YTL e-Solutions Bhd (YTLe) is investing RM2.5bil to build a WiMAX-enabled network that will have ample capacity to cater for 14 million users, said director Datuk Yeoh Seok Hong. YTLe’s network roll-out was on track and the July 1 launch date for its service roll-out intact. It has acquired many transmission sites and its nerve centre for its operations at Kuala Lumpur’s Sentul East is nearing completion. The centre is where it will also house its inter-operability testing for applications. Its operations here will be the test bed for future export of its expertise to other countries.

According to Yeoh, the key to a widespread take-up of WiMAX services is devices and there is a lack of WiMAX-enabled devices in the market place. That is what its partnership with Samsung will look at so that YTLe’s offering will come with WiMAX-enabled devices. YTLe is also not after those with Internet access but the untapped market that has no access to the Internet. That is about 80% of the population. Currently, the Internet penetration rate in the country is 25% and the Government wants this to reach 50% by end of 2010. Article TheStar