Japan. The name is officially an abbreviation of the phrase, "do communications over the mobile network", and is also from a compound word dokomo, meaning "everywhere" in Japanese. Docomo provides phone, video phone , i-mode , and mail services...
– a deal worth US$200million with KTF and DoCoMo taking 33% stake in U Mobile Sdn Bhd
2008
- March: U Mobile launched Surf with U, the company's first ever high-speed mobile internet plan for the public
- April: U Mobile launched its postpaid mobile service, the U38 Plan.
- July: U Mobile launched its prepaid mobile service, the 018 Prepaid, acquired total of 100,000 subscribers
- October: U Mobile launched its 3G content services.
2009
- March: U Mobile launched IDD Bonanza, the company's first IDD plan for its prepaid subscribers. Later, the service was extended until 30 June 2009 and includes Bangladesh in its country list. Again, U Mobile extended its IDD Bonanza to 31 August 2009.
- May: U Mobile launched two services, U10 Supplementary Plan & U Buddy Service.
- October: U Mobile re-launched broadband plans called U Broadband.
2010
- January: U Mobile's first 3G network expansion to Johor Bahru.
- September: U Mobile revamped its Prepaid plan.
- September: U Mobile announced their HSPA+ networks at Berjaya Times SquareBerjaya Times SquareBerjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur is a twin tower complex containing a shopping centre and five star hotel located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was opened in October 2003 by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad...
, Kuala LumpurKuala LumpurKuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
with theoretical download speeds of 42 Mbits using Dual-Carrier High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) connections.. 42Mbps HSPA+ is planned to be in commercial service by next year and is ready in Berjaya Times Square and currently being rolled out in Subang Jaya and Sunway..
Partners
- Atos OriginAtos OriginAtos S.A. is an international information technology corporation which operates in 42 countries worldwide, with over 78,500 employees...
: Integrator of the BSCS iX Release 2 Billing System. - LHSLHS TelekomFormer LHS Telekommunikation GmbH & Co. KG, is now a fully integrated part of Ericsson. From the 28th of January 2011, the Ericsson brand is used for all Billing and Customer Care solutions of the company. -History:...
: Supplier of the BSCS iX Release 2 Billing System - EricssonEricssonEricsson , one of Sweden's largest companies, is a provider of telecommunication and data communication systems, and related services, covering a range of technologies, including especially mobile networks...
: High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) solutions and management provider offering complete core and radio network equipment, transmission and service layer platforms, as well as a range of telecom service solutions.
- Nokia Siemens NetworksNokia Siemens NetworksNokia Siemens Networks is a global data networking and telecommunications equipment company headquartered in Espoo, Finland. It is a joint venture between Nokia of Finland and Siemens of Germany...
: End-to-end deployment process which includes implementation, integration, and application development of DVB-H services. This includes the maintenance of MiTV’s infrastructure on a turnkey basis. - Celcom: Nationwide Domestic Roaming partner.
- Rohde & Schwarz MalaysiaRohde & SchwarzRohde & Schwarz is an independent group of companies specializing in electronics. Well known as a manufacturer of electronic test equipment, they also manufacture equipment used for broadcasting, radiolocation, and radio communications...
: Supplier of low, medium and high powered digital television transmitters for the rollout implementation and rapid coverage expansion of U Mobile’s Mobile LiveTV. - HuaweiHuaweiHuawei is a Chinese multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China...
: World leading Telecommunication Equipment Provider, from access layer to core transmission.