For REAL?

My Facebook buddies would have slashed me for the past 6 weeks since my posts were all laments and ramblings of my rather super-slow connection and Celcom Care-Line Center had clarified at my last call to them that I have been calling them nine times just to address the same question ~ Why the hell is my connection so slow?

Then, I went to buy myself a new Broadband Starter-Pack. I was so convinced that my connection was so damn slow because I have reached my data caps. Installed the SIM card and voila! the speed I have been wanting so much.

After one week though, I noticed that my connection tends to get slower by the day. Accustomed to the frustrations of super-stupid-slow-broadband, I went on to the conclusion that other providers may have the service that suits me.

Then, it went up again, I mean my internet speed. Instead of slugging off like it always did, websites that are laden with scripts and add-ons were loaded in a jiffy. Plus, I managed to download my all time favorite game Star Trek: Starfleet Command III in less than 2 hours.

And I thought ~ was it not Celcom’s ‘Fair Usage Policy’ still intact? If so, I guessed that many customers ditched their broadband in favor for other providers. Otherwise, the speed could not be this fast. So I told myself.

I came across one fellow blogger’s posting regarding the speed and quality of Celcom Broadband and DiGi Broadband. Here’s his verdict.

the similarities of both prepaid broadband are in terms of speed (384 kbps), and also the fact that they both do not provide the wireless modem device/dongle. This isn’t a big issue because you could just make a trip to your nearest PC shop and purchase the modem around RM169 or less. I got my Hutchison 3G modem for RM169, with a 2 year warranty. Both starter sim packs start at RM25, with RM20 pre-loaded inside.

THE DIFFERENCE?

For starters, DiGi Internet Broadband is cheaper priced, running at RM2 /day while Celcom offers 3x the price at RM6/24-hours. Connectivity is also a difference since Celcom does boast the widest 3G network, which basically means you can enjoy the maximum of 384kbps in most areas, as compared to DiGi’s limited 3G network. DiGi’s limited 3G network means that you will be running on EDGE most of the time, and that’s about 128kbps if you are lucky. Another difference comes in the cap of data usage. Data Cap means the maximum data you can download, and DiGi is putting a 1GB data cap for their prepaid broadband, while Celcom has yet to come with any cap so that means u can download as you want.

Duration of use also is a major difference with DiGi offering a simple RM2 per day activation, which basically means RM5o will last you 25 days, and RM10 will last you 5 days. The concept is sort of like your prepaid mobile account which will be calculated based on days regardless of whether you use it or not. Celcom on the other hand divides their prepaid data activation period into two with hourly use as RM6 is for 24 hours, and RM20 is for a weeks usage. This basically means that if you decide to get the hourly usage package, you’d be charged RM6 for 24 hour usage (which you can on and off because your usage is calculated based on hours and not a day), while the RM20 per 7 days is calculated based on days, regardless of whether you use it or not. Validity of your reload is similar to Xpax reloads, with RM10 lasting for 7 days, and RM100 lasting 100 days.

THE VERDICT?

Although I am a great fan of DiGi promotions and products due to their cheaper rate and fantastic rewards, I have to admit they have a far way to go to compete with the front runners in broadband services. They may be offering a hell lot more for a lower price, but being the new kid on the block, they hugely lack proper broadband coverage. While using the DiGi prepaid broadband is cheap, running at RM2 per day, you’d tend to loose your data usage cap due to the long wait for sites to load. I know so because I tried my using my DiGi Prepaid Broadband in an EDGE area, and I used up about 1MB for 5 minutes worth of surfing time with speeds running way below 200kbps, and some sites loading ultimately slow. Apart from that, RM6 per 24 hours by Celcom Prepaid Broadband isn’t bad considering it is unlimited, has wider coverage, and is calculated based on your hourly use. This means that you’d be spending RM0.25 per hour, which is actually very cheap.

I like it the way it is told ~ while Celcom has yet to come with any cap so that means u can download as you want ~ which means all this while, my assumption that my slow connection was because I have reached my data cap is actually baseless. Nice. Keep it that way. One thing you people at Celcom ought to know is how to keep your customers happy. Nuff Said.

So Okay, I don’t download movies and videos, I don’t go for Porns, but Yes, I download music all the time and with the maximum speed of 871Kbps, I could die happy. I ask for nothing more ~ just decent connection speed.