Chinese telecom equipment provider ZTE has been
awarded a US$76 million contract by Malaysian WiMAX carrier Packet One
Networks, according to a C114 report on May 7. As per the terms of the deal,
ZTE will deploy the third phase of Packet One's WiMAX network expansion and
will be responsible for network planning and design, equipment supply, project
service, and network optimization. Along with the deal, Packet One also
announced that it plans to extend its WiMAX coverage to 65% of Malaysia's overall
population, which is estimated at 28 million at present, by 2012.
ZTE and Packet One previously signed a US$28
million contract in March 2009 for Packet One's second-phase WiMAX network
expansion. According to the second-phase contract, ZTE is required to deploy
350 base stations and boost Packet One's WiMAX coverage from 35% to 45% by
year-end 2010.