Datastream Digital

Integrated Communication Sdn Bhd (DSTINCOMM), a local distributor of telecommunication products, was incorporated in July 1994, DataStream Technology Sdn Bhd (DST) the main holding company was incorporated in April 1994 alongside DST Communication Sdn Bhd (DSTCom), it was created in an attempt to end the monopoly held by BruNet{{Cite journal |last=Horton |first=A.V.M. |date=2001 |title=NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM: Economic Gloom and the APEC Summit |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27912270 |access-date=14 January 2022 |journal=Southeast Asian Affairs |volume=2001 |pages=95–109|jstor=27912270 }} where it was the first operator to introduce 2G (GSM 900) services to Brunei.{{Cite web |title=Spectrum Plan |url=https://www.aiti.gov.bn/Shared%20Documents/Brunei%20Darussalam%20Radio%20Spectrum%20Plan%202014-2015.pdf#page=202 |access-date=9 December 2021 |website=AITI |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209003727/https://www.aiti.gov.bn/Shared%20Documents/Brunei%20Darussalam%20Radio%20Spectrum%20Plan%202014-2015.pdf#page=202 }}

Kristal-Astro was incorporated in September 1999 as a joint venture between the Malaysian company MEASAT. It launched its satellite television services on 24 January 2000 and held a monopoly on pay tv in the country.{{Cite web |title=KRISTAL Astro Sdn. Bhd. |url=https://www.abu.org.my/portfolio-item/kristal-astro-sdn-bhd/ |access-date=14 January 2022 |website=Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union}} The services were terminated on March 31, 2022.{{Cite web|title=KRISTAL Astro|url=https://www.kristalastro.com/|access-date=2023-01-05|website=www.kristalastro.com|archive-date=2022-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131054555/https://www.kristalastro.com/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |title=Astro's satellite TV service is shutting down in Brunei after 22 years in operation |url=https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/national/astro-s-satellite-tv-service-is-shutting-down-in-brunei-after-22-years-in-operation/ar-AATjx6R |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=MSN |language=en-MY}}

In May 2008 DST introduced 3G services in Brunei. They launch of 3G was however beaten by b-mobile. Prior to this they held a monopoly on 2G and was in an ogliopoly with JTB for PSTN services.{{Cite web |title=Agreement Establishing the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Area - BRUNEI DARUSSALAM'S SCHEDULE OF SPECIFIC SERVICES COMMITMENTS |url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/aanzfta_annex3_brunei_servicesschedule.doc |access-date=22 January 2022 |website=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade}}

In November 2013 DST partnered with Ericsson to launch 4G services in the sultanate. The main concern was not speed but network congestion with frequent complaints in populous areas of the country.{{Cite web |date=30 November 2014 |title=The recent launch of 4G services and a new fibre-to-the-home initiative are set to provide better access to higher-speed internet |url=https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/analysis/recent-launch-4g-services-and-new-fibre-home-initiative-are-set-provide-better-access-higher-speed |access-date=9 December 2021 |website=Oxford Business Group |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2 May 2013 |title=Mobile market: The leading players in the nation's telecoms industry |url=https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/analysis/mobile-market-leading-players-nation%E2%80%99s-telecoms-industry |access-date=9 December 2021 |website=Oxford Business Group |language=en |archive-date=9 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209195103/https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/analysis/mobile-market-leading-players-nation%E2%80%99s-telecoms-industry |url-status=dead }} Until 2020 DST held a monopoly on 4G services in the country.{{Cite web |date=10 March 2019 |title=Prices of fixed, mobile services to come down with UNN » Borneo Bulletin Online |url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/prices-of-fixed-mobile-services-to-come-down-with-unn/ |access-date=9 December 2021 |website=Borneo Bulletin}}

In 2016 it was reported by the CEO, Suhaimi Hussain, that he believed that the launch of the 4G LTE network, in collaboration with Huawei was a success. He also stated that the company had also decided to invest in the Singaporean telecommunications company MyRepublic and was looking at further opportunities at expansion outside of Brunei.{{Cite web |title=ICT in Brunei - DST - Suhaimi Hussain |url=http://www.the-businessreport.com/article/dst-enables-a-brighter-ict-future-in-brunei/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=The Business Report}}

On 10 July 2019, DST signed an agreement with SACOFA to help with improving the infrastructure in the Malaysian state of Sarawak.{{Cite web |date=10 July 2019 |title=DST partners with SACOFA to bring quality broadband services to Sarawak - The Bruneian |url=https://www.thebruneian.news/dst-partners-with-sacofa-to-bring-quality-broadband-services-to-sarawak/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206080751/https://www.thebruneian.news/dst-partners-with-sacofa-to-bring-quality-broadband-services-to-sarawak/ }}

Throughout January 2020, DST underwent a major rebranding. They received a new company name, a new logo, and spun off several subsidiaries like Kristal-Astro, KRISTALfm, DSTFascom and DSTINCOMM.{{Cite web |title=Service Differentiation through Trademarks |url=https://www.wipo.int/ipadvantage/en/details.jsp?id=2499 |access-date=14 January 2022 |website=www.wipo.int |language=en}}

On 22 January, DST, along with the other 2 telcos: Progresif and imagine, announced that they would be rolling out new service offerings on the 24th. This came after a restructuring in the handling of the national infrastructure in which it all got consolidated into a separate company called Unified National Networks, where the goals of the asset takeover was to increase competition and increase choice.{{Cite web |date=22 January 2020 |title=Brunei's 3 telcos to release new service offerings from January 24 |url=https://thescoop.co/2020/01/22/bruneis-3-telcos-to-release-new-service-offerings-on-january-24/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=The Scoop}}{{Cite web |title=Competition Management |url=https://www.aiti.gov.bn/SitePages/Competition-Management.aspx |access-date=14 January 2022 |website=AITI |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114105945/https://www.aiti.gov.bn/SitePages/Competition-Management.aspx }} The new plans were announced by DST's CEO and DST's chairman, second Ministry of Finance Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, at The Empire.{{Cite web |date=25 January 2020 |title=Technology to empower Bruneians » Borneo Bulletin Online |url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/technology-empower-bruneians-2/ |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=Borneo Bulletin}} This led to a renaming of their postpaid services from "Prima" to "Mobi" and "GO!broadband" to "Freedom", while also simplifying their existing plans, another change that was unveiled was the release of some new bundle packs for their "Eas!" prepaid mobile phone services. DST also announced their first forray into the Fibre to the Home segment of broadband internet with the launch of their fixed line packages.{{Cite web |date=24 January 2020 |title=DST launches revamped products |url=https://thescoop.co/2020/01/24/dst-launches-revamped-products/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=The Scoop}}

On 6 August, DST's CEO, Radin Sufri Radin Basiuni, signed an agreement with MultiSys to improve DST's systems to improve efficiency and provide additional services to DST subscribers.{{Cite web |title=Brunei, Philippine tech firms sign deals to expand local digital transformation |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2020/08/06/brunei-philippine-tech-firms-sign-deals-to-expand-local-digital-transformation |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=The Star |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=6 August 2020 |title=DST joins hands with Philippine tech giant » Borneo Bulletin Online |url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/dst-joins-hands-with-philippine-tech-giant-2/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=Borneo Bulletin}} This collaboration came to fruition with the release of the MyDST app and website to DST subscribers in May 2021.{{Cite web |last=Malapo |first=Jao |date=4 May 2021 |title=Brunei's largest telco company DST launches mobile app jointly developed by MultiSys |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/bruneis-largest-telco-company-dst-launches-mobile-app-jointly-developed-by-multisys/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=BusinessWorld Online}}{{Cite web |date=6 May 2021 |title=DST revamps mobile app with new security features |url=https://thescoop.co/2021/05/07/dst-revamps-mobile-app-with-new-security-features/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=The Scoop}}

On 15 September, it was announced that DST had collaborated with the Ministry of Health (Brunei) to revamp the call centre for emergency services in the country. The upgrade now allows for 30 concurrent phone calls from all districts in the country, an increase from 15 that only worked for three of the four districts.{{Cite web |date=15 September 2021 |title=DST powers new 991 call centre |url=https://thescoop.co/2021/09/15/dst-powers-new-991-call-centre/ |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=The Scoop}}{{Cite web |title=991 convert to a new call management system |url=http://www.moh.gov.bn/Lists/Latest%20news/NewDispForm.aspx?ID=1030 |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=Ministry of Health}}

5G services was launched and made available on 22 June 2023.{{Cite web |title=5G rolled out in Brunei |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2023/06/22/5g-rolled-out-in-brunei |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=The Star |language=en}} Previous 5G trials were conducted in April 2021 utilising new and existing radio frequency spectrum to provide high-capacity bandwidth in all high internet traffic areas, and according to AITI, the internet speed on the 5G network is expected to reach between 300 Mbps and one Gbps.{{Cite web |last=Nin |first=Catherine Sbeglia |date=2022-09-19 |title=Brunei kicks off 5G trial |url=https://www.rcrwireless.com/20220919/5g/brunei-kicks-off-5g-trial |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=RCR Wireless News |language=en-US}}

Since at least 2013 DST in conjunction with Progresif and MachTel offer the option of having O level, IGCSE, A level or PSR{{Cite web |title=PSR results available via SMS {{!}} The BT Archive |url=https://btarchive.org/news/national/2014/11/19/psr-results-available-sms |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=btarchive.org}} results SMSed to students on results day.{{Cite web |title=MoE registration for 2013 exam results opens tomorrow {{!}} The BT Archive |url=https://btarchive.org/news/national/2014/01/26/moe-registration-2013-exam-results-opens-tomorrow |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=btarchive.org}}{{Cite web |title=SMS Exam Results |url=https://www.moe.gov.bn/SitePages/SMS%20Exam%20Results.aspx |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=Ministry of Education}}

On 19 February 2016 DST now offered the same SMS results service for SSSRU examinations.{{Cite web |title=New SMS service offers religious exam results {{!}} The BT Archive |url=https://btarchive.org/news/national/2016/02/19/new-sms-service-offers-religious-exam-results |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=btarchive.org}}

In 2011 DST raised $22,780 through its SMS Brunei Prihatin service in donations in response to the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and various floods in Australia.{{Cite web |title=$371,000 raised for Aussie, NZ victims {{!}} The BT Archive |url=https://btarchive.org/news/national/2011/06/21/371-000-raised-aussie-nz-victims |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=btarchive.org}} In 2015 DST raised $103,725 for the National Orphans' Fund through the same service.{{Cite web |title=Over $100k raised for orphans {{!}} The BT Archive |url=https://btarchive.org/news/national/2015/09/23/over-100k-raised-orphans |access-date=6 December 2021 |website=btarchive.org}}

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*{{Cite web |title=ASEAN Study - Brunei |url=https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/ip-development/en/pdf/asean/brunei.pdf |access-date=14 January 2022 |website=wipo.int |archive-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114102711/https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/ip-development/en/pdf/asean/brunei.pdf |url-status=dead }}

• {{cite web |title=IP Successes In the ASEAN Region - Case Studies |url=https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/intproperty/asean_studies/asean_region_ip_successes.pdf |website=wipo.int |access-date=14 January 2022 }}
• {{Cite web |title=Making Connections in Brunei |url=https://www.aseanip.org/Portals/0/Case%2520Studies/CS%2520Brunei.pdf |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=ASEAN Intellectual Property Portal }}*{{Cite web |title=CESSATION OF 2G GSM SERVICES IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM |url=https://unn.com.bn/storage/news/faq-cessation-of-2g-gsm-services.pdf |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=UNN Brunei }}
• {{Cite web |title=FAQs - 2G Network Switch-off |url=https://www.aiti.gov.bn/SitePages/FAQs.aspx#2G-Network-Switch-off |access-date=8 December 2021 |website=AITI |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208061230/https://www.aiti.gov.bn/SitePages/FAQs.aspx#2G-Network-Switch-off }}

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Category:Telecommunications companies of Brunei

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1995

Category:1995 establishments in Brunei

Category:Mobile phone companies of Brunei