Redtone, using base stations and CPE equipment from Motorola, has launched the first commercial WiMAX service in East Malaysia. The first phase of the WiMAX network covers the Kota Kinabalu business district.   

Redtone’s WiMAX licence – a 25MHz slice of spectrum in the 2.3GHz frequency band – will allow the company to extend coverage across Sabah and Sarawak, the two main cities in East Malaysia.

“We are impressed by Motorola’s ability to provide advanced features like MIMO-B in a live system,” said Redtone Group CEO, Zainal Amanshah, in a prepared statement that outlined some of the reasons why the company selected Motorola. “These features will ensure a smooth network upgrade when we need to increase system capacity in the future.”

Redtone’s announcement comes hot on the heels of the unveiling of the first commercial WiMAX network in Peninsular Malaysia by P1.

Green Packet, which owns P1, also announced this week that it would invest up to RM1bn ($300m) in WiMAX structure over the next four to five years. To date, Green Packet has invested around RM300m (just under $100m) in its WiMAX operations.