YTL buys more WIMAX base stations from Samsung



YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, which will soon launch its 4G network in Malaysia, has signed contracts with Samsung Electronics to increase the number of base stations for its nationwide network buildout and to acquire solutions for in-building coverage.

Under the deal, Samsung will provide 500 WiMAX 2.3GHz radio base stations to increase coverage in the east coast. This is in addition to the 1,900 base stations currently being deployed nationwide.

Samsung will also supply 2,000 units of smaller base stations — or picocells — for in-building network coverage.

The agreement underscores YTL Communications’ aggressive pursuit of building a broadband nation, the company said in a statement.

“Together with our world-class partners, we shall soon deliver mobile Internet to the urban and rural communities across the nation,” said YTL Communications CEO Wing K. Lee.

Samsung is the world’s first and foremost mobile WiMAX equipment provider, having launched the world’s first commercial service in South Korea in 2006.

It is a supplier to 23 major WiMAX operators across 19 countries, such as Clearwire in the United States, Yota in Russia, and UQ Communications in Japan.

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YTL commits to GCT Semiconductor million single-chip order

YTL Communications Sdn Bhd is poised to become the first in the world to launch a nationwide 4G network, offering state-of-the-art mobile internet connectivity to Malaysia.

In a statement today, the communications utility of YTL Power International Bhd said it was committed to purchasing one million units of WiMAX single chips from GCT Semiconductor.

“This purchase agreement demonstrates YTL Communications’ commitment and marks GCT’s dedication to fully support YTL Communications with their deployment of a nationwide 4G service in Malaysia.

“GCT will share technical expertise and provide YTL Communications with the most advanced and lowest power WiMAX chips available on the market today, making YTL Communications’ vision of creating a complete ecosystem with nationwide mobile internet service using 4G a reality,” it said.

The one million units purchased will be consigned to key original design manufacturers selected to provide innovative 4G devices to YTL Communications this year.

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YTL Comms purchases 1 million wimax single-chips from GCT

SAN JOSE, USA: GCT Semiconductor, a leading supplier of Mobile WiMAX solutions, has announced a purchase commitment from YTL Communications Sdn Bhd of one million units of WiMAX single-chips including GCT’s GDM7205 WiMAX single chips and GDM7215 WiMAX/WiFi dual-mode single chips.

The sign off ceremony, taking place in Kuala Lumpur, celebrates YTL Communications’ commitment and marks GCT’s dedication to fully support YTL Communications with their deployment of nation-wide 4G service in Malaysia.

GCT will share technical expertise and provide YTL Communications with the most advanced and lowest power WiMAX chips available on the market today, making YTL Communications’ vision of creating a complete eco-system with nation-wide mobile Internet service using 4G a reality. YTL Communications will consign the purchased one million units to key ODMs selected to provide innovative 4G devices to YTL Communications this year.
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YTL 4G Wimax will increase GDP of Malaysia

The benefits of a nationwide WiMAX mobile Internet network will be countless, when individuals and businesses can finally “engage” fully with the global marketplace on a mobile device. Research shows that a mere 10% increase in broadband penetration increases GDP (or gross domestic product) by 1.5%.

A nationwide 4G spectrum will attract investments into the industry from technology players large and small. Malaysia’s manufacturing companies could soon be making new generations of WiMAX phones or CPEs (customer premise equipment) for the likes of Samsung.

Technological innovation would take off too. I can imagine new start-ups by whiz kids all around Malaysia, exploiting the spectrum to create new online content from e-commerce like Alibaba or Baidu, to entertainment and social networking sites like Youtube or Facebook.

In the case of YTL, our WiMAX plans have already attracted job applicants from America, China and India, as well as Malaysians living and working abroad. In fact, the CEO of YTL Communications, Wing K. Lee, is an American with many technology patents to his name and many more pending.

I like to believe that we are helping to reverse the brain drain. But the simple reality is when any Malaysian business offers exciting employment opportunities, people will come to work in Malaysia. And when intellectual capital pays its dividends, there will be better salaries and improved living standards.

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Entry of YTL 4G Wimax will not cause price war, says P1

Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (P1), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Green Packet Bhd, sees more competitive prices for its WiMAX services as competition heats up with the entrance of more players in the broadband market this year.

Broadband competition is expected to intensify this year with YTL Communications Sdn Bhd deploying its nationwide 4G WiMAX network service soon while Telekom Malaysia Bhd would be delivering its high-speed broadband network.

However, P1 chief executive officer Michael Lai said he did not expect a price war as a result of more competition.

“Although we may face challenges to our profit margins, we intend to improve our cost management efforts in order maintain margins,” he told a media briefing yesterday.

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“Ideas That Pay Money” podcast on BFM about the YTL mYprize Challenge

Kegan Gan and Steve Looi from YTL Communications share details on the coveted mYprize competition, an initiative inviting developers to create original applications and devices for use on YTL’s 4G network. Developers stand a chance to win US$1 milllion.

Download / Play

YTL hopeful for surge in Malaysia broadband penetration

YTL Communications Sdn Bhd, the telecommunications arm of YTL Corporation Bhd, expects broadband penetration in Malaysia to surge between 70 and 80 per cent within five years from its present penetration level of about 25 per cent.

YTL Group’s Managing Director Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh Sock Ping said a 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration would increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 1.5 per cent.

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