Most of us don't switch mobile networks once we settle on one (because it's a hassle!) Having said that, some people get frustrated with their current telco and wonder if the grass is greener on the other side. Although most Malaysian service providers have similarities, some differences could be worth exploring.
But like anything important in life, you should learn all about what the other options can offer before switching mobile networks. Today, I'll be taking a look at one of the biggest mobile service providers in Malaysia - Digi - and why it could be an excellent choice for a fast and reliable mobile network.
Fast mobile network speed
Digi's average network speed in Q3-Q4 2020
There are a few things first thing that any of us would want from a mobile network and one of them is speed. Personally, being able to stream a 720p or 1080p YouTube video on my phone without having to buffer is important. Like all major mobile service providers in Malaysia, Digi has a 4G network that has substantial coverage. But how does it perform?
In the 2nd half of 2020 and Q2 2021, Ookla's Speedtest Intelligence declared Digi as the fastest mobile operator in Malaysia. On average, Digi can deliver download speeds of 29.59 Mbps and upload speeds of 11.75 Mbps. That's pretty much the top range for what you can get for a 4G network here until 5G becomes more accessible in Malaysia.
Mind you, most of the local mobile service providers can provide similar speeds. But from a user's standpoint, these quarterly awards tell us that we can expect Digi to hit these numbers.
Here's a speed test we did; nowhere near the maximum speed, but it's fast enough
Greater consistency
This 'consistency' refers to how often a network can deliver a minimum level of download/upload speed
Of course, having high-speed mobile Internet is great. What if I had a long elevator ride or ran into an area with poor coverage? In such cases, consistency in network speed is important, especially if there's a video meeting that I can't miss.
According to Ookla, Digi managed to get the highest network consistency throughout 2020. Specifically, the company consistently achieved a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps and upload speed of 1 Mbps for 85.9% of its users in 1H 2020 and 88.6% in 2H 2020. This means that a vast majority of Digi users all had at least that much download and upload speed within that period. It does mean that around 10% of users didn't enjoy that consistency, and these could be those areas with poor coverage.
But in most cases, I probably won't have to worry about being absent for important video meetings or conferences. Of course, I might have to switch to audio-only to ensure the quality of the meeting.
Have to join a video meeting on your phone? No problems!
Excellent user experience
3 areas where Digi did well
While enjoying media content on your phone, you don't want to be cut off halfway, right? That's the same for me! And the thing is that sometimes this isn't due to low speed or poor network signal. It can be other reasons, like your mobile service provider having poor latency and data throughput (aka successful data transfers) to the target servers.
After all, the fast Internet speed is pointless if the connection isn't stable. In another recent independent report, it was revealed that Digi did well in most areas. The company managed to score well in video experience, voice app experience, and even multiplayer gaming experience.
For users like us, it means we won't experience videos stuttering, audio cutting off, or games disconnecting us from the server. Of course, in my experience, there are some sites or platforms that you just can't reliably access in Malaysia. But that could be the fault of the site/platform in question.
Overall, I'd say that Digi is an option you can consider, especially if you feel like your current mobile service provider isn't as fast or stable. Of course, other providers in Malaysia may excel in other areas. Personally, fast download speeds and reliable connectivity are my top priorities, which makes Digi a good option if I ever want to switch. How about you?
If you want more details on Digi's prepaid and postpaid plans, do visit the official website. And for more news and articles like this one, please stay tuned to TechNave.com.
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