Bangkok--24 Mar--GM of Farh Agency Typical HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) offerings do not target the residential broadband, especially in the market having high broadband penetration, but that does not mean the technology isn’t capable of delivering access. Maxis Communications Berhad, Malaysia’s leading mobile operator, launched HSPA broadband services in 2006 with an approach no operator had ever taken before. It sets its sight on a more ambitious goal: residential broadband. For Maxis, HSPA is opening up a new revenue opportunity while also helping speed up the return on its 3G investment. With only 15% broadband penetration comparing to nationwide 75% penetration of Malaysian mobile market, this is a real opportunity for Maxis to win new customer by utilizing the existing HSPA infrastructure. What are they offering is a more attractive alternative to DSL.Introducing Broadband Access to New Market Since launching the services, Maxis’ HSPA is a compelling alternative to incumbent DSL operator. Not only competing on speed with DSL, it also offers subscribers portability across HSPA, 3G and EDGE networks, reduced voice calling costs, and delivers it in a convenient, converged service with a single bill — making connecting to the Internet a simple task. Maxis has presented users with a compelling alternative to upgrading majority dial-up connection to ADSL broadband with a comparable monthly fee. The wireless modem offered incorporates an RJ11 socket which allow users plugging a standard phone into it and make low cost calls over 3G network. With the built-in backup battery, users can take it out of house and used in a caf? or bar. The modem can already support up to 7.2 Mbps to support future really bandwidth-intensive content such as IPTV via wireless connection. Maxis is aiming for over 100,000 subscribers at the end of year and building its way to a 25-30% share of broadband market in the next five years. Mobile workers are not excluded from the benefits of wireless broadband. Maxis also offer a data card that plugs directly into PC notebooks giving access to the Internet wherever. Both Maxis’ HSPA data cards and wireless modem are multi-mode, ensuring users get service continuity across HSPA, UMTS, EDGE and GPRS.Providing Seamless Coverage Upgrading the existing 3G network to support residential broadband services has been a relatively straightforward yet challenging task. Maxis targeted to enable more than 2,000 3G and HSPA sites by the end of 2007. This provides coverage for 80% of Malaysia’s economic activity. Cell site planning in case of Maxis Wireless broadband is paramount. The network needed to provide much more capacity at transmission and RNC levels than if HSPA was solely used as a mobile service. Each site is designed to support 100-200 simultaneous users. Most important, the cell density is similar to 3G with ensuring seamless coverage. Maxis ensure that everything from the Radio Access Network to the backhaul support mass-market broadband. Maxis Wireless Broadband is offered at two speeds: 384 kbps in 3G areas, and 640 kbps in HSPA coverage areas. The users can often get peak speed of up to 3.6 Mbps.Conclusion HSPA as a true residential and business broadband service is not a concept limited to Malaysia. In many developing markets, particularly those without an extensive fixed infrastructure like Thailand, HSPA could then bring broadband voice and data services to those that otherwise would have none. HSPA is an integral part of the evolutionary roadmap for GSM and W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access). At the end of February 2008, there are 2.64 billion GSM/WCDMA/HSPA subscribers in 220 countries. About 15 million subscribers use the HSPA purely for residential broadband service and expected to reach 40 and 700 millions in 2008 and 2012 respectively. For further information, please contact: Mrs. Voraparn Eua-arporn (coco) GM of Farh Agency Tel: 0 26160991-2, Fax: 0 2616 0993 MB: 08 9144 4014, 08 1376 5927