P1 launches WiMAX commercially in Penang

According to Malaysian news agency Bernama, Packet One Networks (P1) has launched commercial WiMAX services in Penang, just two months after announcing trials of the service in the region. The operator has said it aims to have more than 50 base stations in operation within the next few months, in order to ensure the quality of the service will be maintained in line with expected demand. P1 has previously indicated it plans to expand its WiMAX network to offer coverage to 35% of the country’s population by the end of 2009. Last month, according to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, P1 announced a deal with Chinese hardware vendor ZTE for the second phase of its network rollout; ZTE expects to roll out approximately 700 base stations by the end of the year.