Green Packet eyes 2 WiMAX jobs abroad

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20090216154342/Article/index_html
GREEN Packet Bhd aims to secure two WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) contracts in the Middle East and Taiwan before the end of next month.

Group managing director and chief executive officer Puan Chan Cheong, however, did not disclose the value of the contracts.

The company earlier this year was awarded a contract from PCCW, the largest communications service provider in Hong Kong.

Its WiMAX coverage, which now extends to 15 per cent of the country, is projected to hit 40 per cent by the end of 2009 with more than 250,000 subscribers expected.
To reach the target, Green Packet plans to have 700 sites by the end of this year from about 220 sites now.

“The first phase will be rolling out close to 600 sites. This is the US$72 million contract that we awarded to Alcatel-Lucent. We hope to award the second phase of another 400 sites before the end of this quarter,” he said.

Another 300 sites will be build next year, Puan said, adding that RM270 million will be spent for the first and second phases this year.

Last year, it spent RM170 million to roll out half of the first phase.

Meanwhile, Green Packet Bhd suffered a pre-tax loss
of RM57.759 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2008 compared to a pre-tax profit of RM30.992 million in the same period in 2007.

Revenue fell to RM88.427 million from RM122.836 million previously. — Bernama