WiMAX carrier P1 forms TD-LTE pact with China Mobile
Another WiMAX luminary, Augere, taps Vodafone for new CEO to lead expansion in Africa and Asia
Published: 29 June, 2011
READ MORE: Spectrum | Asia | LTE | WiMAX
Two high profile operators in the WiMAX world are taking new directions, with Malaysia's P1 engaging in a TD-LTE trial with China Mobile, and Augere appointing a new CEO, a former Vodafone executive.
Packet One (P1) was a major advocate of Mobile WiMAX and a strong evangelist for the technology, but as it has been overtaken by LTE as the chief mobile broadband platform, P1 is looking ' like some of its WiMAX peers ' for a migration to the alternative TDD standard. This will draw the carrier into the fledgling ecosystem of carriers and suppliers, which TD-LTE's main supporter, China Mobile, is building in order to build momentum behind the technology, which is well behind FD-LTE in commercial terms.
The Malaysian firm has signed a technology cooperation agreement with China Mobile, aiming to 'spearhead the TD-LTE technology in Malaysia and south east Asia.' It will run TD-LTE networks in parallel with its existing and widespread WiMAX systems, starting in the first half of 2012. Several companies from the WiMAX world are now working on dual-mode chipsets that will enable devices to support hybrid roll-outs.
P1's CEO Michael Lai told local reporters that 'the economies of scale brought by China Mobile, with its subscriber base of over 600m, will see rapid development of the entire TD-LTE ecosystem.' P1 is majority owned by WiMAX solutions company Green Packet, and also numbers SKT of Korea as a major shareholder. SKT is also getting closer to China Mobile in LTE trials and other cooperations, as the south east Asian region looks to increase its leadership of mobile broadband and reduce its reliance on western technologies and IPR.
Earlier this month, P1 joined the Global TD-LTE Initiative, a 20-member alliance with the objective of 'creating value for stakeholders across the TD-LTE ecosystem'. Other members include India's Bharti Airtel, which is tipped to purchase TDD licenses currently held by Qualcomm in the country, in order to deploy TD-LTE; Clearwire, which has been testing dual-mode TD-LTE and WiMAX systems; and Vodafone, which is a close ally of China Mobile and has joined it in pushing the device ecosystem to support TDD/FDD products from day one.
Meanwhile, Augere Holdings, which operates WiMAX networks in Africa and Asia under the Qubee brand, has turned from Orange to Vodafone for leadership. Headed by former Orange executive Sanjiv Ahuja (with backing from the cellco), it has now appointed the former head of Vodafone Ghana, David Venn, as CEO. Ahuja will remain executive chairman but is busy with his primary role as CEO of LightSquared in the US.
There are many cross-connections between these two ventures, both of which number Harbinger Capital among their main investors. Other Augere backers include Ahuja himself, Orange, New Silk Route and Vedanta Opportunity Fund. It has spectrum holdings in Pakistan, Bangladesh, two states in India, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania, and is seeking additional licenses in other parts of Africa and Asia.
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