Malaysian internet users have been reporting slowdowns and instability issues ever since the country implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO) to curb the coronavirus spread, also known as COVID-19.

But they were not alone. Networks around the world were affected as more people were stuck at home, with the internet being their only source of entertainment.

Matters were made worst when the underwater network cables snapped, causing widespread issues around Asia Pacific, where the majority of Southeast Asian countries are located.

However, we’ve got some good news, Malaysians.

Telekom Malaysia (TM ) the national network carrier in Malaysia announced that they have carried out network optimizations which should help in improving stability in East and West Malaysia.

TM Chief Commercial Officer Anand Vijayan said, “To relieve domestic network congestion which affected our unifi customers in the Central and Southern regions of West Malaysia and East Malaysia, TM had recently carried out network optimization and capacity expansion exercises. We are pleased to report that the implementation has resulted in a downward trend of network congestion which translates to better speeds for our customers.

“We have also been in constant communication with popular international streaming, gaming, and productivity platforms, to fine-tune their services and cater to the increased demand. We will continue to monitor the performance of our network to ensure that customers will always enjoy an enhanced service experience.”

TM explained that they managed to sort out the underwater cable issues by rerouting and optimizing traffic via alternate international link routes.

Vijayan added, “With the international network link fully restored, our customers can now continue to experience faster, uninterrupted access to their favourite social media and productivity platforms. We are committed to help you stay connected to your loved ones, keeping you entertained, and enabling you to stay productive during the MCO.”

On another note, TM also noticed that there was a significant increase of fibre users users on multiple connected devices. This led to higher bandwidth usage which caused connectivity issues.

To aid in having better internet connection at home, the company released educational videos and social media self-guides on the best ways to improve users’ online experience. The videos and social media posts teach you about the ideal locations for router placements, benefits of using dual-band routers, and using mesh networks to improve WiFi coverage in your home.

TM reiterated that its customer service hotline will still be open throughout the MCO and only home installations would need to be postponed as indicated in the measures.