Malaysia’s Mobile Broadband Demand Growing Faster Than Expected, says Pyramid Research

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts -

Soaring demand for mobile broadband services in Malaysia, driven in part by intense competition, will result in higher-than-expected growth rates for telecom operators in that nation through 2014, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com), the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network (www.lightreading.com).

Communications Markets in Malaysia offers a precise profile of the country’s converged telecommunications, media, and technology sectors based on proprietary data from our research in the market. The 27-page report provides detailed competitive analysis of both the fixed and mobile sectors, tracks the market shares of technologies and services, and monitors technologies such as WiMax, IPTV, and VoIP. It provides a comprehensive view of the communications market by analyzing key trends, evaluating near-term opportunities and assessing upcoming risks factors. Download an excerpt of this report here: www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PR062509_CIRMAL. An event-driven blog covering the telecom market in Asia/Pacific is also available on www.pyr.com, written by analysts dedicated to the region.

Over the next five years, the Malaysian telecom market will grow at a CAGR of 9.2 percent, Pyramid Research forecasts. In 2014 it will generate US$11.7 billion thanks in part to increased demand for mobile and fixed broadband services, notes Tae-Hyung Kim, analyst at Pyramid Research and author of the report. “Mobile penetration reached 98 percent in 2008, which is more than double the regional penetration average of 47 percent,” Kim says.

Pyramid Research expects Malaysia’s mobile penetration rate to increase to 133 percent by 2014. At that point mobile broadband subscriptions will number 2.6 million — an upward revision from earlier forecasts. Although nearly three-quarters of Malaysia’s mobile revenue is now generated by voice services, broadband data services will account for an increasing proportion of mobile revenue over the next five years, Kim notes. “Pyramid Research expects mobile data services to account for 45 percent of all mobile revenue by 2014, driven by increases in adoption of mobile broadband services and mobile data applications,” he explains.

Four operators engage in cutthroat competition in Malaysia’s mobile market. “New entrant U Mobile, along with the latest 3G licensee Digi, will take competition to the next level as each operator attempts to compete in not only traditional mobile voice and data services but also in the mobile broadband arena,” Kim says. “We believe that incumbent Maxis and runner-up Celcom will continue to lead the market with a combined market share exceeding 70 percent through the end of our forecast period, while U Mobile’s gains will likely come at the expense of Digi.”

Communications Markets in Malaysia is part of Pyramid Research’s Asia/Pacific Country Intelligence Report Series. Pyramid Research’s premium Country Intelligence Reports are the industry’s best available analysis on market trends, regulatory environments, and competitive dynamics for 60 countries worldwide.

Download an excerpt of this report here: www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PR062509_CIRMAL.

Communications Markets in Malaysia is priced at US$990 and can be purchased online here: www.pyramidresearch.com/store/CIRMALAYSIA.htm?sc=PR062509_CIRMAL or through Dave Williams via email at dave.williams@pyr.com or telephone at +1-858-485-8870. For more information about Pyramid Research’s products and services, please visit www.pyr.com or contact us at info@pyr.com.

About Pyramid Research

Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the telecommunications, media and technology industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for over 100 countries — a distinction that has remained unmatched for more than 25 years. As the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid Research works with Heavy Reading, providing the communications industry’s most comprehensive market data, trusted research and insightful technology analysis.

About Light Reading

Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading online media, research, and focused event company serving the US$3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading’s research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Expo London, The Tower Summit @ CTIA, and Optical Expo, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About TechWeb

TechWeb (techweb.com/aboutus), the global leader in business technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in our communities created around our global face-to-face events, Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN Magazine, and Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services including next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than US$2.5 billion.

*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on number of monthly connections

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM’s businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities - from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists - with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.

Press contact: Jennifer Baker +1-617-871-1910 jbaker@pyr.com

Source: Pyramid Research

Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker at pyr.com