Korea and Malaysian Competitiveness

Here’s another bit of fact to gauge how competitive Malaysia, as a nation, are compared to say, South Korea.

A simple check of Internet speed connection here in downtown Kuala Lumpur reveals the following result:

Date: 7/7/08; 5:20am GMT

ISP: Maxis Communication Bhd

Download speed: 690 kb/s

Upload speed: 70 kb/s

Test done using www.speedtest.net

This was done on the so-called Maxis Broadband service using its USB modem.

A similar test in Seoul two weeks ago showed the following results:

Download speed: 13,800 kb/s

Upload speed: 1,400 kb/s

Now, that’s what I call BROADBAND! Over there, when the ISP claim their connection as broadband, it really is broadband.

Can you imagine the impact to businesses of having internet speed connection of up to 20 times faster than some “laggard” country?

In my line of work I have to use one particular software on regular basis. As with the trend these days, the software is web-based with its database server sitting somewhere in Detroit, USA. Let me tell you, it makes a heck of a difference accessing the database from KL and from Seoul. Everything I did in Seoul was 20 times faster than in KL! Talk about having a competitive edge!

Again, where do we go wrong? Monopoly? Cartel? Cronyism? Or just plain ignorance on the part of those with authority to make things better here?

I just wish I could say to the authorities, stop paying lip service and start delivering. We have been talking about broadband connection for ages. Do you know where we stand compared to the rest of the world?