KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia-Malaysian operator Maxis Communications began a trial of UMTS third-generation technology last week. The eight-month test will use 3G spectrum assigned by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in April 2003.
The operator’s commercial launch is scheduled for the end of 2004 at a cost of about $53 million.
Up to 300 selected Maxis staff and customers will participate in the trial. The network is available in three areas-the Kuala Lumpur central business district, the residential hub of early adopters in Bandar Sunway, and in the area of Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.
Maxis Chief Executive Officer and Director of UMTS Dato’ Jamaludin Ibrahim said the trial is important for assessing customer acceptance and willingness to embrace new content and applications and for tackling technology readiness such as data throughput, interoperability, network robustness, and handset functionality and ease of use.
