TRIAL PERIOD FOR 4G TECHNOLOGIES MAY BE SHORTENED, SAYS M'SIAN MINISTER

JOHOR BAHARU (Johor, Malaysia) July 26 (Bernama) -- The trial periods of
between six and a year given to companies offering 4G technologies may be
shortened, says Minister of Information Communication and Culture, Dr Rais
Yatim.

The ministry will not allow the companies to test the technologies for too
long a period, he said.

"The trial period for now is from six months to a year. I would prefer it if
the trial period is brought further down to less than six months. Once the
standard has been determined, then we will approve (the provision of 4G
spectrum)," he told reporters following the launch of Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd's
"Long Term Evolution (LTE) Proof Of Concept Showcase 2011" here Tuesday.

Dr Rais said his ministry would be awarding the 4G spectrum to companies
offering the advanced telecommunications services at the end of the year.

He said his ministry wanted to speed up the process for obtaining the 4G
spectrum in line with the decision made by the National Economic Council,
chaired by Prime Minister Najib Razak, for faster awarding of the licenses once
all conditions have been met with.

He said his ministry was aware that the companies involved in 4G
technologies had made huge investments and that it had no plans to delay.