30-06-2012, 11:53 AM
Broadband Technology over PowerLine Networks in Malaysia
[attachment=26237]
Introduction
Since getting independence from the British in 1957 Malaysia has started on various development projects to increase the country’s growth (United Nations Country Team, Malaysia, 2005). So far, development and prosperity are the main priority that displaying at for example Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strategic roadmap for Malaysia, which developed by the National Information Technology Council (NITC) (MOSTI, 2007). NITC functions are advisor and consultant to the government on ICT development matters. By the year 2020 Malaysia desires to become completely developed country regarding to 2020 vision’s long-term objective that provides achievement direction of specific goals. Malaysian Vision 2020 was exposed by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad at the introductory meeting of the Malaysian business council on 28 February 1991 (Rafikul, 2010). This need tremendous recommendation of full ICT applying through all aspect of life economically, socially and environmentally in order to get prosperity that 2020 trying to achieved, one of the initiatives is presented by telecentres around whole Malaysia.
The accessing and gaining knowledge are essential for development of societies therefore, countries, regions and populations divided in terms of access to ICT. Socio-economic indicators in Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Netherlands and Germany are used to show that the existing global digital divide and the knowledge gap are widening between developing countries and the industrial countries and within individual nations (Evers & Gerke, 2004). That’s why, ICT could become the most useful tool for Malaysia which is member in the ASEAN in achieving its goal of “One Vision, One Identity, and One Community” (Ideacorp & ASEAN, 2010). Thus, to establishment and promote such an efficient ICTs are using equally by a certain citizen must carefully study and spend tremendous efforts to preventing the digital divide phenomenon appear with that community.
Developing ASEAN ICT infrastructure faces a number of challenges. The most important one comes from the extent of digital divide across the ASEAN member states and how to overcome this matter. Bridging the digital divide requires commitment from the member states to improve the competitiveness of their national ICT sectors. Other challenges, within the framework of ASEAN initiatives, include insufficient coordination to ensure connectivity amongst National Information Infrastructure (NII), the need to nurture technological innovation, as well as lack of financing schemes for infrastructure projects that involve significant participation of private capital, and improving access and affordability to reduce the digital divide. However, the digital divide within ASEAN remains, especially between the lagging regions and the urban areas on the one hand and between countries on the other hand. The digital divide needs to be reduced in order to narrow the development gaps within the region (ASEAN, 2011).
ICT and Bridging Digital Divide
Bridging the digital divide initiatives’ between urban and rural in Malaysia have been significant since rise of Information Technology revolution around the entire world particularly, in developed countries. Empower people with access to computing and internet let them get new ideas, knowledge, technology, cultures and myriad new skills, especially the youth segment (Pandey, Goel & Gangal 2008). The development of ICT at the global level has prompted the Malaysian government to strengthen the role of ICT in national economic development (International Development Research Centre 2010). Singapore and Malaysia have been singled out for their success in promoting economic development through severe development policies, including support for the growth of a knowledge-based economy and the formation of knowledge societies. In spite of all that government local and global initiatives still a disturbing phenomenon which is Digital divide between Malaysian (Evers & Gerke, 2004).
Digital Divide refers to the uneven distribution of ICT between and within nations. In each country there are people who have access to modern communication technology while others are not enabled to make use of telephone connections, the internet and other ICT features (Evers & Gerke, 2004). Digital divide can be divided to two kinds: The first Internet access on the digital divide refers to the gap, also known as "accessing divide"; the second digital divide exists between the Internet usages, also known as "using divides” (Zeng, 2011). Modern society is measured by the wholly of diffusion of ICT in all the life aspects, such as but not exclusively, shopping, banking and taxes payment. Scholars use the term Digital divide as a measure of technology diffusion (Wattal et al, 2011). See Figure (1) which shows the access gap of using ICT and its impact on socio- economic value.
Any initiatives to bridge digital divide must consider the A4I2 framework which was developed to prosper the initiative of bridging digital divide in Malaysia which include access, adaptability, acceptance, attitude, innovation and inclusion. Studies conducted in developing and developed countries revealed that there are substantial gaps in access to computer use between different groups of society (Mohd.Nor et al, 2011). Taking into account the fact that a great number of marginalized or underserved citizen for example children in Malaysia have very limited access to the Internet due to the imbalanced user/computer ratio at government agencies (Genus & Nor, 2009). The government’s quest for a knowledge society and narrowing or better still, eradicating the digital divide, has been part of the national plans such as the recently tabled Budget 2011 (Hashim et al, 2011).
According to Wong (2007), there are several obstacles for the disadvantaged segment being marginalized from society to access ICT. One of those obstacles is Limited technological infrastructure in rural areas. According to Horak (2007), for many years in rural areas to provide Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) to extremely remote customers who had electric service but for whom it would be too costly to provide telephone service over dedicated twisted-pair local loops. Price is an important factor in purchasing and post-purchasing internet access (Chang, & Chong, 2011). BPL is a much advanced broadband version of PLC that represents an alternative to more visible technologies being deployed by the wireless technology and cable TV providers.
Malaysia’s Internet and E-Services Report (2010), is showed that there is an increasing awareness of technology in Malaysia. With the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Project and the government’s commitment to a technological society, a large number of high tech companies from around the world have started to set up in Malaysia. But efforts at encouraging the wider community to embrace technology have so far not been totally successful. Dial-up Internet access is growing steadily, but there has been very little interest in broadband Internet
Broadband Access Technologies
According to Malaysia Internet Usage Stats and Marketing Report (2010), in 2004 the number of subscribers was 2.9 million, in 2005 it increased to 3.5 million subscribers, and in 2006 the number of subscribers in Malaysia was close to five million. This is an encouraging growing trend, and most of the Internet subscribers were eyeing for high speed broadband infrastructure. According to the Malaysia - Telecommunications Infrastructure Report (2010), the building of Malaysia’s telecommunications infrastructure has seen extensive fiber optic networks installed across the length and breadth of the country. A prime example has been the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) project.
Based on some of a lot of industry report, analysis and studies such as Australian Information Industry Association (2011), Atkinson et al (2009) and Boston Consulting Group (2010) have shown a direct relationship between the availability and penetration rate of broadband and an improvement in productivity, quality of education, quality of health care, generation of new high-paying jobs, and facilitation of new channels for commerce. These, in turn, can all lead directly to national economic growth with a direct impact on gross domestic product (GDP) and even enhanced national security. As consequence for that, economic growth, knowledge use, and jobs will attract to those societies that are the most connected, with the most networks and the broadest amount of bandwidth because these countries find it easiest to assemble, deploy and share knowledge in order to design, invent, manufacture, sell, provide services, communicate, educate and entertain (Kim, 2000). So connectivity is now productivity especially if that connection reached each household at urban and rural area via BPL, which need no to re-wire or build new infrastructure moreover, available everywhere, every outlet.
As the broadband revolution countries, the ever increasing competition in the broadband services market is forcing broadband service suppliers to plan their strategies for delivery of triple play services, with voice, data and video provided by a single connection (CORNING, 2005). Broadband access in urban areas is already provided by passive optical networks (PON) and digital subscriber loop (DSL) technologies with speed exceeding 200 kilobits per second (Kbps), or 200,000 bits per second in at least one direction, either downstream or upstream. At same time the demand for high capacity broadband is being driven by “always-on” services such as video-conferencing, high definition video streaming and interactive gaming. However, the much higher cost of network deployment in rural areas (Riding et al, 2009). According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (2007), shows the importance of broadband access. See figure (2) a lot of benefits back on the social and economic.
Wireless and WiMax Technology
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) is a technology for wireless broadband and the core techniques for the fourth-generation (4G) wireless mobile communications. WiMAX is a new broadband wireless access technology that provides very high data throughput over long distance in a point-to-multipoint environment. There are two main classes of WiMAX system called fixedWiMAX and mobile WiMAX (Ramle et al, 2010). Fixed WiMAX can be utilized to effectively provide broadband penetration to rural areas. The idea is to use lower frequencies (ex. 450MHz) which have favorable propagation conditions for covering large distances (Sapumohotti et al, 2011). WiMAX (IEEE802.16) provides service to many devices like notebook personal computer; handset, smart phone and some consumers‟ electronics such as gaming devices, cameras, camcorder, and music player. It is the first of all IP mobile internet solution enabling efficient and scalable networks for data, video and voice. It is one of the wireless metropolitan area networking that operates at scalable bandwidth (Shu’aibu, & Yusof, 2010).
Wireless broadband
Wireless broadband services transmit data and information at high speeds using wireless links. Such data and information can include a wide range of content and applications that are accessed over the Internet, including web sites, e-mail, instant messaging, music, games, or data stored on a corporate server. Wireless broadband Internet access services can be provided using mobile, fixed, or portable technologies. These technologies can transmit data over short, medium, or long ranges, and can use licensed spectrum and/or unlicensed devices. Some of the wireless broadband Internet access technologies in use today include CDMA 1x EV-DO (EV-DO), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) with High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), and Wi-Fi (Federal Communications Commission, 2008).
Telecentres
Malaysian government exposed the bridge digital divide program via telecenter beginning 2000 as an effort to boost the use and access of ICT among rural communities and marginalized groups in Malaysia (Jusoff, Hassan, & Razak, 2010). Telecentres purposes introduce and encourage the usage of ICT; and to create community communication equipped with a range of ICT services to facilitate Internet access, e-commerce, and e-learning (Ibrahim, & Ainin, 2009). According to Clark and Gomez (2011), Public access to computers and the Internet at libraries, telecentres and cybercafé can play an important role in social and economic development if it effectively helps to meet the needs of underserved populations where it is not sometime free of charge. Clark and Gomez have studied and analyzed role of user fees and other critical barriers in the use of computers in public access venues in 25 developing countries around the world which Malaysia was one of them, Study’s findings indicate that user fees do not stopped use of public access venues such as telecentres, as they are not seen as unaffordable, that means users fees and users have the desire of use ICT and get access to the internet. But at the same time, the implications of these findings are of critical importance to telecentres, and to public libraries.
[attachment=26237]
Introduction
Since getting independence from the British in 1957 Malaysia has started on various development projects to increase the country’s growth (United Nations Country Team, Malaysia, 2005). So far, development and prosperity are the main priority that displaying at for example Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strategic roadmap for Malaysia, which developed by the National Information Technology Council (NITC) (MOSTI, 2007). NITC functions are advisor and consultant to the government on ICT development matters. By the year 2020 Malaysia desires to become completely developed country regarding to 2020 vision’s long-term objective that provides achievement direction of specific goals. Malaysian Vision 2020 was exposed by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad at the introductory meeting of the Malaysian business council on 28 February 1991 (Rafikul, 2010). This need tremendous recommendation of full ICT applying through all aspect of life economically, socially and environmentally in order to get prosperity that 2020 trying to achieved, one of the initiatives is presented by telecentres around whole Malaysia.
The accessing and gaining knowledge are essential for development of societies therefore, countries, regions and populations divided in terms of access to ICT. Socio-economic indicators in Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Netherlands and Germany are used to show that the existing global digital divide and the knowledge gap are widening between developing countries and the industrial countries and within individual nations (Evers & Gerke, 2004). That’s why, ICT could become the most useful tool for Malaysia which is member in the ASEAN in achieving its goal of “One Vision, One Identity, and One Community” (Ideacorp & ASEAN, 2010). Thus, to establishment and promote such an efficient ICTs are using equally by a certain citizen must carefully study and spend tremendous efforts to preventing the digital divide phenomenon appear with that community.
Developing ASEAN ICT infrastructure faces a number of challenges. The most important one comes from the extent of digital divide across the ASEAN member states and how to overcome this matter. Bridging the digital divide requires commitment from the member states to improve the competitiveness of their national ICT sectors. Other challenges, within the framework of ASEAN initiatives, include insufficient coordination to ensure connectivity amongst National Information Infrastructure (NII), the need to nurture technological innovation, as well as lack of financing schemes for infrastructure projects that involve significant participation of private capital, and improving access and affordability to reduce the digital divide. However, the digital divide within ASEAN remains, especially between the lagging regions and the urban areas on the one hand and between countries on the other hand. The digital divide needs to be reduced in order to narrow the development gaps within the region (ASEAN, 2011).
ICT and Bridging Digital Divide
Bridging the digital divide initiatives’ between urban and rural in Malaysia have been significant since rise of Information Technology revolution around the entire world particularly, in developed countries. Empower people with access to computing and internet let them get new ideas, knowledge, technology, cultures and myriad new skills, especially the youth segment (Pandey, Goel & Gangal 2008). The development of ICT at the global level has prompted the Malaysian government to strengthen the role of ICT in national economic development (International Development Research Centre 2010). Singapore and Malaysia have been singled out for their success in promoting economic development through severe development policies, including support for the growth of a knowledge-based economy and the formation of knowledge societies. In spite of all that government local and global initiatives still a disturbing phenomenon which is Digital divide between Malaysian (Evers & Gerke, 2004).
Digital Divide refers to the uneven distribution of ICT between and within nations. In each country there are people who have access to modern communication technology while others are not enabled to make use of telephone connections, the internet and other ICT features (Evers & Gerke, 2004). Digital divide can be divided to two kinds: The first Internet access on the digital divide refers to the gap, also known as "accessing divide"; the second digital divide exists between the Internet usages, also known as "using divides” (Zeng, 2011). Modern society is measured by the wholly of diffusion of ICT in all the life aspects, such as but not exclusively, shopping, banking and taxes payment. Scholars use the term Digital divide as a measure of technology diffusion (Wattal et al, 2011). See Figure (1) which shows the access gap of using ICT and its impact on socio- economic value.
Any initiatives to bridge digital divide must consider the A4I2 framework which was developed to prosper the initiative of bridging digital divide in Malaysia which include access, adaptability, acceptance, attitude, innovation and inclusion. Studies conducted in developing and developed countries revealed that there are substantial gaps in access to computer use between different groups of society (Mohd.Nor et al, 2011). Taking into account the fact that a great number of marginalized or underserved citizen for example children in Malaysia have very limited access to the Internet due to the imbalanced user/computer ratio at government agencies (Genus & Nor, 2009). The government’s quest for a knowledge society and narrowing or better still, eradicating the digital divide, has been part of the national plans such as the recently tabled Budget 2011 (Hashim et al, 2011).
According to Wong (2007), there are several obstacles for the disadvantaged segment being marginalized from society to access ICT. One of those obstacles is Limited technological infrastructure in rural areas. According to Horak (2007), for many years in rural areas to provide Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) to extremely remote customers who had electric service but for whom it would be too costly to provide telephone service over dedicated twisted-pair local loops. Price is an important factor in purchasing and post-purchasing internet access (Chang, & Chong, 2011). BPL is a much advanced broadband version of PLC that represents an alternative to more visible technologies being deployed by the wireless technology and cable TV providers.
Malaysia’s Internet and E-Services Report (2010), is showed that there is an increasing awareness of technology in Malaysia. With the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Project and the government’s commitment to a technological society, a large number of high tech companies from around the world have started to set up in Malaysia. But efforts at encouraging the wider community to embrace technology have so far not been totally successful. Dial-up Internet access is growing steadily, but there has been very little interest in broadband Internet
Broadband Access Technologies
According to Malaysia Internet Usage Stats and Marketing Report (2010), in 2004 the number of subscribers was 2.9 million, in 2005 it increased to 3.5 million subscribers, and in 2006 the number of subscribers in Malaysia was close to five million. This is an encouraging growing trend, and most of the Internet subscribers were eyeing for high speed broadband infrastructure. According to the Malaysia - Telecommunications Infrastructure Report (2010), the building of Malaysia’s telecommunications infrastructure has seen extensive fiber optic networks installed across the length and breadth of the country. A prime example has been the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) project.
Based on some of a lot of industry report, analysis and studies such as Australian Information Industry Association (2011), Atkinson et al (2009) and Boston Consulting Group (2010) have shown a direct relationship between the availability and penetration rate of broadband and an improvement in productivity, quality of education, quality of health care, generation of new high-paying jobs, and facilitation of new channels for commerce. These, in turn, can all lead directly to national economic growth with a direct impact on gross domestic product (GDP) and even enhanced national security. As consequence for that, economic growth, knowledge use, and jobs will attract to those societies that are the most connected, with the most networks and the broadest amount of bandwidth because these countries find it easiest to assemble, deploy and share knowledge in order to design, invent, manufacture, sell, provide services, communicate, educate and entertain (Kim, 2000). So connectivity is now productivity especially if that connection reached each household at urban and rural area via BPL, which need no to re-wire or build new infrastructure moreover, available everywhere, every outlet.
As the broadband revolution countries, the ever increasing competition in the broadband services market is forcing broadband service suppliers to plan their strategies for delivery of triple play services, with voice, data and video provided by a single connection (CORNING, 2005). Broadband access in urban areas is already provided by passive optical networks (PON) and digital subscriber loop (DSL) technologies with speed exceeding 200 kilobits per second (Kbps), or 200,000 bits per second in at least one direction, either downstream or upstream. At same time the demand for high capacity broadband is being driven by “always-on” services such as video-conferencing, high definition video streaming and interactive gaming. However, the much higher cost of network deployment in rural areas (Riding et al, 2009). According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (2007), shows the importance of broadband access. See figure (2) a lot of benefits back on the social and economic.
Wireless and WiMax Technology
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) is a technology for wireless broadband and the core techniques for the fourth-generation (4G) wireless mobile communications. WiMAX is a new broadband wireless access technology that provides very high data throughput over long distance in a point-to-multipoint environment. There are two main classes of WiMAX system called fixedWiMAX and mobile WiMAX (Ramle et al, 2010). Fixed WiMAX can be utilized to effectively provide broadband penetration to rural areas. The idea is to use lower frequencies (ex. 450MHz) which have favorable propagation conditions for covering large distances (Sapumohotti et al, 2011). WiMAX (IEEE802.16) provides service to many devices like notebook personal computer; handset, smart phone and some consumers‟ electronics such as gaming devices, cameras, camcorder, and music player. It is the first of all IP mobile internet solution enabling efficient and scalable networks for data, video and voice. It is one of the wireless metropolitan area networking that operates at scalable bandwidth (Shu’aibu, & Yusof, 2010).
Wireless broadband
Wireless broadband services transmit data and information at high speeds using wireless links. Such data and information can include a wide range of content and applications that are accessed over the Internet, including web sites, e-mail, instant messaging, music, games, or data stored on a corporate server. Wireless broadband Internet access services can be provided using mobile, fixed, or portable technologies. These technologies can transmit data over short, medium, or long ranges, and can use licensed spectrum and/or unlicensed devices. Some of the wireless broadband Internet access technologies in use today include CDMA 1x EV-DO (EV-DO), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) with High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), and Wi-Fi (Federal Communications Commission, 2008).
Telecentres
Malaysian government exposed the bridge digital divide program via telecenter beginning 2000 as an effort to boost the use and access of ICT among rural communities and marginalized groups in Malaysia (Jusoff, Hassan, & Razak, 2010). Telecentres purposes introduce and encourage the usage of ICT; and to create community communication equipped with a range of ICT services to facilitate Internet access, e-commerce, and e-learning (Ibrahim, & Ainin, 2009). According to Clark and Gomez (2011), Public access to computers and the Internet at libraries, telecentres and cybercafé can play an important role in social and economic development if it effectively helps to meet the needs of underserved populations where it is not sometime free of charge. Clark and Gomez have studied and analyzed role of user fees and other critical barriers in the use of computers in public access venues in 25 developing countries around the world which Malaysia was one of them, Study’s findings indicate that user fees do not stopped use of public access venues such as telecentres, as they are not seen as unaffordable, that means users fees and users have the desire of use ICT and get access to the internet. But at the same time, the implications of these findings are of critical importance to telecentres, and to public libraries.