P1 LOOKS FORWARD TO NEXT GENERATION 4G TECHNOLOGY IN 2013

PETALING JAYA, (19th Dec. 2012) – South East Asia’s pioneer and Malaysia’s first 4G service provider, Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (“P1”) looks forward to another significant year ahead as the next generation 4G technology, Long-Term-Evolution (LTE), gears up momentum.

Summary 2012
The formation of Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI) in February 2011 has gained tremendous support from the operators. In less than 2 years, over 50 operators have joined GTI and a total of 12 commercial TD-LTE networks were launched globally. The industry is clearly seeing a rapid adoption of this next generation 4G technology.

On the home front, 2012 was an exciting year where we saw exciting introduction of smart mobile devices such as Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note II; Apple’s Iphone 5 and Mini Ipad; Microsoft’s Windows 8 smartphone and many more. Simultaneously, we saw operators showcasing trials on 4G LTE technology as well as discussions amongst operators on further strategic collaborations.  

Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer of P1 said, “For a four year old toddler in the broadband business, P1 has established itself as the leading 4G player in both Malaysia and South East Asia. Being appointed as one of the nine Steering Committee Members of GTI representing Malaysia and South East Asia, we look forward to continue playing a major role in contributing to TD-LTE development in the region.

2012 has been a significant year for P1 as we surpassed the half a million subscriber base mark; expanded network coverage to East Malaysia starting with the state of Sabah; were awarded the allocation on 20Mhz of 2.6Ghz spectrum to roll out 4G LTE.”

Outlook 2013
Next year will be an interesting and significant year, as we will see the next generation 4G technology – both Time-Division (TD) and Frequency-Division (FD) Long-Term-Evolution gear up momentum.

Lai elaborated, “The year 2013 will be an exciting year. Firstly, we will see an active movement for 4G LTE’s DNA (Device, Network and Application). Be it TD or FD version of 4G LTE, telecommunications operators will start to embrace the technology. Thus we will see active deployments worldwide.

Additionally, 4G-enabled smart devices will start making inroads from the second half of 2013 and small screen will continue to dominate the mobile broadband space. As IDC 2013 predictions reported, smart mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, eReaders), will grow by almost 20% in 2013 and generate nearly 57% of the industry's overall growth. While for mobile, broadband’s applications, it will continue to take advantage and push the limits of 4G network and devices.

Secondly, ‘co-opetition’ among operators will become even stronger due to the scarcity of spectrum. For operators to fully tap into the true potential of 4G LTE, spectrum will be key. For instance, you need at least 40MHz of spectrum to fully tap into the technology potential of LTE-Advanced which offers 1Gbps speed. Hence, without the luxury of unlimited spectrum, many operators would have to join forces to face the onslaught of what I called the perpetual data tsunami.

Thirdly Cloud, M2M (Man-to-Man, Man-to-Machine and Machine-to-Machine) and MobileApps services are poised to take-off in the new 4G world. All the above mentioned have been talked about but have yet to showcase its full potential due to one main reason: ubiquity of high-speed mobile broadband. With the launch of 4G LTE, it will truly bring the benefits of Cloud, M2M and MobileApps services to life. Imagine the joy of downloading a 50MB file into your smartphone in just a minute or watching a high-definition Psy’s Gangnam Style Youtube music video on-the-go. The availability of 4G LTE is set to eliminate the barriers of businesses to adopting ICT. In the near future businesses do not have to own costly IT equipment when cloud, M2M and MobileApps services are all they need. These services are available mostly on subscription basis, thus reducing their operation cost tremendously.

At P1, we will focus on three areas in 2013. First, we will continue to expand and enhance our nationwide 4G coverage and rolling out TD-LTE. Second, we aim to support and help mobilise local business community, especially SMEs, to fully tap into the convergence of ICT. This will give SMEs the competitive advantage locally and globally. Last but not least, we will continue to bring innovative services using 4G, Fiber, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and Wireless Internet Leased Line to benefit both consumers and businesses,” Lai concluded.

LTE is here! Gear Up for Higher Speeds in 2013! MCMC Issues Spectrum for 4G Mobile Broadband in the 2600 MHz Band

Cyberjaya: 5 December, 2012 --- Malaysians may not have to wait much longer to enjoy higher mobile broadband speeds. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has announced the allocation of the much anticipated 2600 MHz spectrum band, paving the way for Malaysians to enjoy 4G services which could offer mobile broadband speeds in excess of 100 Mbps.

The technology promises many news services to consumers such as high definition video streaming, enhanced user experience on real-time applications and better connectivity for mobile and consumer electronic devices.

Since the introduction of 3G and WiMAX technology in Malaysia, the demand for better quality mobile broadband service has intensified. This allocation is in line with similar initiatives in developed countries like the US and some European states. Market readiness for 4G technology is also reaching its maturity as increasingly, many of the latest devices in the global market support the use of this technology; hence the economies of scale will bring much benefit to the country.

Eight (8) companies will be allowed access to the 2600 MHz spectrum band. They are, in alphabetical order, Celcom Axiata Bhd, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd, Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd, Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd, REDtone Marketing Sdn Bhd, U Mobile Sdn Bhd and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd.

MCMC Chairman Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi said, “MCMC is always committed to finding the right balance between the needs of consumers, investors and other stakeholders of the industry. We believe that the balance struck between ensuring healthy competition in the market and promoting industry development will help spur continued growth for existing service providers and provide opportunity for new market entrants.”

Existing service providers may use the 2600 MHz allocation to further expand and enhance the capacity of their mobile broadband networks to meet increasing consumer demands whilst the introduction of a new player is expected to bring fresh ideas and innovation to the market.

Service providers are also expected to enter into smart partnerships and sharing agreements between them which include spectrum and radio access network sharing in order to utilise larger bandwidths, lower the cost of roll out and offer better 4G-experience and affordability to consumers. Additionally, smart partnerships mean shared infrastructure thus reducing the duplication of physical transmission towers. 4G wholesale MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Service) will also be offered to other service providers that do not get access to the allocation.

“With this new technology, the people can look forward to improvements in their digital lifestyle. For the business community, cloud services, teleworking, teleconferencing and video type applications can be better experienced whilst on the move,” said Dato’ Mohamed Sharil.


2.6 GHz Spectrum Allocated to P1

Kuala Lumpur, 6th December 2012 – South East Asia’s leading and one of the world’s first 4G service provider, Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (“P1”) has been allocated the access to 2.6 GHz spectrum by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Michael Lai, CEO of P1 said, “We are thrilled to have been granted access to 20MHz of 2.6 GHz TD spectrum, and we thank the government, our Ministry and MCMC for their confidence in P1. Being one of the pioneers in the 4G world, we are definitely excited to be able to offer this next generation of 4G technology to Malaysians.”

“Being one of the Steering Committee Members of the Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI), we are excited to be able to serve our subscribers with the 4G Time-Division Long-Term Evolution (TD-LTE) technology. Our subscribers will be among the first to taste and experience the latest 4G LTE technology. Continuing our mission of “Broadband for All”, this spectrum allocation will allow us to continue our commitment in bringing cutting-edge broadband technology to every single Malaysian. And simultaneously, contribute to our national broadband agenda and initiative,” he elaborated.

 “We are ready for this, and we look forward to serving our customers even better with complete range of services from 4G wireless, Fiber, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) services and wireless internet leased line,” Lai added.




U MOBILE AWARDED LTE SPECTRUM 

Kuala Lumpur, 6th December, 2012 - U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Malaysia’s most dynamic and innovative telco service provider, is pleased to be awarded a 20MHz block of the 2.6GHz spectrum by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). 

In a letter issued by MCMC yesterday, it was outlined that U Mobile was awarded a spectrum block which the company notes as strategic. 

“The position of our block of spectrum is strategic in that it provides U Mobile with the option of sharing spectrum and possibly collaborating through smart partnerships with other telcos,” said Jaffa Sany Ariffin, U Mobile CEO. “By sharing spectrum we would hope to benefit from reduced rollout costs and pass those savings onto our consumers.”

Jaffa added, “When LTE services are commercially available, the benefit will be an enriching and exciting mobile experience for our customers and it will undoubtedly bring significant change to the way we experience mobile communication services. We thank the MCMC for awarding us the spectrum and we look forward to providing our customers with even faster mobile internet services.” 

The allocation of the 2.6GHz spectrum blocks by MCMC to eight telecommunications players signifies the next phase of the evolution of mobile internet in Malaysia, as it provides the gateway for 4G or Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology. 

Through its LTE services, U Mobile will aim to provide an even better value proposition to its customers with improved technology delivering mobile internet with speeds up to 100 Mbps, better smartphones and applications.

As a result of the spectrum allocation, U Mobile is well placed to play its role in assisting the Government in achieving its national agenda to provide high speed mobile data services for all Malaysians.

To get the latest updates on U Mobile products and services, please visit www.u.com.my.

MALAYSIA TO HAVE SEA’S FIRST 4G EXPERIENCE CENTRE AND TEST LAB

HONG KONG, 15 November 2011 – The cutting-edge 4G technology is getting a timely boost with the setting up of a Southeast Asia’s first 4G LTE TDD* Technology Experience Centre and Test Lab in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This breakthrough is the result of the collaboration between Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (“P1”), P1’s consulting arm Packet One International Pte Ltd (“P1i”), and ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”). It also gains support from China Mobile Communications Co. Ltd Research Institute (“China Mobile”).

The 4G Experience Centre and Test Lab will be established in early 2012 at P1’s headquarters known as Packet Hub. Operators and vendors who want a taste of blazing wireless speeds of 120 Mbps and beyond are welcome to utilize the facility.

Malaysia is the choice location for the set-up because P1 is based in Kuala Lumpur and has, for over the last three years, been operating one of the largest 4G WiMAX networks in the world. P1 is very advanced in its preparations to progress from 4G WiMAX to a dual 4G WiMAX/LTE TDD network.

Michael Lai, CEO of P1 said, “The impact of 4G technology on our lives will be phenomenal. P1’s customers today utilize a whopping average of 17.5GB of data per month, an increase of two and a half times the amount of data utilization since our commercial launch in 2008. What’s even more mind-boggling, data utilization is growing by the day with the proliferation of high-definition screens and nifty handheld devices. Telco operators have no choice but to be ready for this mega trend of fibre optics in the air and the great paradigm shift from voice to data business model. P1 is ready and hence the 4G Experience Centre and Test Lab will hopefully fast-track 4G LTE TDD technology deployment in this region.”

Managing Director of P1i Dr. Tang Pen San commented that in the last three years since P1’s commercial deployment, its headquarters has received over 70 telco operators and vendors from 60 countries to understand how a 4G network is being deployed and managed. “P1i’s role is to assist aspiring 4G operators to a smoother adoption of this cutting edge technology,” Dr. Tang added.

Dr. Wang ShouChen, President of the ZTE LTE TDD product line commented in the same event, “As the leader of LTE TDD technology and one of the major LTE TDD solution providers, ZTE is excited and proud to be part of this collaboration. We have established a strong partnership with P1 in last two years. This 4G Experience Centre and Test Lab allow us to extend this partnership and bring it to a higher level. The Centre helps to better promote the migration towards LTE TDD technology and demonstrate the values come with this transition.”

Huang Yuhong, Deputy General Manager of China Mobile Research Institute when attending the LTE TDD/FDD** International Summit held here commented, “LTE TDD is flexible in resource and spectrum configuration, therefore better meets the demand of mobile data traffic. LTE TDD benefits from the global roaming and global scale created by the convergence of LTE TDD and FDD. The commercialization of LTE TDD takes off in 2011, with early adopters including incumbent mobile operators, greenfield operators, and WiMAX operators. The 4G LTE TDD Experience Centre and Test Lab will provide a base for testing and investigating interoperability among LTE TDD, LTE FDD and WiMAX. It will promote the LTE deployment and WiMAX transition in Asia and Africa and build a global success.”

Lai said, “For any technology mass adoption, the eco-system must be in place. In this case, the DNA or Device, Network and Application have to evolve in tandem and coherently. The 4G Experience Centre and Test Lab is a clear and steady roadmap to encourage over 530 WiMAX operators in 150 countries towards a smooth and natural migration to LTE TDD technology. After all, WiMAX and LTE TDD are from the same Internet-Protocol family of technology. This will be achieved through sharing our experience and advice on multi-mode deployment, interworking with 2G, 3G and WiFi, WiMAX, LTE TDD/FDD network planning and optimization in the 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands.”

The Centre will initially utilize P1’s 2.6GHz spectrum for LTE TDD technology showcase and interoperability testing of the latest 4G devices. By the first half 2012, the network will also utilize P1’s 2.3GHz spectrum.

*Long Term Evolution Time Division Duplex
** Frequency Division Duplex
NB: LTE TDD and TD LTE essentially mean the same

P1 LAUNCHES LOWEST PRICED MOBILE BROADBAND PLAN FOR CONSUMERS WHO REQUIRE LIGHT INTERNET USAGE WHILE ON-THE-GO

Petaling Jaya - Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn.Bhd. (“P1”), Malaysia’s first and leading 4G wireless broadband service provider, launches the lowest priced post-paid mobile broadband plan in Malaysia. The plan, available from Friday 4th November, is called WIGGY 39 but subscribers only pay RM19 for the first two months. The plan will suit broadband users who desire an affordable plan for light surfing and keeping up with social networks when they are out and about.

A lot of people in city centres already have home broadband, and want to complement their mobile lifestyle with a reliable and cost effective mobile broadband plan. However, the monthly cost of having more than one broadband plan can be prohibitive for some. Hence, P1 added its new low cost WIGGY 39 Plan to its line-up of affordable wireless broadband plans.
About WIGGY 39
• The WIGGY 39 Plan offers speeds of 1Mbps and a quota of 2GB.
• The monthly fee is RM39.
• For a limited time only, subscribers will pay RM19 for the first two months, and RM29 for months three and four. This means RM60 off the bill over four months.
• Subscribers can either choose the UT or UH mobile dongle device.
• Depending on the P1 mobile dongle device that subscribers choose, they will pay either RM100 for the UT or RM150 for the higher performance UH, for the one-time activation fee.
• A 2GB quota will allow a mix of any of the following: Browsing the internet for 60 hours, send out 1300 emails, download 120 music tracks and watch 60 short movies.
• Subscribers who need more quota can use the easy top-up option available online – RM10 for 2GB.
• The WIGGY device has a lifetime warranty during the subscription period and there are no rental charges.
Michael Lai, P1 CEO, said “A lot of people rely on WiFi in coffee shops and shopping centres. P1 is offering these consumers their very own 4G mobile broadband solution at an extremely affordable price. In true P1 style, it is yet again, the most affordable in the market in its range. We understand the need to be connected all the time and we have the cheapest solution to meet this need.”

With the launch of WIGGY 39, P1 hopes to continue meeting its proposition of providing great value to all types of broadband users. It recently launched the combined home and on-the-go broadband plan, ONE 69 Plan, whereby subscribers pay RM49 for the first three months. This plan provides users with a home modem plus a mobile dongle and is perfect for first time or price sensitive subscribers who want a complete broadband solution.

The WIGGY 39 Plan will be available for sale at P1 reseller outlets nationwide, online at www.P1.com.my or by calling P1 direct on 1300 03 8889.

Yes 4G: one of the Most advanced Wireless Networks in the World

Through innovation, Yes sets the standard for mobile networks of the future, designed to perfectly meet the explosion in the demand for mobile data

Kuala lumpur — October 24, 2011 — YTL Communications’ drive to bring positive change through innovation is today validated with an IDC study that finds the Yes 4G network and its related services to be one of the most advanced in the world. In addition, IDC says that the Yes 4G network, which is perfectly designed to meet the explosion in mobile data usage, is an excellent model of a wireless network for the future.

The study which looked at the state of mobile communications industry in Malaysia, highlights YTL Communications’ core believe in delivering positive change to Malaysia and Malaysians through innovation. In addition, the study gives a clear indication of the advanced nature of the YTL Communications WiMAX-based Yes 4G network incorporating features and services that are truly unique and not currently available anywhere else in the world. This is an amazing feat for a network that is just only coming to its first anniversary this November.

“IDC’s findings bring credence to what we have been saying all along. Yes is the most advanced 4G network in the world and Malaysians should be proud of this fact. With the Yes network, Malaysia has become a model country for how mobile networks of the future should be engineered and built. This is truly amazing considering that it has only been a year since we began commercial operations in November 2011,” said Wing K. Lee, Chief Executive Officer, YTL Communications.

Several key innovations built into the Yes 4G network that sets it apart from other wireless networks currently available in the world include:

At its core, the Yes 4G network architecture is among the best and most advanced in the world, capable of offering services not available anywhere else such as user ID-based unified communications, session concurrency for data and telephony and a high-performance mobile data network that delivers superior data connectivity even at high speeds (mobile connectivity at speeds up to 160km/h)

A highly flexible mobile telephony and text messaging service that sets the standard for mobile networks of the future. Yes is the only network in the world that allows multiple and concurrent connections providing subscribers with flexibility and significant cost savings because they only need one account for telephony and data services even when using multiple devices and locations.

A suite of applications called Yes Life that is free for all customers. Yes Life works perfectly on Mac and Windows computers as well as iOS (iPod touch, iPhone, iPad) and Android devices. Yes Life enables these devices with full mobile phone functionality. Harnessing the power of the Yes ID, which comes with a dedicated mobile number, Yes subscribers can make and receive calls and SMSes from anywhere in the world (including Malaysia), on their favourite devices at a low RM0.09/min of voice call or RM0.09/text message to all Malaysian numbers. Customers can also enjoy the benefits of not paying expensive roaming charges when using Yes Life when traveling overseas.

A true mobile broadband service with consistent speeds three to five times faster than any wireless network in the country.

Commenting on the mobile communications landscape in Malaysia, the IDC study also looked into the two dominant 4G technologies in the country – LTE and WiMAX – and the prospects of the two technologies in Malaysia. IDC found that although LTE would be a strong competitor to WiMAX in the future, it is doubtful that the future LTE operators in Malaysia would deploy networks in a similar manner to Yes’ unified communications approach (with VoIP being a very integral part of the network) for fear of cannibalizing 3G voice cash flows.

Furthermore, YTL Communications’, monumental deployment of over 2,000 base stations currently and an extensive 65% population coverage footprint since day one (largest 4G network in Malaysia) is not likely to be emulated by other operators looking to deploy its own 4G network. This network is currently support by a sales channel that has grown rapidly from 600 outlets in December 2010 to over 2,000 to date.

In essence, the IDC study reveals that while technology standards play an important role in the development of 4G networks in Malaysia, what is even more important is the willingness for operators to undergo a paradigm shift from a predominantly voice-centric business model to a data and service-centric business model.

While operators are willing to adopt new technologies to deliver better data performance, innovating the traditional mobile communications business, can prove to be an even bigger challenge.

“We are tremendously inspired by IDC’s findings and this will spur us to bring even more innovations to our customers. More importantly our short-term goal will be to expand the reach of the Yes 4G network even further thus enabling communities to leap from 2G to 4G to enjoy the many benefits of our advanced network services ” Wing concluded.

Earlier this month, Yes was awarded “Best New Service” at the prestigious 2011 Broadband InfoVision Awards. With the win, YTL Communications joins an elite list of operators from around the world including, British Telecoms, Australia’s Telstra and Hong Kong’s PCCW, all of which have been past winners at the annual Broadband InfoVision Awards.

Notable excerpts from the IDC report:
“YTL wants to differentiate its service from its competitors by offering true mobile broadband speeds with more consistent coverage than what the 3G operators are delivering today. At the same time, YTL wants its users to experience broadband UC such as video calling in the mobile environment, which is virtually impossible with 3G today in Malaysia.”

“YTL wanted from the outset an Internet compatible, SIM-less architecture that offers users device independence. Thus, the handset does not need to use a SIM card to access the network. Entry into the Yes service begins with the selection of a User ID (Yes ID) and each Yes ID comes with a Malaysian mobile number. YTL has also designed a novel mechanism to enable service concurrency. The end result is that for the first time, a customer can use the same account for all his devices and products. This simple but elegant approach results in tangible savings and added convenience for the customer.”

“One of the key challenges in the planning of the Yes network was to ensure that there would be enough coverage and capacity from day one so that users can experience continuous mobile broadband service even along the highways. YTL launched its Yes 4G service in November 2011 with coverage of 65% of the population with 1,200 BTS (base-stations). Over the last six months, it has increased coverage to 1,700 cell sites including full mobile Internet coverage on Malaysia's North-South Expressway that runs from the Singapore border to the Thai border — a first in Malaysian history. So far, YTL has invested some US$250 million. It has contracted Samsung to provide 2,500 BST which means it still has the ability to deploy and cover more areas and to further increase capacity.”

“In terms of its speed, at the time of writing, its average download and upload speeds surpasses all other major mobile operators including its 4G rival, P1.”

“The Yes 4G service offers what IDC would consider true mobile broadband bandwidth (i.e., more than 1mbps downlink most of the time) with consistent coverage, so that users can experience UC (unified communications) with video calling in a mobile environment which is virtually impossible with 3G today. The only technologies that can compete with 802.16e in terms of performance would be HSPA+ and LTE. LTE will not come into the picture until 2013 in Malaysia. As for HSPA+, Maxis just rolled out this service in a limited scale last year and Celcom has only moved forward with upgrade plans this year.”

“YTL chose a prepaid billing system with real-time charging but offers postpaid-like service packages. In particular, users can use their credit cards to top up their accounts on a pay-as-you-go basis or purchase reload cards. On top of that, YTL has provided the ability to carry over unused data, minutes, or SMS to the next month with its Valuepack offerings. The advantage of the prepaid billing system is that it has realtime charging capabilities and the postpaid services are actually provisioned on top of the prepaid system. This architecture gives YTL great flexibility to offer packages suitable to the changing needs of the market.”

“YTL's UC (unified communications) solution is unique in that it would work even if users do not have a WiMAX device. The Yes service allows inbound and outbound calls and SMS messaging through their mobile devices and desktop/laptop software, while still tied to the same mobile station international ISDN (MSISDN) number. YTL is pioneering the multi-device UC concept where the receiver of a call, when contacted via his phone number, will have a concurrent ring across devices. This gives the user the choice of accepting the call either on his/her mobile phone, computer, or regular PSTN phone connected through the Yes home gateway.”

“YTL launched its 4G WiMAX service in November 2010 in a market that is considered to be underserved in terms of fixed and wireless broadband access but well served in terms of mobile (GSM) voice access.”

“YTL's venture into the WiMAX space would represent the first in Asia/Pacific and possibly globally to offer mobile voice services over the WiMAX data channel putting it ahead of its 4G competitors; but this also means YTL will be in competition with the three big mobile players Maxis, Celcom, and DiGi.”

“YTL's Yes service currently offers two distinct competitive advantages compared to the other operators. It is the only provider to offer a UC solution with a single-number reach concept for the consumer. On top of that, network performance is above its competition. If YTL can execute its coverage expansion as planned and can deliver mobile broadband smoothly to end users while managing exploding traffic demands, then IDC believes it can play an exciting and disruptive role in the Malaysia mobile market by raising the bar for mobile broadband on the go and in the home or office”

“IDC believes that YTL, despite its network being new and needing more time to build a critical mass of users, has made technology and business choices that offer an excellent example of innovation that 4G operators (LTE and WiMAX) will need in order to survive the challenge of exploding traffic usage, broadband + social networking + video, and to have the tools to better understand user usage patterns in real time. Unlike most of the 3G community that are extremely cautious in deploying VoIP over LTE, YTL is not shying away from it but rather embracing it wholeheartedly.”

Intel extends PC innovation with 2nd Generation Intel Core processors

Wireless Display technology ushers changes in visual entertainment viewing habits

Kuala Lumpur, Sept. 9, 2011 – Intel continues to extend PC technology innovation with the 2nd Generation Intel Core Processor Family. With built-in Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) 2.0 technology, PC users can now project and share Internet content, videos, photos, and music on their laptops and PCs to an HDTV with great image clarity and sound. All this can be done wirelessly from the comfort of their couches, without the unsightly stringing of cables between the laptop and the HDTV.
Prakash Mallya, Country Manager, Sales and Marketing Intel Malaysia holds up a WiDi 2.0-enabled notebook that is streaming video content wirelessly over to the HDTV in the background.

“The 2nd Generation Intel Core processors offer a smarter and more beautiful computing experience through WiDi 2.0. The built-in visual capabilities enabled by these new processors will revolutionise the PC experience and allow users to be immersed in HD content on their PCs and HDTVs,” explained Prakash Mallya, Country Manager for Sales and Marketing, Intel Malaysia, at a media demo showcase today.

“This is where two worlds come together, where your PC becomes the portal to a more vivid life,” said Mallya.

Intel WiDi 2.0 running on a 2nd generation Intel Core processor-based laptop delivers a new level of experience. Users can enjoy great image quality up to 1080p full HD and enjoy surround sound over a 6-speaker (5.1 channel) sound system. To enable Blu-Ray and DVD movie playback, users will require the latest version of a media player that supports Blu-Ray and DVD movie playback over Intel Wireless Display.

Intel WiDi is a unique innovation developed by the creative engineering team at Intel. This is the first solution in the market that delivers a protected 1080p wireless display experience from a laptop without the need for special fixed function hardware. This solution is the result of a unique new microprocessor, an innovative software team, and previous standards efforts - many of which Intel has either lead or participated in like WiFi, H.264, HDCP2.0, as well as various IP networking protocols.

Apart from Intel WiDi 2.0 technology, some of the other features of the 2nd Generation Intel Core processor family include***:

• Intel Quick Sync Video – PC users can transcode videos at blazingly fast speeds, sync the content from a PC to a mobile device player, or share them online
• Intel® HD Graphics – Intel’s graphics engine built into its processor products, deliver everything you need to enjoy a stunning and seamless experience - whether that be playing the latest mainstream 3D games or viewing PC visuals
• Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 – Automatically speeds processor and graphics performance for an immediate boost when needed
• Intel ® InTru™ 3-D – immersive stereoscopic 3D for a compatible monitor or TV (via HDMI 1.4)
• Intel® Advanced Vector Extensions – increases performance for demanding video and photo software
• Intel ® Clear Video Technology HD – stunning quality and color fidelity for a better screen experience
• Up to 8MB Cache – larger memory reservoir speeds data transfers
• Up to 8-way multi-task Processing – Intel Hyperthreading technology boosts speed when multi-tasking

Within the current 2nd Generation Intel Core processor family, Intel has more than 20 processors, wireless adapters and chipsets, including new Intel Core i7, i5 and i3 processors, Intel 6 series chipsets and Intel Centrino WiFi and WiMAX adapters. More than 500 laptops and desktop PC platform designs are available from all major computer makers worldwide based on these products.

GREEN PACKET ON THE TURNAROUND WITH PROMISING Q1‘09 RESULTS

Kuala Lumpur, - Friday, May 22, 2009:
The Green Packet Group of Companies (The Group) today announced quarter one 2009 results that firmly reflect The Group’s projections of recovery in its revenue and business by year end.

The Group’s revenue has seen a dramatic increase of 85.7%, from RM22.3 mil to RM41.5 mil in Q1 2009 compared to the same corresponding period 2008. In addition to the surge in revenue, The Group also sees a substantial reduction in operational and investment related losses of 26.0%.

Speaking about the results and company performance, Mr. CC Puan, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Green Packet Berhad said, “The Group’s performance in Q1 2009 is as per our projections putting us on track to be EBITDA positive by end 2009. The performance witnessed in Q1 is a direct result of The Group’s now proven business plan, consumer demand, winning of new contracts, subscriber base increase and also the sound management of CAPEX, OPEX and investments.”

In Q1 ’09, The Group’s Solutions pillar secured contracts with Hong Kong’s leading telecommunications provider PCCW and Taiwan’s first-mover WiMAX service provider Tatung InfoComm to provide a host of solutions and services ranging across the GSM and WiMAX spaces. Green Packet also announced a partnership with GCT Semiconductor, Inc., to develop and launch the world’s first WiFi-WiMAX seamless roaming solution on a single chipset. Green Packet’s innovation received global industry recognition in the form of the TMC Distinction Award for two of their WiMAX devices.

The Malaysian WiMAX services provider arm of Green Packet, Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd or “P1” was also recently recognised with the 2008 Red Herring Asia’s Top 100 Most Innovative Private Technology Company award. P1 is reaping the harvest of its first-mover game plan and aggressive commercial deployment with an impressive 269% growth in subscriber base from Q4 ’08 to Q1 ’09 with net subscriber additions of 25,500 for Q1. The subscriber base is on target at 35,000 as at 31 March 2009.

“P1 successfully reached its targets in terms of subscriber base and network coverage in Q1 this year. Now, as the Company rolls out phase 2 which targets to reach 35% national coverage by end 2009, the subscriber base will continue to grow exponentially in line with network coverage. This translates to a significant and growing recurring monthly revenue stream for the Group. This increase also shows that the WiMAX proposition itself is sound and that there is strong consumer demand for our products and services,” said CC Puan.

The Group’s business model and current financial standing sees operating and investment funds available to implement P1’s deployment plan and activities, however, The Group’s forward planning may see them conduct fund raising activities to raise capital for future growth and expansion opportunities.

The Group announced a renounceable ‘Rights Issue’ of up to 208,320,775 new ordinary shares together with up to 208,320,775 free detachable new warrants on the basis of one Rights Share and one Warrant for every two existing ordinary shares held (1-for-2-issuance). Price per unit for the rights issue is yet to be confirmed.

Commenting on the Rights Issue, CC Puan said, “On the back of a sound Q1 performance which is on track, on plan and on target, The Group has decided that the time is right for us to build our war chest to seize market opportunities when they arise, and as a forward planning company to prepare for further growth and expansion on our now proven business.

According to CC Puan, the Rights Issue will allow existing shareholders to increase their shareholdings at the current low market level.

“The Group has maintained relatively low gearing of 0.48x, has sufficient cash available of RM199 mil and financing facilities of RM35 mil to cover CAPEX requirements of RM230 mil for Phase 1 and 2 implementation in this two years to meet 40% population coverage, Along with a proven business model and increasing consumer demand, our current share price is trading below the Group’s Net Assets per share,” CC Puan concluded.

P1 Introduces New WiMAX Modem with Integrated WiFi and Voice Functionality

P1’s latest modem incorporates functionalities guided by consumer input to deliver even better ease of use and a truly wireless high-speed broadband experience.

Kuala Lumpur – Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (“P1”) – Malaysia’s first and leading WiMAX telco recently revealed its latest WiMAX modem – the DV230 – that seamlessly integrates WiMAX, WiFi and voice functionalities into one stylish and compact device.

The DV230 is P1’s newest WiMAX modem developed based on customer input and integrates WiFi router functionality to deliver truly wireless, hassle-free Internet connectivity to multiple users from one device with just one connection.

The DV230 combined with P1 W1MAX high-performance network provides the perfect solution to subscribers who typically share one connection with multiple computers. With the built-in WiFi router function in the DV230 and the superior performance offered by WiMAX technology, users do not have to purchase a WiFi router separately nor sacrifice on speed and performance.

“The DV230 WiMAX modem is designed based on customers’ feedback. These customers have enjoyed the high-performance wireless benefits of P1 W1MAX and want an easy-to-setup device to share the speed and performance of P1 W1MAX without the associated costs of purchasing additional equipments. The DV230 delivers this and makes next-generation wireless broadband access affordable,” said Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer, P1.

“As a customer-centric telco, we will continuously improve our product and service offerings to always deliver what our customers want and fulfill the P1 brand promise of providing broadband for all,” he added.

In addition to making setting up high-speed WiFi networks simple and affordable, the DV230 maximises P1 W1MAX strengths by allowing users to create micro hotspots where P1 W1MAX coverage is available. With the DV230, subscribers can tap into the widely available P1 W1MAX networks outside their homes and offices and share it with their friends and family. With the DV230, P1 W1MAX subscribers can essentially bring their high-performance wireless hotpot anywhere where P1 W1MAX coverage is available.

The DV230 is also future ready with next-generation voice capabilities. The device is equipped with a port that allows normal phones to be plugged straight into the modem. This will offer the option of future product and service upgrades to P1’s subscribers without incurring much additional costs.

“With the DV230 WiMAX modem we want to bring our subscribers closer to the full potential of what WiMAX technology can offer. With ease-of-use and future upgradability made standard in our latest offering, the DV230 perfectly encapsulates the P1 brand promise of being a challenger in the broadband market by delivery superior value and functionality.” Lai concluded.

The DV230 is available with 12- and 24-months subscription plans. As an added bonus, the DV230 is provided free with two years warranty for the device when customers subscribe to selected 24-months P1 W1MAX plans.

Bridgewater Systems Unveils the ServiceMAX 500

New entry-level WiMAX system ensures rapid, cost-effective service delivery

SINGAPORE – April 28, 2009 – – Bridgewater Systems (TSX: BWC), the mobile personalization company, today introduced the Bridgewater® ServiceMAX 500, a service control and subscriber data management system that enables WiMAX™ operators to rapidly and cost effectively launch mobile broadband and Voice over IP services. Bridgewater also announced today that it has been selected by Tatung Infocomm for its mobile WiMAX deployment in Taiwan.

The Bridgewater ServiceMAX 500 System provides the connectivity service network (CSN) functionality WiMAX operators need to quickly launch commercial services, manage subscribers, and support prepaid or postpaid billing. It is fully compliant with the WiMAX Network Working Group Stage 3 specification.

The ServiceMAX 500 incorporates the market leading Bridgewater® Service Controller (AAA) to securely authorize and authenticate subscribers and performs critical accounting functions. It is anchored by Bridgewater’s Subscriber Data Broker™, a sophisticated subscriber data management product that unifies subscriber information including service entitlements, devices, billing profiles, preferences and context, and provides the tools to broker this data to systems and applications.

Optional modules include lawful Intercept support, a regulatory requirement in many countries, the Bridgewater® Policy Controller for over-the-air device configuration and service activation, server redundancy, and custom plug-ins to allow for future expansion and service innovation.

This new turnkey system enables operators to:

# Rapidly launch commercial services using a pre-integrated software and hardware system that easily scales to meet subscriber growth requirements.

# Reduce risk by implementing market leading, widely deployed service control and subscriber data management products that have proven interoperability and integration with leading WiMAX equipment vendors.

# Deliver innovative, personalized services including flexible prepaid and postpaid charging models, seamless roaming, and optional support for mobile advertising, casual usage, over-the-air provisioning, location-based services, and other advanced applications.

Adlane Fellah, CEO and Founder, Maravedis
“The average WiMAX deployment today serves 15,000 subscribers with many of these deployments in developing markets and areas without fixed broadband services. The Bridgewater ServiceMAX 500 leverages the same field proven service control and subscriber data management technology chosen by over 25 WiMAX operators to meet the requirements of small to medium sized deployments.”

David Sharpley, Senior Vice President, Bridgewater Systems
“WiMAX operators have told us that they need a proven, entry-level integrated system to speed their time to service launch, with a compelling price-point and the scalability to meet their subscriber growth objectives. The Bridgewater ServiceMAX 500 is perfectly packaged to meet key business and network requirements and has optional advanced features for differentiation and service expansion.”

Tatung Infocomm Selects Bridgewater for WiMAX

SINGAPORE – April 28, 2009 – – Bridgewater Systems (TSX: BWC), the mobile personalization company, today announced that Tatung Infocomm, a provider of mobile WiMAX services in Taiwan, is deploying the Bridgewater® Service Controller and Policy Controller, both anchored by Bridgewater’s Subscriber Data Broker™, to deliver high speed mobile Internet services to consumers and enterprises.

Tatung Infocomm is deploying Bridgewater’s market leading WiMAX™ solutions in the southern region of Taiwan to deliver Voice over IP, broadband Internet access, enterprise applications, mobile VPN banking and special access services for government, police and security organizations. The company plans to launch live services in major cities such as Kaohsiung city beginning in the third quarter of 2009, with complete coverage across the southern region by 2011.

Bridgewater’s WiMAX solutions enables operators to:

o Rapidly deliver services and reduce costs through over-the-air provisioning of subscribers, devices, and on-demand service models.

o Deliver innovative, personalized services including casual usage based on time or volume, prepaid services, and family or enterprise plans that access the network from a common account with flexible features like only allowing a subset of subscribers to be active at any point in time.

o Meet regulatory requirements such as Lawful Intercept.

The market leading Bridgewater Service Controller authorizes and authenticates subscribers and provides critical accounting functions. It is fully compliant with the WiMAX Network Working Group Stage 3 specification.

The Bridgewater Policy Controller is a policy decision function that provides real-time network, application and subscriber policies to personalize services and manage mobile data growth. The Policy Controller’s dynamic session management capability lets operators like Tatung deliver group plans that allow a set number of concurrent sessions for a particular account in real-time. Once this set number is reached, the operator can either reprioritize devices to add a new session or deny new sessions.

Bridgewater’s Subscriber Data Broker is a sophisticated subscriber data management product that unifies subscriber information including service entitlements, devices, networks, billing profiles, preferences and context, and provides the tools to broker this data to systems and applications.

Peter Yen, President, Tatung InfoComm
“We selected Bridgewater Systems because of their proven product capability and market leadership in service and policy control. Bridgewater was unique in their ability to offer revenue generating service plans such as casual usage, group plans on one account, and on-demand WiMAX services. We look forward to continuing to deploy Bridgewater as we scale our network and services throughout Taiwan.”

David Sharpley, Senior Vice President, Bridgewater Systems
“We are delighted that Tatung is deploying Bridgewater’s WiMAX solutions to bring mobile broadband and voice over IP services to consumers and enterprises in Taiwan. Bridgewater is the pre-eminent leader in WiMAX solutions with over 25 WiMAX operators worldwide deploying our products to deliver personalized mobile services rapidly and cost effectively.”

P1 Showcases Mobile WiMAX to the World

Over 35 international operators and media representatives convene in Johor Bahru, Malaysia to witness one of the world’s first mobile WiMAX demonstrations on a commercial WiMAX network

Johor Bahru – Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (“P1”) – Malaysia’s first and leading WiMAX telco today successfully showcased one of the world’s first mobile WiMAX demonstrations on a commercial WiMAX network to over 35 international operators and media representatives in conjunction with the WiMAX Forum Congress Asia 2009.

“The success of today’s showcase to a global audience underlines P1’s leadership position in the world’s WiMAX deployment. The demonstration of mobile WiMAX on a commercial WiMAX network marks the beginning of a shift in the ecosystem of mobile wireless products and services,” said Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer, P1.

The demonstration, jointly organised by P1, P1’s parent company Green Packet and network solutions providers Alcatel-Lucent, provides a glimpse of what is to come from P1. With the immensely superior performance offered by WiMAX technology, mobile WiMAX will meet the growing need of faster, more reliable, ubiquitous mobile connectivity across multiple mobile internet devices.

In addition, mobile WiMAX is able to supplement prevailing technology like WiFi, 3G and HSDPA to offer seamless connectivity beyond networks allowing users to be always best connected everywhere they go.

“The superior bandwidth, performance and flexibility provided by WiMAX is perfectly suited to meet the growing demand of high-quality, high-speed mobile Internet. Users today rely extensively on their mobile devices for work, play and everything else in between. P1 W1MAX is the best solution to meet this demand because unlike other prevailing technology, WiMAX is built for high-speed data to deliver a rich Internet experience – always,” Michael added.

“3G networks have given people the taste for mobility, but with an inherent focus on voice communications, they lack the ability to deliver the complete Internet experience. WiFi has given users the taste for a wireless broadband connection, but its limited range prevents users from being truly mobile. The marriage of the fully functional Internet with truly mobile access is the holy grail of all the new Web 2.0 generation. Mobile WiMAX will enable this next broadband revolution,” Michael explained.

Based on the successful demonstration today, P1 could be offering mobile WiMAX products and service as early as the first half of 2010.

The demonstration, done in Malaysia’s southern capital, Johor Bahru, in the state of Johor, solidifies P1’s commitment in enabling the nation with broadband for all. As it stands, P1 is an active participant in aiding the government to meet the set 50% population coverage broadband penetration target by 2010.

“P1 is fast becoming a global champion of the WiMAX movement and a successful case study for an economically viable WiMAX business. We are very happy that our unrelenting “Broadband for All” agenda and the commitment to increase broadband penetration in Malaysia, has put this wonderful country on the world WiMAX map.” Michael concluded.

The mobile WiMAX “LIVE” showcase demonstrated various online and voice applications utilising the P1 W1MAX networks reaching speeds of up to 2.4Mbps and beyond. Users were able to access smooth and uninterrupted streaming videos, make voice and video call utilising the P1 W1MAX network and experience remote surveillance via PacketEyes – a mobile surveillance solution from Green Packet.

P1 – Asia’s Leading Private Technology Venture

Red Herring chose P1 over more than 900 other leading tech companies in the region.

Kuala Lumpur – Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (“P1”) – Malaysia’s first and leading WiMAX telco has notched another significant milestone by being the first Malaysian telco and WiMAX player to be announced as a groundbreaking innovator and a winner of the coveted Red Herring 100 Award – an independent selection of the 100 most innovative private technology companies based in Asia.

Red Herring is a global media company, which unites the world’s best high technology innovators, venture investors and business decision makers in a variety of forums. It publishes a leading innovation magazine, an online daily technology news service and technology newsletters and organizes major events for technology leaders around the globe. More information about Red Herring is available online at www.redherring.com.

In 2008 the Red Herring editorial board diligently surveyed the entrepreneurial scene throughout Asia and identified the top 100 out of over 1,000 closely evaluated companies that are leading the next wave of technology innovation.

The 100 winning companies have been announced at the Red Herring Asia event in Hong Kong, last December.

“This is an awesome achievement for P1. The award is recognition of our efforts in establishing P1 as a challenger, innovator and leader within the industry in a short time. As a young company, there’s tremendous room to grow. We will have our sights set at earning the most important recognition of all – the trust of our customers,” said Michael Lai, CEO of P1.

“Beyond this, P1 will continue in our pursuit to deliver Broadband for All through continuous innovation while at the same time advancing the broadband industry in Malaysia and beyond.” Michael concluded.

Earlier this year, the CEOs of the winning start-ups presented their innovative ideas and technologies to an audience of leading entrepreneurs, financiers, and corporate strategists at the event at the Hong Kong JW Marriott Hotel.

P1 Introduces WiGGY – Malaysia’s Most Advanced USB Modem

P1’s first on-the-go offering combines – MIMO – smart antenna technology with high-performance WiMAX network to deliver immensely superior broadband speeds.

Kuala Lumpur – Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (“P1”) – Malaysia’s first and leading WiMAX telco today introduced WiGGY – a revolutionary USB WiMAX modem that incorporates advanced technologies to deliver a new level of on-the-go broadband performance.
WiGGY is a breakthrough Internet device that harnesses the power of P1 W1MAX in one compact package delivering speeds that completely redefines what users can do online.

WiGGY is designed specifically to meet the needs of demanding next generation internet users who want reliable high-speed upload and download speeds that are able to cater for an emerging trend where people are uploading as much content as they are downloading.

“WiGGY is a device that’s perfectly suited to enable Life 2.0. The internet today is a hive of activity driven by a growing number of consumers who are more open and willing to produce, contribute and share information and entertainment online to a global audience. They are eager to share and upload their lives on the net and WiGGY is perfectly suited to compliment this,” said Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer, P1.

WiGGY’s launch, less than eight months after the launch of P1 W1MAX, reflects P1’s capabilities as a world leading WiMAX telco to deliver the promise of broadband for all. The launch of WiGGY also represents another major milestone in P1’s pursuit to cover over 35% of West Malaysia with P1 W1MAX broadband within 2009.

“WiGGY is a revolutionary device that delivers performance beyond what is currently being offered in the country. We’ve listened very closely to feedback from our customers and we’ve done our homework developing this wonder device. As you can see, the end-result speaks for itself. I’m truly satisfied at what WiGGY is capable of,” Michael concluded.

WiGGY delivers faster access to the Internet with advanced smart antenna technology incorporating Multiple In Multiple Out capabilities (“MIMO”). MIMO enables better performance through the use of multiple antennas within a single device. The multiple antenna array allows data to be uploaded and downloaded simultaneously for an immensely superior broadband performance.

WiGGY incorporates two antennas to deliver this boost in broadband performance while other on-the-go devices currently available only have a single antenna. In addition, WiGGY was developed from the ground-up, in-house by Green Packet Berhad – P1’s parent company – to meet P1’s stringent performance criteria ensuring that the advanced device is completely optimised for best use in the rapidly growing P1 W1MAX coverage area.

WiGGY’s launch is seen as a great leap forward by the world’s leading chipset manufacturer, Intel. Intel’s mission of advancing the uptake of WiMAX technology within the region is perfectly in line with P1’s commitment to deliver quality broadband, easily accessible, affordable in Malaysia.

“Intel is pleased to have played a role in helping advance the broadband ecosystem in Malaysia by collaborating with P1 to launch WiGGY. Our joint marketing and promotional activities and bundling programmes with Intel-powered Acer netbooks and notebooks will provide consumers with more choices and an enriching Internet experience,” said Ajay Mathur, Head of Marketing and Consumer Sales, South East Asia, Intel.

WiGGY will be offered at attractive prices and packages, making cutting edge technology available to more people. Special for the upcoming PC Fair, P1 and Intel along with Acer is offering 5000 of the latest high-end Acer Aspire One Netbook utilising the energy-efficient Intel Atom processor for free with subscription of WiGGY.

The bundling package was specifically designed to complement WiGGY’s powerful lifestyle proposition making the device a true enabler of Life 2.0, allowing next generation Internet users to truly immerse themselves in rich media online, contributing to the wealth of information that is available on the web.

“Intel’s processor technologies such as the Intel® Centrino®2 processor technology for notebooks and Atom processor for netbooks will augment WiGGY’s launch and demonstrate the expansive usage model that consumers can experience when they are accessing the Internet on the go using their Intel-based mobile computing devices,” added Ajay.

WiGGY along with the attractive bundling packages will be available exclusively at the 2009 PIKOM PC Fair, held simultaneously in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and the Persada Johor International Convention Centre, Johor Bahru from 10 April.

P1 Leads Malaysia’s WiMAX Rollout with ZTE

P1’s multi-vendor strategy will accelerate growth of Malaysia’s largest WiMAX network in response to strong demands. Consumers can expect more new coverage area announcements soon

Kuala Lumpur – Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (“P1”) – Malaysia’s first and leading WiMAX telco today formalized a deal with ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) to complete P1’s phase two national WiMAX network rollout plan in efforts to meet strong demand.

“Our goal is simple – to make broadband a right for all Malaysians. To deliver this commitment, the rapid and quality deployment of the P1 W1MAX network is crucial. P1’s appointment of ZTE is another step in crystallising our commitment by accelerating the deployment of P1 W1MAX networks in more areas to meet the overwhelming consumer demand for high-quality, high-performance wireless broadband”, explained Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer, P1 at the signing ceremony between P1 and ZTE held at Kuala Lumpur.

The ceremony was witnessed by Y.B. Dato’ Joseph Salang, Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications along with His Excellency Liu Jian, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Malaysia.

As one of the world’s leading telecommunications equipment providers, ZTE is confident that it has the capabilities, knowledge and expertise to meet P1’s network rollout target of 35% WiMAX coverage by end of 2009.

“This successful collaboration with Malaysia’s leading WiMAX telco is testament to the strengths and capabilities that precedes ZTE’s reputation as the world’s leading telecommunications equipment providers. ZTE is committed to contribute to P1’s success and will work very closely with P1 to deliver the latest technologies and the best mobile broadband experience to every Malaysian”, said Zheng Bang, Managing Director, ZTE (Malaysia) Corp Sdn Bhd.

As part of the deal, ZTE will deploy P1’s phase two national network rollout plan including WiMAX network planning and design, equipment supply, engineering services and WiMAX network optimisation which is expected to be completed by end 2010.

P1’s planned phase two WiMAX network deployment will comprise of over 450 new sites in strategic market centres nationwide. For 2009, P1 aims to have 700 new sites up by year end.

P1 is expected to spend RM1 billion in CAPEX to support its aggressive network and product rollout over the next five years. From a consumer perspective, P1 looks to providing more regular updates on new P1 W1MAX coverage areas.

“Malaysia aims to achieve 50% broadband penetration by 2010 and as a staunch believer of broadband for all, P1 is eager to play a very proactive role in assisting the nation to achieve this. With plans to invest over RM1 billion to this cause, we are 110% committed. We have the resources, passion and drive to make this happen. I look forward to updating Malaysians on the latest P1 W1MAX coverage areas so that more and more people can experience the superior flexibility and performance that WiMAX can offer.” Michael concluded.

As one of the 15 WiMAX Forum Board members, ZTE has been a strong promoter and a critical player within the WiMAX ecosystem. Its main mission is to realise the ultimate dream of broadband anytime anywhere. ZTE is now the world’s second largest WiMAX equipment provider by commercial WiMAX deployment contracts share globally. To date, ZTE has successfully deployed WiMAX networks in 23 countries serving over 35 operators.

P1 Rewards Early Adopters with Trip to Bali

CEO says new products along with more contest and promotions to come as P1 aids nation to bridge the digital divide

KUALA LUMPUR – Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (P1) – Malaysia’s first WiMAX telco with the widest network coverage today revealed the winners of its subscription drive contest that was held from 1 December 2008 to 1 February 2009.

The contest offered round trip tickets to Bali for two and was organized as an incentive for early adopters of P1 W1MAX high-speed, high-performance wireless internet service.

“We always want the best for our customers. These early adopters believed in P1 and WiMAX technology. They’ve supported us from the beginning and we’re delighted to be able to meet their needs for a high-performance, hassle-free wireless internet access. Naturally, their faith in the technology and the brand is to be rewarded and that’s the motivation for this contest”, explained Michael Lai, chief executive officer, P1.

As part of a continuous customer acquisition and retention program, P1 plans to organize many more contest and promotion programs in the months to come. The activities are to coincide with P1’s commitment to realize the nation’s aspiration of providing broadband for all. P1 aims to achieve this with innovative and relevant product launches scheduled throughout the year.
“We are committed to aid the nation in closing its digital divide. As a brand, P1 wants to make access to the internet via a ubiquitous, high-speed broadband network a right, not a privilege. Broadband is for all.”

“Our customers are the driving force behind our innovation and performance, and as we launch new products this year, our customers can look forward to more incentive programs that rewards them for their support and loyalty. Finally, I would like to personally thank each of the contest participants for believing in the performance and ease of use that P1 W1MAX offers,” Michael concluded.

The contest was open to all new P1 W1MAX subscribers from 1 December 2008 to 1 February 2009 and required participants to P1 related questions. Participants with the correct answers then went through a random computerized selection process of which the nine winners were selected.

The winners are:
1. Mr. Yoon Lai Chong from Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur
2. Mr. Mahendran Murasahib from Damansara Damai, Petaling Jaya
3. Cik Iffa Isla binti Ab Majid from Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur
4. Kee Lee Fong from Taman Sri Tebrau, Johor
5. Hisam bin Abdul Hamid from Skudai, Johor
6. Zanariah Mohammad from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
7. Muhammad Ayob Ya’acob from Alor Setar, Kedah
8. Radzuan bin Omar from Shah Alam, Selangor
9. Ranjini a/p Jayakumar from Prima Damansara, Petaling Jaya

En. Radzuan bin Omar, who runs his own business in Selangor, was surprised when he received a call from P1 and was told that he had won the Bali contest. “I am happy as I have never won anything before. The Bali prize came in the nick of time as I was planning to go on holiday this March.”

“I hardly take part in contests, so when I heard I had won a lucky draw, I was delighted, I couldn’t believe it. I will be taking my wife with me on the trip, and this will be our second time there. We will probably go in the middle of the year,” said Mr. Yoon Lai Chong.
Since the launch of P1 W1MAX in August 2008, the service is now available in many areas of the Klang Valley, and selected areas in Johor, Kedah and Penang.

The latest areas to have P1 W1MAX coverage this week include Pandan Indah, Pandan Jaya in Cheras, Kota Kemuning, Damansara Heights, PJU7 Mutiara Damansara, Dato Keramat, Taman Bakti, and Seksyen 7, 24 & 33 in Shah Alam. Log on to www.p1.com.my or call 1300 800 888 to get the latest update on P1 W1MAX coverage areas and on the current P1 W1MAX subscription plans and reseller locations.

Southeast Asia Telecoms Market will Remain Resilient in 2009, says IDC

Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur, 26 February, 2009 – Despite the global economic slowdown, IDC predicts that the telecom market in Southeast Asia (SEA), which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, will remain resilient in 2009. While market players and end users will exercise extra caution in their spending on telecom products and services, certain technology areas will sustain momentum and pockets of opportunities will emerge from the crisis.

"The global economy heavily influences IDC's predictions for 2009 of the Southeast Asia telecom markets. The global downturn will impact many telecoms sectors. Nonetheless, IDC sees bright spots in the Southeast Asia telecom market that will yield great opportunities for both market players and end users in 2009", says Karen Rondon, Research Manager, Communications Research, IDC.

The following are IDC's 2009 predictions for the telecommunications market in Southeast Asia.

1. Southeast Asia Telecom Spending will Remain Resilient in 2009

IDC projects the combined telecom services market of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, to reach US$35.7 billion in 2009, which is 10% higher than its 2008 performance. Telecom services encompass mobile services, Internet access services (IAS), corporate data services and fixed telephony. Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are expected to show modest growth at a 4% to 6% range. Vietnam and Indonesia, each expecting double-digit expansion rates, will be the higher growth markets as they are at the early stages of the technology adoption curve and currently addressing the digital divide in their markets.

2. Telecom Operators Will Rethink Strategies in the Downturn and Prepare for the Upswing

The global economic slowdown will affect the SEA telecom sector, but to a lesser extent than the IT markets. IDC anticipates that telecom market players in this region will be reassessing their strategies and reconsidering CAPEX plans, marketing strategies and product focus. Incumbents with healthy balance sheets will be able to focus CAPEX on enhancing core and backhaul networks and be farther ahead of their competitors once the economy recovers. Consumers or enterprise tier two operators, on the other hand will have to focus on investments that will see faster returns. Meanwhile, the economic situation will present opportunities for operators with facilities and funds available to begin diversifying into higher value consumer and business services.

3. SME 2.0: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to Become the Main Focus of Incumbent Service Providers

IDC anticipates renewed interest among SEA telecom incumbents in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) segment that will bring forth the second wave of SME-centric marketing and product development initiatives by these players. The financial crisis will dampen any prospects of growth within the large corporations in 2009 and possibly in 2010 as well. Any recovery that happens is always through the SME sector first. Hence, 2009 will be a good time for incumbents to invest in marketing of products and services targeted to the SME segment.

4. Affordable Alternatives Will Be on the Rise

With the tightening of budgets, IDC expects end users will seek alternative telecoms devices and services in 2009. The selection of what is affordable and beneficial may range from choosing the better service option, to picking out the more practical telecom products and services. Broadband and mobile subscribers will find affordable ways to stay connected. Purchases of mobile devices with steep price tag will be delayed until the end of 2009. End users will select low-end and mid-end mobile devices over high-end familiar brands. There will be added interest in new brands that provide cheaper options.

5. Internet Market Will Ride the Mini-Notebook Wave

The broadband market is expected to benefit from the rise of mini-notebooks in many SEA countries, particularly Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Due to the limited processing power and storage in these devices, users will be heavily dependent on internet connectivity. . Hence, usage of these devices will spur demand for Internet access services. Partnerships between mini-notebook vendors and Internet service providers (SPs), whether fixed or mobile, will proliferate in these countries, with devices sold with internet service bundles.

6. Wireless Broadband Will Roar: Another Year Bites the Cord

Wireless broadband will be one area that will withstand the economic condition in 2009. Strong demand and continuing marketing efforts from SPs have led to the growth in wireless broadband within the metro area and its surrounding cities in SEA countries. With the advancement of new technologies like 3.5G, the impending launch of WiMAX in some countries, and the entry of new SPs, the wireless broadband market is expected to maintain its vibrancy during the year.

7. 3G/3.5G and WiMAX: The Show Will Go On

Before the global economic meltdown, SEA countries were at different stages of rolling out emerging telecom technologies, notably 3G/3.5G and WiMAX. IDC believes that the market will continue to see investments in these technology areas in 2009, particularly from major SPs that can continue to afford investments in strategic long-term technologies. Similarly, milestones set for these technologies will likely be achieved in 2009, for example, awarding of 3G licenses in Thailand and Vietnam, WiMAX licenses in Thailand, and the commencement of commercial services availability in the Philippines.

8. IP Surveillance Will Come to Town

The need for security, public safety, and cost efficiency during the financial decline will be drivers for enterprises and institutions to consider the adoption of IP surveillance. In Thailand, a major IP surveillance project aiming to monitor the nation’s capital and selected key areas is anticipated to begin in 2009. Even though major institutions such as the government usually fund these deployments, IDC expects that IP surveillance solutions providers in SEA will mold and package these products to cater to other segments in the market. Whether the solution providers' approach is customized by company size or by vertical industries, in partnership with hardware vendors or going solo, IDC believes opportunities and indications of actual interest in IP surveillance will arrive in 2009.

9. Internet Datacenter Model Will Get a Second Chance

Enterprises are increasingly faced with various datacenter issues ranging from physical land constraints, extra applications added onto existing networks, increase in the number of branch offices being spread across the region, to environmental issues with power consumption and cooling. As the economy tightens, enterprises in the SEA region will fundamentally rethink their datacenter strategies in 2009, and consider the managed services option in order to drive cost down. This trend is expected to be most pronounced in Vietnam, where a number of new datacenters have been planned in 2009.

10. The "F" Word: Are Femtocells the Answer to Some of the Incumbent Operators' Troubles?

IDC sees femtocells to be a huge buzzword in the SEA mobile telecom industry for 2009, with mobile operators and vendors looking into the technology. While the technology has its drawbacks and limitations, it does offer mobile operators the opportunity to address a number of challenges such as declining net additional subscribers and average revenue per user (ARPU), and increasing network congestion and subscriber churn. In 2009, mobile operators are expected to conduct trials in order to understand the benefits and limitations of femtocells deployments. Trials and initial deployments are expected to be limited to the more developed markets such as Singapore and Malaysia, while other countries in the region may follow suit.

IDC’s annual Predictions for the Telecoms markets in the Southeast Asia region draws upon latest IDC research and a worldwide brainstorming exercise among IDC’s 900+ analysts. This was followed by an extensive regional review to weigh in on key industry events, user trends, vendor strategies and economic measures, that promises to uniquely define the technology trends which would impact and drive the Southeast Asian telecoms market for 2009. Across the globe, following the release of IDC’s global top ten and IDC’s APEJ top ten, geographic and technology teams will be releasing their own specific predictions in the up coming months. Visit http://www.idc.com.sg/Predictions09/ often for updates.

Get P1 W1MAX Broadband Sooner by Voting for Your Area!

Kuala Lumpur – 9 January, 2009 - Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (P1), Malaysia’s first WiMAX telco and subsidiary of Green Packet Berhad, has initiated a step further in taking care of its customers’ needs. As a strong believer in giving broadband users exactly what they want, besides organizing floor discussions with its existing subscribers and inviting feedback to be submitted via its website, www.p1.com.my, the company is now giving all Malaysians an opportunity to vote for P1 W1MAX broadband coverage in their areas.

This way, the most eager and zealous communities who desire the preferred broadband choice, and are no longer content with being left behind in the broadband bandwagon, will be able to jump ahead of P1’s master rollout schedule and get their P1 W1MAX broadband service sooner.
“While we believe that a strategic, well-thought coverage roll-out plan is important to the business, we can’t help but be touched by the enthusiasm of so many people who write to us, eagerly wanting P1 W1MAX broadband in their respective areas”, says P1’s CEO, Michael Lai.

“We believe that our customers should be involved in the development of the company and our business, which is why we have come up with the voting feature on our website to speed up the roll out process in the most popular areas. We also believe that Malaysians do not want to be left behind, and want their broadband services now,” he said.

“Broadband is an essential facet of a nation’s economy – look at where some of the region’s most developed nations such as South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong are today. Their household broadband penetration rates of over 97%, 89% and 86% respectively* shows us that being developed is more than just having world-class buildings, but also having the infrastructure to empower their residents to be more productive and efficient. We have the Malaysian Government to thank as well for the mandate to achieve a 50% broadband penetration by 2010 – needless to say we as a nation will certainly have much to gain, by striving towards that objective,” concluded Lai.

Voting for your area is simple – go to www.p1.com.my/vote then either drag and drop your area in the preferred sites box or register a new area if it is not already listed on the website.
Since the launch of P1 W1MAX last August, the service is now available in selected parts of the Klang Valley, Johor and Kedah. The latest areas to have P1 W1MAX coverage this week include parts of Overseas Union Garden (more commonly known as OUG, in Old Klang Road), Bandar Kinrara, Kota Damansara and Shah Alam. Detailed P1 W1MAX coverage information can be obtained at www.p1.com.my.

Vote for change, by bringing P1 W1MAX to your community – now!

* Based on Q2 2008 Point Topic figures, http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0809/.

GREEN PACKET SEES GREAT POTENTIAL FOR WIMAX IN CALA REGION

15 December, 2008, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil – Green Packet Berhad (GP), a leading developer of next generation mobile broadband and networking solutions, and amongst the first to launch WiMAX commercial services in the world through its subsidiary Packet One Networks in Malaysia, makes progress in becoming a choice broadband solution provider for the Caribbean and Latin American (CALA) market at the WiMAX Forum® Congress Latin America 2008 (WiMAX Forum® CALA 2008) held in Rio de Janeiro.

The two-day event in Rio de Janeiro has generated for the Company more than 20 potential tie-ups and business opportunities with a number of operators and key players from nine countries.
“We are convinced of the potential of this market for our WiMAX products and solutions judging from the enthusiastic response that we received at the WiMAX Forum® CALA 2008, said Kelvin Lee, Senior General Manager of GP.

Lee added, “We will definitely ramp up efforts in entering this vibrant market and introducing our value propositions to this region. WiMAX products and solutions that are not just IOT (inter-operability tested) but field-tested on our large scale LIVE network. Our emphasis is on products and solutions designed from a commercial perspective first, to increase our customers ARPU (average revenue per user) and to increase customer attraction. We are keen to actively engage with Operators on the technology, and share the learning and experience from our commercial roll-out on how to best provide services and maximize commercial success.”

GP has already sent samples for trials and engaged at least ten countries in the CALA region, a signal of strong interest in the Company’s comprehensive range of WiMAX Customer Premise Equipment (CPE). With total engagements of more than a quarter of operators in the world, Green Packet has considerable experience in the WiMAX CPE domain catering to the widest set of customer requirements on various WiMAX frequencies and operating environments.

According to the latest study released by WiMAX Forum®, Latin America alone is projected to contribute to 10 percent of global WiMAX subscribers by 2012 with an absolute number of 13 million users. Of this, 70% is estimated to utilize mobile and portable WiMAX devices to access broadband Internet services. To date, CALA already has more than 95 WiMAX commercial deployments.

Lee enthused that the welcoming response at Rio de Janeiro points to Operators’ excitement and strong interest in developing WiMAX networks.

He said, “The overall sentiment towards WiMAX is that it will solve a great deal of today’s connectivity challenges, especially with the exorbitant costs of laying down fiber cables in both metropolitan areas as well as the countryside. Feedback gathered from Operators at CALA 2008 affirmed that WiMAX has a definite advantage over other technology in terms of deployment, cost-effectiveness and delivering true mobile broadband.”

Lee added, “Moreover, WiMAX enables Operators to boost revenue as the IP-based technology expands data services considerably. This helps Operators realise higher average revenue per user (ARPU). Further accelerating WiMAX growth and adoption will be Intel’s launch of WiMAX-enabled laptops slated to be in early 2009.

GP is a KLSE Main Board listed global technology company, and Intel investee company for the deployment of WIMAX commercial services in Malaysia through its subsidiary and WiMAX operator arm, Packet One. GP recently signed an agreement with Alcatel–Lucent, which will help market its comprehensive field-tested range of WiMAX CPE covering indoor, outdoor and USB modems, as well as its intelligent network connection management solutions known as the Intouch Connection Manager.

The Intouch Connection Manager is a key draw with Operators, as it resolves the constant challenge of network congestion for telecommunication and internet service providers by offloading bandwidth intensive networks such as 3G to the next available network (WiFi or WiMAX) thus creating a balance in bandwidth utilization.

P1 W1MAX Continues Ramping Up Coverage in the Klang Valley

Kuala Lumpur, 10 December 2008 – Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (P1), the first Malaysian WiMAX converged telco and subsidiary of Green Packet Berhad, has announced new areas of coverage in Klang Valley for its P1 W1MAX services.

This follows closely on its 28 November announcement of P1 W1MAX’ availability in the state of Johor. P1 W1MAX was first launched in Kuala Lumpur back in August, and the announcement of P1 being a leading WiMAX provider for the Wireless@Penang initiative was made in September. P1 will cover Penang and additional areas in Johor beginning in 2009.

Areas in the Klang Valley covered by P1 W1MAX in today’s announcement include Taman Sentul Jaya, Taman Datuk Senu, Bandar Baru Sentul (all three in Sentul), Taman Air Panas and Danau Kota in Setapak, Taman Sri Rampai in Wangsa Maju, Taman Bukit Maluri, Bandar Menjalara, Subang Hi-Tech Park, Subang Jaya and Subang USJ.

Additional areas of coverage include Klang, namely Taman Bunga Melor, Taman Botanic, Bukit Tinggi, Taman Perindustrian Pandamaran, Taman Chi Liung, Jalan Bukit Kuda, Port Klang’s town centre, Taman Selatan, and Taman Emas.

Other areas with P1 W1MAX coverage in today’s announcement include SS3, Paramount Garden and Sungei Way SS9, all in Petaling Jaya, Bangsar’s Telawi area, Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur, selected parts of KL’s city centre including Jalan Chan Sow Lin and Jalan Peel, Taman Bamboo in Segambut, the Crystal Crown area in Jinjang and Taman Lawa, both in Jinjang.

P1 W1MAX’ promotional subscription starts at RM89 monthly for the 1.2Mbps package and RM199 for the 2.4Mbps package. For a limited time only, the RM999 modem will be given out free to every new subscriber.

For the promotional subscriptions above, customers can also sign up without paying a single sen, as the registration fee will be charged in the first monthly bill.

“Today’s announcement is a continuous and steady fulfillment of P1’s commitment in expanding the coverage of its WiMAX services nationwide, as we do our part in helping Malaysia reach 50% in broadband penetration by 2010,” CEO of P1, Michael Lai informed.

“With the PIKOM PC Fair 2008 from 12 to 14 December in KL Convention Centre, and from 19 to 21 December in Johor Bharu, we’re continuing our series of roadshows in the new areas of coverage in order to go on the ground to educate consumers on the benefits and advantages of P1 W1MAX,” Lai added.

P1 W1MAX is also being jointly promoted by Intel Malaysia, at the upcoming PIKOM PC Fair 2008 this weekend. Consumers who purchase Intel-powered desktops or notebooks powered by either Intel® Core™ i7 processor, Intel® Core™ 2 Quad processor, Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor, Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology or Intel® Centrino® processor technology and subscribe to P1 W1MAX, they would receive a complimentary three-month P1 W1MAX subscription and RM100 worth of gift items. Those who purchase a lower specification with the Intel Pentium® Dual Core processor would receive a free 1-month P1 W1MAX subscription. Buyers of these systems will be subject to additional terms and conditions, in order to be eligible for the complimentary P1 W1MAX packages.

For the latest roadshow locations and P1 W1MAX promotions, please surf the P1 website, www.p1.com.my or call P1’s Care Line at 1-300-800-888 (available daily from 8am to 11pm).
P1’s CEO Michael Lai said, “P1 W1MAX is not just about providing high-speed wireless broadband access, it is about touching hearts, connecting humanity and enriching lives. It’s about enhancing the economic status of the haves and the have-nots; it’s about connecting with your loved ones anywhere, anytime; it’s about remote healthcare through telemedicine; and it’s about fulfilling the quest for knowledge via distance learning. At the end of the day, technology is not special, life is.”

WiMAX will have 103 million subscribers by 2013, but HSPA will have more

WiMAX is a tale of two markets – one being WiMAX as an emerging technologygaining significant momentum in the last year, and the other being thelarger converging broadband market, where the runaway success of rivalmobile broadband system HSDPA and the acceleration of LTE threatens theopportunity for WiMAX in some markets.

“It’s the best and worst of times for WiMAX,” says Mike Roberts,principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media and author of WiMAX BroadbandConvergence: Emerging Fixed, Portable & Mobile Internet Markets – 2ndEdition, a new strategic report with uniquely comprehensive forecasts on themarket opportunity for WiMAX.

It’s the best of times because the WiMAX industry has undoubtedly gainedsignificant momentum in the last year, passing a string of key milestonesincluding product certification, the launch of services by major operatorssuch as Sprint Nextel, commitments to WiMAX by key Internet players such asGoogle, and the long-awaited arrival of WiMAX notebooks and other devices.

WiMAX is also starting to take off in key emerging markets. “In many majoremerging markets all the pieces are falling into place for WiMAX, includingavailability of spectrum, huge pent-up demand for broadband, certificationof Mobile WiMAX equipment, and the arrival of new lower-cost devices such asultra-portable notebooks and netbooks,” says Roberts. “For example ourforecasts show that WiMAX will account for 24% of India’s total broadbandsubscribers by 2013, up from 7% in 2008.”

But despite these successes, it’s also the worst of times for WiMAX becauseits rival HSDPA has become a runaway success in many markets worldwide, andemerging rival LTE has accelerated and gained the backing of most of theworld’s major mobile operators, including Vodafone and China Mobile.

“The converging broadband market has changed dramatically in the last yeardue to the rise of HSDPA and the acceleration of LTE,” says Roberts.“There’s no doubt that Mobile WiMAX has come of age in the last year withthe launch of major new services such as Sprint’s Xohm, but it now faces atough fight with HSDPA and eventually LTE in key markets. As a result, manyWiMAX vendors and operators need to reshape their strategies.”

For example Mobile WiMAX pioneer KT had 200,000 WiBro subscribers at the endof May 2008, well below expectations given the service launched in June 2006and was expanded significantly by May 2007, according to one of the detailedWiMAX operator case studies in WiMAX Broadband Convergence. In contrast KT’s mobile arm KTF launched HSDPA services in March 2007 and had 4.8 millionsubscribers by March 2008.

“KT may be a special case since it launched Mobile WiMAX services so earlyinto such a competitive broadband market,” Roberts says. “But the verydifferent performance of Mobile WiMAX and HSDPA in Korea shows thechallenges WiMAX faces in some major developed markets. To overcome thechallenges and gain traction in fiercely competitive markets, operators willhave to use WiMAX as a platform for innovative new business models, devices,applications and services.”

Mobile WiMAX also faces challenges because is entering its capital-intensivedeployment phase in the midst of the global financial crisis, which willmake it harder for operators to secure funding for new deployments. “Someoperators such as the new Clearwire are already well funded, but for otherWiMAX operators still looking for capital it’s a very tough time,” Robertssays. “Of course the credit crisis could also delay investments in rivalsystems, but HSDPA is already widely deployed and LTE deployments won’tstart until 2010.”

WiMAX Broadband Convergence finds significant opportunities for WiMAX inmany regions and market segments worldwide, but in others it will struggleto compete with HSDPA and other broadband systems. “It’s the best of timesfor WiMAX because it has come of age in the last year and is taking off insome key markets, which will lead to 103 million WiMAX subscribers worldwideby 2013,” Roberts says. “But in the context of the global convergingbroadband market it’s also the worst of times for WiMAX because its rivalHSPA is truly booming and will have more than 1 billion subscribersworldwide by 2013, more than ten times as many as WiMAX.”

However Mobile WiMAX still has a significant head-start over its OFDMA rivalLTE, which will launch commercially in 2010. “The result is that WiMAX willbe the leading next-generation mobile broadband system in 2013, withsignificantly more subscribers than LTE,” Roberts says.

“The bottom line is that WiMAX will take a significant share of theconverging broadband market in some regions, but will struggle in others dueto competition from HSPA and LTE,” Roberts says. “WiMAX operators andvendors need to understand the new market realities to make sure they’re onthe right track.”