TMCnet News
Foreign firms bid to build WiMAX system in Malaysia(Malay Mail Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)ALCATEL SA, the world's biggest maker of broadband Internet equipment, Lucent Technologies Inc and Redline Communications Inc have submitted bids to build a fixed wireless high speed broadband system in Malaysia, people familiar withe matter said yesterday. Mail Money was told that the submission was made sometime last month to NasionCom Holdings Bhd, a tier two telephone company listed on the Mesdaq market. NasionCom is believed to have allocated as much as RM200 million to build the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) system in Malaysia. WiMAX is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-through put broadband connections over long distances. WiMAX can be used for a number of applications, including "last mile" broadband connections, hotspots and cellular backhaul, and high-speed enterprise connectivity for business. Mail Money was told that the three companies made the bids after NasionCom had called for a closed door tender, earlier in the year. It is understood that from the RM200 million allocated by NasionCom to roll out the WiMAX system, as much as RM60 million will be set aside to develop and implement the WiMAX system in the Klang Valley. Outside the Klang Valley, NasionCom plans to to build a WiMAX base in major cities in the country such as in Penang and Johor Baru, before moving on to less major cities such as Alor Star in Kedah and Kangar in Perlis. NasionCom's branding partner in what is the country's first integrated WiMAX base by a non-government linked company is Intel Corp, the world's biggest semiconductor maker. Its technology partner in the venture is Deutsche Telekom AG, Europe's largest integrated telecommunications provider. |