SINGAPORE-Malaysia has launched a common antenna system in its newly opened Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), paving the way for future cooperation among cellular operators in projects around the country.
The project, which started earlier this year, is the first development in the new regulatory framework formed by Malaysia’s Telecommunications Department, or Jabatan Telekomunikasi Malaysia (JTM), on sharing radiocommunications infrastructure.
That new policy directive, announced 1 August, was taken to boost Malaysia’s telecommunications sector by preventing the duplication of resources and reducing investment costs, resulting ultimately in lower subscriber charges.
JTM Director-General Datuk Hod Parman said the move would result in not only wider coverage, but also fewer towers.
“This sharing of infrastructure is a symbolic venture into new frontiers of development, an excellent headstart toward facing the dynamic progress of the telecommunications industry,” he said.
Under the old framework, the nation’s six cellular operators-Binariang, Celcom, Mobikom, Mutiara, Telekom Cellular and Times Wireless-pursued individual interests and business advantages, resulting in non-optimal usage of network resources as well as a lack of proper planning and coordination of nationwide infrastructure, he said.
This is all set to change with the new guidelines.
Now the operators will be made to “supply telecommunications services to the customers in an effective and efficient manner, thereby enhancing the telecommunications industry’s ability to experience higher growth stimulated by a competitive environment.”
According to Datuk Parman, the end result will be a “better and more efficient telecommunication network and services to the customer, and a market that is stimulated by a healthy and fair pricing.”
He said the government recognized efficiently and effectively providing telecommunications network and services were essential prerequisites for the continued growth of the Malaysian economy.
“Telecommunications is an important utility for the public. In encouraging the network operators to enter into agreements amongst themselves to share the radiocommunications infrastructure, the government would have met its objectives of minimizing wastage in duplication of radiocommunications infrastructure,” he said.
The first product of this new directive, the KLIA project, brings together all six cellular operators in the country at a cost of M$5 million (US$1.3 million). In all, some 15 kilometers of coaxial cables will be laid, with more than 600 antennas installed under the project.
Analysts say the decision to make such an investment during an economic downturn shows the foresight of the country’s telecommunications players.
Indeed, the benefits look set to be reaped almost right from the word go.
Haji Pamlan Othman, general manager of Time Wireless network engineering department, said the new system would not only result in cost savings, but also boost customer service. “If we went in alone, it would cost us three to four times more,” he said.
Binariang’s director, YM Dato Seri Tunku Mahmud Tunku Besar Burhanuddin, said, “With this technology, we are able to extend Maxis Mobile coverage to KLIA, which is in line with our objective to cover all ports of arrival and departure to the country. Furthermore, Maxis Mobile has continuous coverage on the expressway to KLIA to ensure our customers always stay in touch while traveling.”
Besides the main KLIA terminal building, other areas covered under the common indoor system are the Contact Pier, Satellite A building, Malaysia Airports Bhd Administration building, Pan Pacific KLIA hotel and Bunga Raya building for VIPs.
According to Mutiara chief executive officer, Richard Shearer, the launch was geared to open the way for future cooperation among the cellular operators in projects involving major buildings in Malaysia and around the world.
It is understood that with the launch of the KLIA system, Malaysian operators soon will start on shared indoor coverage systems in all new buildings.
The supplier of the Malaysian shared infrastructure system, L.M. Ericsson, said more of such facilities are expected to be installed both in Malaysia and around the region.
Already, its system has been installed in more than 300 indoor sites around the world, including Australia, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. In the Asia-Pacific region, Ericsson has implemented a similar cellular indoor solution for Singapore’s Changi International Airport.
Commenting on the difference between the Malaysian project and other installations thus far, Ericsson spokesman Dominic Tan said the “main difference with this project is that, never before [have] so many operators and mobile standards come together to share a common interface.”
