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.

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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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Former AOL VP launches myprize challenge

YTL Communications, a communications provider poised to launch Malaysia’s first nationwide 4G network, has officially announced the $1,000,000 ‘mYprize’ Global Developer Challenge led by Rick Robinson, the former vice president of social products at AOL and now SVP of Customer Experience at YTL.

“I believe creative developers are driven by more than money, but this is a terrific way to help them afford to realize their goals,” said Robinson, who has also launched Sonicgleek Productions. “We are looking for software, apps, hardware and even simply well-crafted ideas in the Global Challenge. Everyone has a chance to win; they are only bound by imagination.”

The unique competition is designed to inspire entrepreneurs and innovators around the world to create exciting new 4G mobile Internet products and services principally for Malaysian deployment, and further positions the country as a center of 4G excellence.

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YTL Comms chooses Brightidea to power developer challenge

Brightidea, the leader in on-demand innovation management, today announced that new customer YTL Communications, a communications provider deploying Malaysia’s first nationwide 4G mobile Internet network, launched www.myprize.my. The Global Developer Challenge is a $1 million dollar open innovation initiative for developers to create original applications and devices for use on their 4G network. Powered by Brightidea’s WebStorm technology, ‘mYprize’ gives developers all around the world the opportunity to share their voice and be rewarded for innovative ideas.

“We want to give developers the chance to share their innovative ideas on our nationwide wireless broadband network and raise awareness about the scope of the 4G network’s capabilities,” said Wing K Lee, Chief Executive Officer of YTL Communications. “By using Brightidea’s software, it became a relatively quick and seamless process to actualize this contest and create a platform where compelling new ideas on our products and services can be shared and evaluated.”

“YTL’s country-wide 4G network represents a true ‘leapfrog’ of present day technology, offering developers the opportunity to work on the infrastructure of future, today,” said Matt Greeley, CEO of Brightidea. “The million dollar purse represents the largest award ever offered for an open innovation contest of this kind.”

YTL Comms announces May 1 developer deadline

YTL Communications Sdn Bhd is offering cash prizes totalling US$1 million (RM3.33 million) in search of the best original applications and devices for its nationwide fourth generation (4G) mobile Internet network.

It will hold a contest, called the Global Developer Challenge.

Winning entries may be developed for mass deployment to customers upon the launch of YTL’s nationwide 4G network in the second half of 2010. Developers can submit their entries until May 1 and ideas will be judged based on criteria such as the originality of the concept and its commercial potential.

Finalists will be invited to demonstrate their products in person to a panel of expert and community judges. Winners will be announced in September.

Interested developers can go to www.myprize.my to learn more details, register and submit their entries online.

P1 moves into East Malaysia ahead of Y-Max

KUCHING: Green Packet Bhd’s (Green Packet) 55 per cent owned subsidiary, Packet One Network Sdn Bhd, (P1) which deploys Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) broadband network is targeting to secure 250,000 subscribers by the second quarter of financial year 2010.

OSK Research Sdn Bhd (OSK Research) in a research report cited that P1’s subscriber base has risen steadily since its service was commercialised in August 2008.

It noted that the number of new subscribers added jumped from 25,000 in the first quarter of 2009 to 39,000, surpassing that of dominant asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) operator Telekom Malaysia (TM), with P1 getting the largest share of fixed broadband subscriber addition in the third quarter of 2009.

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