U Mobile has selected ZTE to deploy its LTE network across metropolitan areas in Malaysia. In the first phase, the Malaysian mobile operator will extend its HSPA+ Dual Carrier network in Central, Negeri Sembilan and the Northern region by the second half of 2011, which will be followed by the LTE rollout. Within the next 12 months, the HSPA+ Dual Carrier network, capable of peak downlink speeds of up to 42 Mbps, will be upgraded to support 84 Mbps.

U Mobile and ZTE have signed an agreement to bring 100 Mbps wireless network across key cities in Malaysia. The agreement is a two pronged development which will see U Mobile extending its 42 Mbps mobile network in Central, Negeri Sembilan and the Northern region by the 2nd half of this year and the installation of LTE platforms which has the potential to achieve 100 Mbps across Malaysia soon.
The signing ceremony was graced with a traditional twist as Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, Minister of Information, Communication and Culture of Malaysia and H.E Mr. Chai Xi, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia, were treated to a symbolic cultural exchange presentation when they witnessed Dr. Kaizad Heerjee, Chief Executive Officer of U Mobile and Mr. Zheng Bang, President of Asia-Pacific region of ZTE Corporation exchange signatures on a traditional Chinese Xuan Paper, using traditional Chinese brushes today – an act that affirms the collaboration between two parties.

In view of this strategic partnership, U Mobile is seen to be taking the way forward in providing the latest wireless technology for the country. Within the next 12 months, one should see an upgrade of U Mobile’s 42 Mbps to 84 Mbps capability. A user’s internet experience is likely to be ten times faster than the current rate.

What is even more exciting is that ZTE has also recently completed a successful pilot run of the Long Term Evolution (LTE), a technology that is known to support 100 Mbps. The readiness of this technology simply defines that once the spectrum is made available and device is readily available for the public, access to 100 Mbps is simply a stone throw away – it is no longer a far-fetched dream to browse, download and connect on the net in speedy moments.
The large-scale deployment of this high-speed wireless network is yet another proactive pioneering effort from U Mobile to further support the Government’s national agenda themed the Economic Transformation Program ETP, 10th and 11th Malaysia Plans, of which constant improvement of broadband access is one of the key growth drivers.

“We are very pleased to have ZTE as our strategic partner to enhance and extend our 3G high speed network from the Central Region to other major cities and areas across Malaysia,” said Dr Kaizad Heerjee, Chief Executive Officer of U Mobile. He added: “Together with ZTE, we aim to showcase several new innovations and deliver the benefits of the highest speed mobile broadband service to our customers. The introduction of this mobile broadband network is a strategic impetus to our ambition of becoming a major player in Malaysia’s fast-growing mobile data market.”

Mr. Zheng Bang President of Asia-Pacific region of ZTE Corporation , stated that “Malaysia is an important market for ZTE in the Asia-Pacific region. ZTE is committed to working with U Mobile to offer the fastest speed mobile broadband service in Malaysia and make U Mobile a showcase through our state-of-the-art technology and solutions, as well as excellent customer services and engineering capabilities.”

U Mobile subscribers will soon enjoy and experience ease of files transfer and streaming of high quality video to mobile devices and laptop, among others with fastest broadband service at a cost effective rate.