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.

“We are very excited to play a role in creating the world’s first nationwide 4G network here in Malaysia,” said Woonsub Kim, executive vice-president and general manager of Samsung’s telecommunications systems division.