Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd or P1, one of the world’s first 4G service providers, is looking forward to further strengthen its 4G leadership position in 2012 with a big coverage rollout. The young and fast growing telco has rapidly expanded its coverage in 2011 by adding over 650 sites to a total of 1,500 sites in Peninsula Malaysia, covering 50 percent of the population.
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The three year old telco has managed to attain profitability in a record time of under five years, no mean feat in a highly competitive industry. To date, P1 has pumped-in about RM700 million in capex for its 4G services rollout. Subscriber base has grown to over 356,000 users in Malaysia (Q3 2011 data) and P1 is expecting to cross the 500,000 subscriber milestone this year.
Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer of P1 said, “The rapid and efficient deployment of the P1 4G network is crucial to delivering our commitment to make broadband a right for all Malaysians. This year, we are targeting to increase coverage to 65 per cent of peninsular Malaysia. P1 is committed to improving network capability and customers will enjoy improved standards of service with the completion of this phase.”
In its quest to become a fully converged telco, P1 has added voice service as a value-added service for P1 customers. Last year, P1 announced that it is the first 4G service provider in Southeast Asia to join the ranks of global operators in the Global TD-LTE* Initiative (“GTI”) to champion TD-LTE technology. P1 entered into strategic partnerships with Qualcomm and China Mobile to spearhead the technology movement to bring this new wave of 4G evolution to Malaysia.
*Time Division Long Term Evolution
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Press Release
For immediate release
Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.
3 February 2012
P1 TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN 4G LEADERSHIP POSITION IN 2012
PETALING JAYA – South East Asia’s leading and one of the world’s first 4G service provider Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (“P1”) is looking forward to a significant year ahead in strengthening its position in the 4G space.
Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer of P1 said the company is still young but is a fast growing and dynamic organisation. “I am proud to say that P1 has achieved so much in just over three years. In this short period of time, we have established ourselves at the forefront of 4G technology movement in South East Asia. We have also rapidly expanded our coverage in 2011 alone by adding over 650 sites to a total of 1500 sites today. This means we now cover 50 per cent of the population,” said Lai.
Lai expects this year to be a big coverage roll-out year for P1. He said that due to the high response rate to P1 4G service, P1 will continue its ambitious coverage expansion.
“The rapid and efficient deployment of the P1 4G network is crucial to delivering our commitment to make broadband a right for all Malaysians. This year, we are targeting to increase coverage to 65 per cent of peninsular Malaysia. P1 is committed to improving network capability and customers will enjoy improved standards of service with the completion of this phase,” said Lai.
“2012 is going to be a historic year for P1,” said the CEO. “Several milestones that we have set are already within view. Albeit some of the challenges faced along the way were tough, we have managed to overcome them and we’re set to become one of the few telcos attaining profitability in a record time of under five years. We have garnered a solid and growing subscriber base of over 356,000 users in Malaysia as of the third quarter of 2011. We are looking to cross the 500,000 subscriber mark this year,” added Lai. To date, P1 has pumped-in about RM700 million in capex for its 4G services rollout.
Lai informed, “Voice service has been introduced as a value-added service for P1 customers. The implementation of voice services is a natural but significant step for us towards becoming a fully converged telco.”
Last year, P1 announced that it is the first 4G service provider in Southeast Asia to join the ranks of global operators in the Global TD-LTE* Initiative (“GTI”) to champion TD-LTE technology. P1 entered into strategic partnerships with Qualcomm and China Mobile to spearhead the technology movement to bring this new wave of 4G evolution to Malaysia.
P1 is determined to bridge the digital divide by ensuring that access to the Internet is universal, ubiquitous and affordable for every Malaysian. A key area that P1 has been focusing on is in the education sector. Several of the schools around the vicinity of P1’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya have been outfitted with P1 4G service under the P1-Edu program. This year, more schools are expected to be under the program.
*Time Division Long Term Evolution
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