The Mobile Internet Report Key Themes*

WiMAX in Emerging Asia –
Still in Nascent Stages
WiMAX deployment in Asia still in nascent stages – Malaysia and Philippines have seen
WiMAX deployment, Indonesia has recently awarded licenses. India / Thailand yet to issue
licenses. China working towards proprietary WiMAX version.
Country
Malaysia
Indonesia
Thailand
Philippines
Comments
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued four WiMAX licenses using the 2.3GHz
spectrum to REDtone, Greenpacket, YTL, and Asiaspace in March 2007.
While Greenpacket, REDtone and Asiaspace have already launched their WiMAX services, YTL plans a nationwide
rollout by July 2010.
We think Malaysia would be an interesting case study for the viability of WiMAX as a fixed line broadband
substitute in emerging markets.
TM’s broadband service is still not available in several areas in Malaysia, and WiMAX could address the
broadband market in semi-urban areas.
Eight WiMAX licenses were awarded for different zones in July 2009, and services are expected to be
commercially available from early 2010. Telkom expects that it will have services up and running by 1Q10 in
Maluku, for which it won a license.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) plans to issue WiMAX spectrum licenses after the auction
of the 3G spectrum, which is expected to happen in the next 6 months. The NTC is considering whether to allow
the 3G-licence winners to own the WiMAX licenses, as well.
Globe Telecom is the first to deploy WiMAX, with services initially available in selected areas in South Luzon,
National Capital Region, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Smart Communications has obtained an approval from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to
acquire the full ownership of Primeworld Digital Systems, which has a 30MHz bandwidth frequency assignment in
the 2,300-2,400 MHz block, which means it can use the frequencies nationwide for WiMAX services.
Source: Company data, Navin Killa, Morgan Stanley Research. 629