Malaysia’s U Mobile has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese vendor ZTE on the development of ‘pre5G’ mobile broadband technologies, the latter has announced. ZTE said that the partnership would help U Mobile deliver ‘substantial network performance upgrades’ using its proprietary pre5G technologies, including Massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO). In addition, it was confirmed that the MoU also covers collaboration between the two companies with regards to the research and development of 5G technologies.
Commenting on the deal, Too Tian Jen, chief technology officer of U Mobile, was cited as saying: ‘U Mobile is constantly exploring new technology that will provide best in class users experience to our customers … We see 5G technology as the technology that would support the ever increasing communication needs of the future. The collaboration with ZTE will also support our government’s vision of being a Smart Digital Nation by 2020.’