Malaysian broadband provider YTL Communications, which offers services under the Yes banner, is to undertake a pilot of Terragraph in Georgetown, Penang, Digital News Asia reports. Terragraph is a ‘60GHz multi-hop multi-point wireless distribution network’ which claims to be able to deliver gigabit speeds to dense underserved urban areas at ‘a fraction of the cost of fibre’. The trial network deployment, supported by Facebook, will reportedly be the first large-scale market pilot of the technology in Asia.
Commenting on the pilot plans, YTL Communications’ CEO Wing K Lee was cited as saying: ‘A breakthrough in technology is needed to address the need for better broadband while preserving the uniqueness of Georgetown’s proud Unesco status … Commencing on 1 March, we expect the pilot to last up to six months, during which we will learn and plan for the commercial rollout while continuing to explore ways to harness this advanced wireless fibre technology.’