YTL Communications And Global Technology Pioneers Unite To Build Groundbreaking 4g Innovation Network In Malaysia
Effort will Connect the Best Minds in Silicon Valley with Developers in
Malaysia to Create Exciting New Applications for YTL’s Nationwide 4G Service
while Establishing the Country as a Regional Centre of Excellence for 4G
Innovation
USD 1 Million mY Prize will Reward Best Innovators in 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, November 10, 2009 – YTL Communications Sdn Bhd
today announced the formation of a 4G Innovation Network in Malaysia in
cooperation with some of the preeminent players in technology, including: Cisco,
Clearwire, GCT Semiconductor, Inc. and SAMSUNG. High-ranking executives from
each participating company marked the official start of the initiative during a
ceremony at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur
witnessed by the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia Y.A.B Dato' Sri Mohd
Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.
To inspire the developers who take part in the 4G Innovation Network to create
exciting new products and services that address consumers’ needs, YTL
Communications will sponsor a global competition-the mY Prize-in 2010. A total
of USD 1 million will be awarded to help entrepreneurs and innovators realize
their best ideas and then offer them to consumers on a nationwide level. More
details will be announced by January. Developers are invited to visit the
Company’s web site to request more information at:
www.ytlcomms.my.
“YTL Communications is proud to take a leadership role amidst this prestigious
group and equally as proud of Malaysia for having what it takes to attract
interest and commitment from top players in technology,” said YTL Group Managing
Director Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, CBE, FICE. “Together, we
will help to advance the country’s mission to become a truly innovation-led
economy as well as YTL's mission to provide affordable, world-class quality
products and services that improve the way people in Malaysia learn, work and
play.”
YTL Communications Chief Executive Officer Wing K. Lee added, "The Innovation
Network will facilitate the development of applications and devices that will
take advantage of 4G mobile Internet and which will give people in Malaysia a
truly connected lifestyle and new levels of communication freedom."
The 4G Innovation Network is being established to facilitate the deployment of
YTL’s nationwide 4G service in Malaysia that will offer a high-fidelity Internet
experience to people across the country by the end of 2010. To achieve this,
YTL’s 4G Innovation Network in Malaysia will be linked with Clear’s Innovation
Network in Silicon Valley to facilitate a free flow of ideas and information
across borders. Importantly, developers worldwide will have the chance to
commercialize their work on a national scale in Malaysia.
"YTL's 4G Innovation Network in Malaysia will expand the 4G ecosystem by linking
Malaysian and other Asian developers directly with some of the world's most
creative minds in Silicon Valley, in order to share ideas while testing services
designed to enhance the 4G mobile Internet experience," said Ali Tabassi, senior
vice president, global ecosystem and standards for Clearwire. "Fostering
development of the first generation of true mobile broadband services helps to
fulfill our goals of changing the way people access the Internet and providing
new opportunities for mobile applications."
"This network is truly transformational – one of the first in the world to offer
converged services over a wireless network. We expect that it will help drive
competitiveness for Malaysia; as we have consistently seen that those countries
that use technology strategically are the countries that lead economically,
socially and environmentally," said Mr. Wim Elfrink, Chief Globalisation Officer
and Executive Vice President, Cisco Services. "Cisco’s leadership in this effort
highlights our continued commitment to innovate and provide new business models
to cater to the diverse needs of our customers worldwide."
"We expect that the 4G Innovation Network in Malaysia will take a leading role
in developing and expanding WiMAX all over the Asia-Pacific region." said
Woonsub Kim, executive vice president and head of the Telecommunication Systems
Division, Samsung Electronics. "By bringing the technical know-how it has
accumulated through numerous commercial WiMAX businesses, Samsung will
contribute to the successful establishment of the Malaysian 4G Innovation
Network."
"We look forward to bringing our expertise to the 4G Innovation Network and
empowering YTL to further advance its 4G wireless services in Malaysia," said
Kyeongho "KH" Lee, CEO of GCT Semiconductor, Inc. "We believe this partnership
will offer an excellent platform to share ideas and accelerate 4G application
development and the launch of innovative device and terminal products."
About YTL Communications Sdn Bhd
YTL Communications Sdn Bhd is a subsidiary and the communications utility of YTL
Power International Berhad (YTL Power International). The Company has approval
from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to operate a
2.3 GHz WiMAX wireless broadband network in Malaysia and intends to use this
privilege to provide affordable, world-class services that improve the lives of
people across Malaysia.
Financial backing from YTL Power International and technological know-how from
strategic, best-in-breed partners including: Cisco, Clearwire, GCT and Samsung,
will position YTL Communications as a leading player in the telecommunications
industry and will lay the foundation for the roll out of a nationwide wireless
broadband network by late 2010. As a responsible corporate citizen, YTL
Communications is committed to bridging the digital divide between the urban and
rural communities, improving the quality of life, and supporting efforts to
promote technological innovation.
About YTL Power International
YTL Power International is a utility group active across key segments of the
utility industry worldwide. Headquartered in Malaysia and listed on Bursa
Malaysia (market capitalization RM12.9 billion (USD 3.8 billion) as at 31
October 2009), it operates in Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia
and Indonesia. Its core businesses include: power generation, retail and
transmission, water and sewerage services. YTL Communications represents YTL
Power International’s first investment in the communications business. YTL Power
International is a subsidiary of YTL Corporation Berhad ("YTL Corporation").
About YTL Corporation
YTL Corporation Berhad is one of the largest companies listed on the Bursa
Malaysia, and together with its five listed entities has a combined market
capitalization of about RM30.8 billion (USD9.1 billion) as at 31 October 2009,
and total assets of over RM45 billion (USD13 billion). The company was listed in
1985, and has also had a secondary listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since
1996, being the first Asian (non-Japanese) company to be listed on the Tokyo
Stock Exchange. YTL Corporation is an integrated infrastructure developer with
interests in construction, power generation (in both contracted and merchant
markets), cement manufacturing, water and sewerage services, property
development, hotel development and management and information technology and
e-commerce initiatives, serving over 12 million customers on three continents.
