Kuala Lumpur, 23 April 2009

Y-Max Infra Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of YTL e-Solutions Berhad (YTLE), today entered into a contract with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (SAMSUNG) for the implementation of a nationwide mobile internet network.  YTLE is a subsidiary of YTL Corporation Berhad.

Under the arrangement, SAMSUNG will provide a comprehensive WiMAX network solution including WiMAX base stations, end-to-end IP Multimedia Service (IMS) solutions, and a range of Mobile Internet Devices (MID).

With this contract SAMSUNG will be supplying not only network equipment, but more importantly, the world's 1st WiMAX-enabled handsets. These handsets will allow subscribers to have access to a high-quality, converged voice and high-speed broadband network all over the country.

Leveraging on its partnership with CLEARWIRE and CISCO, this contract completes YTLE's comprehensive network, offering an all-IP (Internet Protocol) converged mobile internet service which includes high-speed data, messaging and voice.

YTLE and its partners, namely SAMSUNG and CISCO, are committed to developing Malaysia into a leading hub for WiMAX excellence.  This will encourage investment and growth in Malaysia through the development of new local facilities, professional resources, training, manufacturing and logistics support. This will be the catalyst for the creation of state-of-the-art infrastructure, devices, applications and content utilizing WiMAX technology.

"Having invested the time and resources, I am confident that we have found the right solution for Malaysia which is a combination of nationwide implementation, with proven world class partners, to create a centre for WiMAX excellence and investment.  We will bring seamless converged mobile internet service which includes high-speed data, messaging and voice to Malaysians, any place, anytime and anywhere throughout the country.  We are proud that Malaysia will be the 1st country outside the US to have an ecosystem that provides a converged mobile internet service throughout the country using WiMAX technology," said YTLE’s Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Tan Sri Dato' (Dr) Francis Yeoh.

"Whilst Malaysia is already ahead in the game, this initiative will provide further stimulus to the Government’s vision for the Multimedia Super Corridor, creating new jobs, bringing new opportunities for innovation to the industry, Government and SMEs, and generating an explosion in knowledge workers," he added.

SAMSUNG is the world's first Mobile WiMAX system and device provider, launching the world's first commercial services in Korea in June 2006 and having businesses with 23 major WiMAX operators in 19 countries such as CLEARWIRE in US, YOTA in Russia and UQ COMMUNICATIONS in Japan. By introducing various services using Mobile WiMAX at the exhibitions and demonstrating the viability of Mobile WiMAX Evolution, the next version of Mobile WiMAX, SAMSUNG is in the vanguard of Mobile WiMAX's adoption and evolution.

SAMSUNG Executive Vice President and General Manager of Telecommunication Systems Division, Mr. WoonSub Kim, said, "We would like to thank YTLE for their confidence in us. We will leverage our successful implementations in the US and throughout the world and bring the best of Mobile WiMAX to Malaysia. SAMSUNG is pleased to produce a comprehensive solution including the 1st Mobile WiMAX handset. Our network and devices will provide an unparalleled Mobile WiMAX experience for YTLE's customers".        

About YTLE 
YTL e-Solutions Berhad (YTLE) is listed on the Mesdaq Market of the Bursa Malaysia. Through its subsidiary, Y-Max Networks Sdn Bhd, it holds a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) licence for a 2.3 GHz wireless broadband access spectrum, which was awarded by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to roll out a nationwide WiMAX network in Peninsular Malaysia.  In June 2008, YTLE entered into an agreement with Clearwire Corporation (formerly known as XOHM) for the provision of technical expertise and, in November 2008, entered into a strategic collaboration with Cisco Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd to establish its WiMAX core network in Peninsular Malaysia. 

About SAMSUNG Electronics
SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2008 consolidated sales of US$96 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of two business units: Digital Media & Communications and Device Solutions. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, SAMSUNG Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs

Text of Speech by Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Francis Yeoh Sock Ping

YTL e-Solutions Berhad
Signing Ceremony for the
Implementation of Nationwide Mobile Internet Network
23 April 2009
 

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us today to witness the signing of our agreement with Samsung to provide YTL with a comprehensive WiMAX network solution for the implementation of our nationwide mobile internet service.

This collaboration with Samsung, in effect, marks the culmination of YTL’s WiMAX platform. Several factors have been critical in reaching this point.  Firstly, it has been of paramount importance that the establishment of our WiMAX network must be truly nationwide in order to offer our subscribers freedom from wires and an entirely new mobile internet experience that converges voice and data. 

Secondly, we had to secure the commitment of partners with the technology, expertise and experience to take our service to a new level in Malaysia.  This process has been a search for proven technology and world-class partners who have defined themselves as industry leaders.  Our team, for example, visited the US to witness Clearwire’s successful rolling-out of its WiMAX network.  

Clearwire, whose strategic investors include Intel, Comcast, Sprint, Google and Time Warner Cable, is building the first, nationwide 4G mobile internet wireless network in the US.  Its open, all-IP network offers an unprecedented combination of speed and mobility that combines with significant spectrum holdings to provide unmatched network capacity to deliver next-generation broadband access to its subscribers.

We thank Clearwire for providing us with the technical expertise to execute our WiMAX service in Malaysia and for their assistance in bringing all the major eco-system players to us.  And in November last year, we tied up with Cisco to establish our WiMAX core network throughout the Peninsular.  

This brings us to the reason we are here today – Samsung, a leading maker of mobile WiMAX products, from WiMAX mobile devices to WiMAX network infrastructure.  Samsung is a leader in driving world mobile WiMAX standards in the WiMAX forum and is the majority supplier of infrastructure to Clearwire.     

Samsung is in the vanguard of mobile WiMAX’s adoption and evolution, and, just as significantly, is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs.  Under the agreement being signed today, Samsung will provide us exclusively with proprietary handsets, the world’s 1st WiMAX-enabled mobile devices.  These handsets will offer our subscribers unique access to a high-quality, converged voice and high-speed broadband network throughout the Peninsula. 

Having invested the time and resources to bring our strategy to this stage, I am confident that we have found the right solution for Malaysia which is a combination of nationwide implementation, with proven world class partners, to create a hub for WiMAX excellence and investment. 

Our platform will bring seamless converged mobile internet service which includes high-speed data, messaging and voice to Malaysians, any place, anytime and anywhere throughout the Peninsular.  

And all this means that Malaysia will be the 1st country outside the US to have an eco-system that provides a truly converged mobile internet service with nationwide coverage, using WiMAX technology. 

We expect to roll-out fully in 14 months, with user trials beginning in the next 6 to 8 months. And the principle driving pricing for subscribers is that our service must offer quality and service that is second-to-none, whilst, above all, being affordable for Malaysians from all walks of life.

I wish to thank our partners, Samsung, Clearwire and Cisco for the confidence they have shown in going forward with us.

I extend my gratitude to the Deputy Minister for Information, Communication and Culture, Yang Berhormat Senator Puan Heng Seai Kie, and Yang Bahagia Datuk Dr. Halim Shafie, Chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, for their presence here today.

The Malaysian Government has played a commendable role in pursuing the implementation of broadband and WiMAX throughout Malaysia to reduce the digital divide between rural and urban populations.  We fully anticipate that the platform we have embarked on will go a fair way in assisting the Government to achieve this laudable objective. 

Whilst Malaysia is already ahead in the game, this initiative will provide further stimulus to the Government’s vision for the Multimedia Super Corridor, creating new jobs, bringing new opportunities for innovation to the industry, Government and SMEs, and generating an explosion in knowledge workers.

Thank you all for your presence and support today.