Packet One Networks (P1) has been accepted as a member of the Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI).
(CEO of P1, Michael Lai)
The Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI) was announced in February 2011 and it will focus on creating value for stakeholders across the TD-LTE ecosystem to promote the fast development of the technology, promoting the convergence of LTE TDD and FDD modes to maximize the economies of scale, and sharing ecosystem with other TDD technology, e.g. eXtended Global Platform (XGP) to establish a growth focused business environment. The initiative aims to bring together leading industry partners to steer the TD-LTE ecosystem as a major standard in mobile broadband technology & drive the development of next generation mobile broadband networks.
The other members of GTI are Aero2-Poland, Belltell-Philippines, Bharti Airtel-India, China Mobile-China, Clearwire-USA, Datame-Finland, E-Plus – Germany, FarEastone-Taiwan, FITEL-Taiwan, Korea Telecom-Korea, Omantel-Oman, Nextwave-USA, P1-Malaysia, Smoltelecom-Russia, SoftBank-Japan, Tatung Infocomm-Taiwan, Vividwireless-Australia, Vodafone-UK, Voentelecom-Russia and Woosh-New Zealand.
Press release from P1 below.
PETALING JAYA, Friday, 10 June 2011 – Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (“P1”) is Malaysia and Southeast Asia’s first 4G WiMAX service provider to join the ranks of global operators in the Global TD-LTE* Initiative (“GTI”) to champion TD-LTE technology. Michael Lai, CEO of P1 said the membership acceptance further affirms P1’s commitment in embracing the next wave of 4G technology evolution.
The GTI is a platform formed to create value for stakeholders across the TD-LTE ecosystem and drive the early adoption of TD-LTE technology. LTE is the next wave of 4G technology that is potentially capable of delivering dizzying wireless speeds of up to 1 Gigabits per second.
Lai explained, “For any technology to be cutting edge, there has to have mass adoption. The GTI consists of founding members who are heavyweights namely China Mobile, Bharti Airtel, Softbank Mobile, Clearwire and Vodafone Group. These operators collectively have a market potential of over half the world’s population. With its global scale, TD-LTE will also bring the widest selection and most cost effective high performance consumer devices like modems, routers, smart phones and tablets.”
Market intelligence firm Maravedis reported that by the end of 2011, there will be approximately 40 countries represented by 110 operators with 2.5 to 2.6GHz spectrum allocation for TD-LTE. P1 is one of nine Malaysian companies allocated the 2.6GHz spectrum as announced in 2010.
Lai said, “Thanks to the foresight of the Malaysian government in issuing the WiMAX license in 2007, P1 was the first to invest in 4G technology in Malaysia nearly three years ago. Now we have a head start in the transition to a dual 4G WiMAX/TD-LTE network. As a new member of GTI, P1 is able to value-add and share the combined experience with international operators in this exciting 4G journey.”
Lai added, “WiMAX is still the most matured 4G technology available today. However, we must prepare for the future and LTE is definitely the answer to the growing demand for mobile broadband services. P1 wants to offer its subscribers the best of both worlds by transitioning to a dual 4G WiMAX/TD-LTE platform and maximising its RM1 billion nationwide WiMAX network investment.“
As at end of 2010, there were more than 600 WiMAX deployments across the world accounting for over 13 million subscribers. Maravedis predicts the WiMAX subscriber base will reach 18.5 million by end of 2011.
To date, the total 20 members of GTI are Aero2-Poland, Belltell-Philippines, Bharti Airtel-India, China Mobile-China, Clearwire-USA, Datame-Finland, E-Plus – Germany, FarEastone-Taiwan, FITEL-Taiwan, Korea Telecom-Korea, Omantel-Oman, Nextwave-USA, P1-Malaysia, Smoltelecom-Russia, SoftBank-Japan, Tatung Infocomm-Taiwan, Vividwireless-Australia, Vodafone-UK, Voentelecom-Russia and Woosh-New Zealand.
*Time Division-Long Term Evolution
