Pacific Internet Limited (NASDAQ: PCNTF), the largest telco-independent Internet Communications Service Provider in the Asia Pacific region by geographic reach, recently announced that it has secured the wireless spectrum rights from the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). The company secured a total of 30MHz of frequency spectrum in the 2.5GHz band, which is also one of the spectrum bands supported by the WiMAX Forum, an industry-led, non-profit corporation formed to provide and certify the compatibility and interoperability of Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) products. This spectrum rights will allow the company to deploy wireless broadband and fixed wireless services nationwide in Singapore. It will also compete with existing broadband technologies like ADSL and cable broadband, as well as 3G services offered by mobile operators.
Pacific Internet’s Senior Vice President for General Business, Kevin Lim, said, “We bided for the rights to the spectrum as it will allow us to extend our business beyond the current wholesale model. With wireless broadband, we also look forward to lower cost of sales, resulting in better margins. At just over S$2 million for the spectrum rights, it is a fraction of the S$100 million paid by mobile operators for the 3G rights in Singapore. Pacific Internet looks forward to be the first in Singapore to offer the widest choice of broadband services – ADSL, cable and wireless broadband – as well as to offer more value-added services such as voice, security, collaboration and mobility solutions. This is in line with our More Than Just Internet proposition.”
With the successful spectrum acquisition, Pacific Internet will be progressing on a commercial trial this year involving both corporate and consumer Internet users. The company is targeting a commercial rollout starting in 2006.
Mr Lim said, “We are working with both pre-WiMAX and WiMAX vendors for the trial. We believe that when the WiMAX standard led by Intel is eventually ready in 2006; all vendors will converge to the WiMAX standard, leading to more choices for BWA products and better economies of scale.”
“Singapore is the headquarters for the Pacific Internet Group and it is also a country with a very supportive government who believes in positioning Singapore as the wireless hub for Asia. We intend to use Singapore as the test-bed for our wireless initiative and roll out to our other markets if it is successful,” added Mr Lim.
Mr. Prithayuth Nivasabutr, Managing Director for Pacific Internet Thailand Limited, said, “Wireless is a key strategic thrust for the Pacific Internet Group. In Thailand, we are also interested in deploying Broadband Wireless Access to our corporate business customers. We believe that the experience acquired in our headquarters in Singapore will be beneficial as we awaits details from the government agency on the wireless spectrum rights in Thailand.”
Editor’s Note:
About Pacific Internet Limited
Pacific Internet Limited or PacNet (NASDAQ: PCNTF) is the largest telco-independent Internet Communications Service Provider by geographic reach in the Asia Pacific region. The company has direct presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, India, Thailand and Malaysia. PacNet delivers a comprehensive suite of Internet data, voice and video services to corporate business and consumer customers. More information at www.pacnet.com.
For further information:
Mervin Wang Ravisada Angkeeros
Pacific Internet Limited Pacific Internet Thailand Limited
Office: (65) 6771 0780 Office: 02 618 8888
Mobile: (65) 9798 6077 Mobile: 01 398 5098
[email protected] [email protected] End.