Emerging countries such as Malaysia prove to be successful recipients of advanced high speed broadband networks like WiMAX, ensuring that companies like YTL Corp. are successful.
Asia
The Taipei Computer Association suggested on Tuesday that four of Taiwan’s top WiMAX wireless broadband operators should merge to achieve economies of scale. Thus, Global Mobile, Vmax Telecom, Vee TIME and Tatung InfoComm are considering merging into two operators, one operator providing Wimax to the northern half of Taiwan and the other to the south.
Demand for WiMax may be lacking in worldwide markets where the impending promise of LTE lingers, but not in Malaysia where the populace is craving dramatic improvements in their broadband access. Service provider YTL is benefitting from that demand as the pre-registration for their WiMax network, slated to roll out November 19th, has surpassed their initial estimates threefold.
The “Yes” wireless Internet and voice service is said to be as much as 5 times faster than most users’ current 3G network. The new WiMax network also allows customers to pick their own ID and number. While we’re sure that greater download speeds are a major factor in the exceeding of business expectations, one can never underestimate the power and promise of personalization played in the buoying the service sign ups. Although it may be an ultimately arbitrary factor for the service provider, the appeal of having a say in one’s own number might be construed as “kinda neat” for customers. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the service is that it will be billed like most utilities, not on a fixed monthly rate, but on an as used basis.
Parent company YTL Power International Bhd. will spend RM2.5 bil on its initial push to bring the service to 65% of Malaysians upon its debut this week and 80% by mid 2011. The corporation is getting assistance from Clearwater Corp, Intel Corp, Cisco Systems Inc and International Business Machines Corp on the rollout.
YTL’s executive chairman,Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, sees parallels between this new WiMax network and past technological innovations, saying that ““when people have tasted mobile Internet, they’ll never go back to mobile phone; same as when people have tasted colour television, they’ll never go back to black-and-white.” … Read the rest
The many whispers concerning Intel’s WiMax intentions had grown to a deafening roar since the company had shuttered its Taiwan WiMax Program Office in June of this year. The Taiwanese government feared the industry bigwig was withdrawing their support for the format altogether, which didn’t sit well with President Ma Ying-jeou, seeing as his nation had just invested $220 million in related technologies and applications for the high-speed standard. With a nice chunk of that money sunk into Intel’s Taiwan efforts, the nation’s plans to stay the WiMax course would surely take a huge loss if that were the case.
Well, it’s time for Taiwan to exhale as all is well in their WiMax world. Intel’s CEO Paul Otellini met with the president recently to ensure him that his chip-making business was staying the course with the development of the wireless broadband technology within the country.
In a separate announcement, Intel’s director of advanced technical sales and services in the Asia-Pacific region endorsed the format saying, “Intel is fully committed to WiMax” and that “user demand” would determine WiMax’s future as opposed to Intel’s technological whims. So despite what their previous actions may have indicated, for the time being Taiwan need not fear–its investment is safe as long as Intel continues to say the right things.
Taiwan hopes their relationship with Intel can continue to grow into something as strong as the nation’s previous partnerships with mobile network equipment makers in Ericsson and fellow chip-makers at Qualcomm.
People don’t tend to think of Iraq as a place with a heaping helping of innovation. The events of the past seven years or so often bring to mind explosions, unrest, and other war-like circumstances that we imagine has left them in a state more reminiscent of the stone age than the modern one. Slowly but surely our perceptions of the fertile crescent nation have emerged from the gutter to see a place where civilization is no myth and progress is a reality, and not just on a socio-political level. Technologically, Iraq is doing their part to keep pace with other emerging nations and at the forefront of that effort is Fanoos Telecom.
The Kurdistan-based carrier boasting “Iraq’s most reliable wireless broadband service” and 250,000 subscribers is going 4G, or more accurately, they’re setting up a WiMax network to bring their customers what the International Telecommunications Union now considers not-quite-4G. Utilizing Tellabs® SmartCore™ 9160 platform as its chief tool of deployment, the service will offer high performance and interoperability with multiple radio access network vendors. CEO Hiwa Rauf believes this specific equipment set has the ability to help his company “develop a complete network and avoid single vendor lock-in…” The aim is to “create an interoperable wireless broadband system that’s ready for future expansion,” but for now they’re concentrating their efforts on focal points in the North, distributing the new network to the cities of Sulaimaniyah, Mosul and Kirkuk. Fanoos hopes to complete their WiMax rollout to those key cities by the end of this year.… Read the rest
Greenpacket, a leading Malaysian wireless equipment developer, announced yesterday it would work in collaboration with Augere Holdings following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two wireless companies. The agreement calls for the sharing of knowledge and expertise on a long term basis, a mere exchange of mutual commendation tacked onto the back of their business arrangement.
As part of the pact Augere will be sending USD $7.2 million Greenpacket’s way for the provision of UH Shuttle USB modems, specifically for usage in South Asian regions. Augere already has broadband service operations in the area, but chose to tap into Greenpacket for the quality of their equipment, experience in state-of-the-art technologies and innovative products.
Kelvin Lee, Senior General Manager of Greenpacket, said his company is “…very excited to be partnering with Augere to deliver broadband access in emerging economies.” He further cited the two developers’ “common vision…to realize a future of wireless freedom and broadband for all.” Given the ability of Greenpacket’s “high performance modems” and the harvesting of a mutually beneficial relationship, Lee foresees a near future in which “Augere will be able to provide a fast, game-changing wireless broadband experience to its end users.”
Greenpacket’s Packet One Networks, otherwise known as P1, is a global leading 4G WiMAX provider. They currently rank as one of the top three suppliers of WiMAX modems, the range of which are extensive enough to cater to both emerging and already developed markets.… Read the rest
REDTone begain offer WiMAX services in Miri, Malaysia. It is expanding the broadband service coverage in the Sarawak area of the Asian Pacific country. The expansion is as planned, with the strategy to roll out the 4G technology in areas where the demand is high and ready for the service.
“We are zeroing in on areas where there are business districts, commercial centers, industrial parks and shopping premises as offices are our main target market,”said Lau Bik Soon REDtone Telecommunications Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, .
The service will focus on densely populated areas in Miri, such as Jalan Tanjong, Yi Hai Hai, Piasau, Lutong and Senadin. The company owns the spectrum license in the 2.3GHz spectrum for Sarawak and Sabah regions of Malaysia.
Soon also stated the company wouldn’t rely on WiMAX as the Internet provided. They will use satellite, Metro E, Microwave, 3G, Wi-Fi, wireless point-to-point and ADSL. It’s a good way to ensure an Internet connection is available to their customers. REDTone will also begin services in the greater part of Kuching. In Sabah, similar Internet service has begun in Kota Kinabaul. The company will also launch in Sandakan and Tawau parts of Sabah region.
The company is initially offering USB modems to start. There are several different plans for both home and office use. Users can sign up for one year or sign no long term contract at all. It’s simple to use, simply blug the USB modem into your computer and you should be connected anywhere within the network coverage area.
They’re the second major player to launch the services in Malaysia. Greenpacket, under its subsidiary Packet One Networks launched the technology in 2009.… Read the rest
