Cutting-edge 4G technologies are getting a boost from the establishment of Southeast Asia’s first 4G LTE TDD Technology Experience Centre and Test Lab in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This breakthrough is the result of collaboration between Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (“P1”), P1’s consulting arm Packet One International Pte Ltd (“P1i”), and ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”). The project also is supported by China Mobile Communications Co. Ltd Research Institute (“China Mobile”).

The 4G Experience Centre and Test Lab will be established in early 2012 at P1’s headquarters, also known as Packet Hub. Operators and vendors who want a taste of blazing wireless speeds of 120 Mbps and beyond will be welcome to utilize the facility.

Malaysia is the choice location for the set-up because P1 is based in Kuala Lumpur and has been operating one of the world’s largest WiMAX networks over the past 3 years. P1 also is far along in its preparations to progress from WiMAX to a dual WiMAX/LTE TDD network.

"The impact of 4G technology on our lives will be phenomenal,” said P1 CEO Michael Lai. “P1’s customers utilize an average of 17.5GB of data per month, an increase of two-and-a-half times the amount of data utilization since our commercial launch in 2008. What’s even more mind-boggling is that data utilization is growing by the day with the proliferation of high-definition screens and nifty handheld devices.”

He added, “Telecoms operators have no choice but to be ready for a great paradigm shift from voice to data business models. P1 is ready for this and therefore set up the 4G Experience Centre and Test Lab with the aim of fast-tracking 4G LTE TDD technology deployment in the region.”

P1i Dr. Tang Pen San commented that in the last three years since P1’s commercial deployment, its headquarters has hosted more than 70 telecom operators and vendors from 60 countries and demonstrated how an advanced wireless broadband network is being deployed and managed. P1i’s role is to assist aspiring 4G operators to a smoother adoption of this cutting edge technology,”Dr. Tang added.

Dr. Wang Shouchen, president of the ZTE LTE TDD product line commented: “As the leader in LTE TDD technology and one of the major LTE TDD solutions providers, ZTE is excited and proud to be part of this collaboration. We have established a strong partnership with P1 in last two years. The 4G Experience Centre and Test Lab will allow us to move this partnership to a higher level. The Centre will promote migration toward LTE TDD technology and demonstrate the value of this transition.”

According to Huang Yuhong, deputy general manager of China Mobile Research Institute: “LTE TDD is flexible in terms of resource and spectrum configuration. Therefore, it is more suited to better meet the demand of mobile data traffic. LTE TDD benefits from global roaming and scale created by the convergence of LTE TDD and FDD. The commercialization of LTE TDD has taken off in 2011, with early adopters including incumbent mobile operators, greenfield operators, and WiMAX operators. The 4G LTE TDD Experience Centre and Test Lab will provide a base for testing and investigating interoperability among LTE TDD, LTE FDD and WiMAX. It will promote the LTE deployment and WiMAX transition in Asia and Africa and build a global success.”

The center will initially utilize P1’s 2.6GHz spectrum for LTE-TDD technology showcases and interoperability testing of the latest 4G devices. By the end of first half 2012, the network will also utilize P1’s 2.3GHz spectrum.