4G chipmaker Sequans Communications, 4G networking solutions provider, Greenpacket, and Packet One Networks (P1), a major 4G operator in Southeast Asia, have jointly announced that they are working together to develop LTE solutions, including dual-mode 4G WiMAX/LTE solutions for Greenpacket's global operator customers.
Greenpacket is testing Sequans' technology to develop LTE and dual-mode WiMAX/LTE reference designs as part of its strategy to launch a complete ecosystem of 4G networking solutions and devices by the end of 2011. P1 is Greenpacket's operator subsidiary in Malaysia.
P1 launched its WiMAX service in Malaysia in August 2008, and is now preparing to transition to LTE. P1 earlier announced its strategic direction to harness the power of both WiMAX and LTE. The company expects to begin a transition to a full LTE network in 2013.
The technology Sequans is providing to Greenpacket and P1 for testing is part of Sequans' recently-announced 4Sight program, a collection of advanced coexistence technologies and solutions for operators to help them transition smoothly and cost-effectively from WiMAX to LTE and enable harmonious WiMAX/LTE coexistence. Sequans develops and supplies WiMAX and LTE chips including a highly-integrated WiMAX/LTE dual-mode chip, along with reference designs for user devices, essential multi-radio coexistence and multimode handover technologies, and dual-standby architecture.
"We are testing Sequans' system-on-chip technology to develop LTE reference designs, including a dual-mode WiMAX/LTE reference design for our operator customers primarily in Asia, CALA and Middle East," said James Wang, senior VP of Innovation, Strategies and Development (ISD) at Greenpacket. "We intend to offer our solutions to early adopters of LTE such as P1 in support of its LTE/WiMAX coexistence strategy."
"P1 now has the flexibility to rollout LTE at the rate they choose and have it coexist peacefully with WiMAX, and P1 customers will have devices that work in any part of the network at any time," said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO.
P1 continues to make progress in building out its 4G network, and expects to have 65% of the population covered by the end of 2012, according to the joint statement.