Malaysian WiMAX provider Packet One Networks (P1) has set aside between MYR200 million and MYR300 million (USD58.9 million- USD88.3 million) in capital expenditure for the 2010 calendar year, according to local news outlet The Business Times. A portion of these funds are expected to be used to expand the operator’s presence to the Sabah and Sarawak regions, according to P1 chief executive Michael Lai. The company also claimed that in the past 13 months it has spent approximately MYR300 million in the rollout of its Malaysian WiMAX network, and said it was on track to achieve its coverage target of 45% of West Malaysia’s population by 2010 and 65% of the country’s population in 2012.
In total, Mr Lai said that the company expects the cost of achieving its coverage targets to reach between MYR1 billion and MYR1.5 billion, noting: ‘The plan is to work within MYR1 billion to cover 65% of the population but we want to aggressively cover up to 75%-85% of the population, then the additional MYR500 million investment will be needed.’