Broadband wireless technology provider, Green Packet Network (GPN), created a buzz recently when they set up their first WiMAX consultancy in the Middle East.
Based in Bahrain, the company is a joint venture between Green Packet Berhad (GPB) and the Saudi Economic Development Company (SEDCO).
We caught up with Kelvin Lee, senior general manager at Green Packet Network, to find out about their specialized WiMAX consulting services and solutions.
You’ve recently launched a WiMAX consultancy in Bahrain. What are your goals for the Middle East region?Green Packet first started out tackling a lot of GSM and 3G operators. We have a controlling stake in Packet One (P1) Malaysia, which is probably the largest WiMAX operator in South East Asia.
Now our direction is to move towards WiMAX solutions especially for the Middle East, which is a very attractive market. It’s a high growth sector, especially in the telecommunications space. Currently there are twelve opportunities around the region, including Africa, that we’re already engaged in right now.
What are the other Green Packet products and services available?We don’t target just the WiMAX operators, as we focus on 3G and 3.5G operators as well. We’ve got two main product lines – software and value-added services, and hardware – that are available in this region. What interest have you received from companies in the Middle East?The interest has been very good. Almost every country we’re in, from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to Kuwait and Qatar; we’ve got a lot of opportunities and attention for our solutions.
What is the biggest challenge you face in this region?We’re very well known in Asia Pacific but not in the Middle East. We need to work on our branding and awareness here. Our other main challenge is resources and finding the right people to lead, which is the biggest problem for most IT companies. Which products are generating the most interest in the region?It’s our WiMAX solutions and InTouch Connection Manager for the telecommunications sector. Most telecoms have connection managers that do normal connections but they don’t have one that also provides value-added services that help to increase ARPU (Average Revenue per User) – ours can.
How would you describe your commitment to the Middle East market?We believe that this is a high-growth market and there are a lot of opportunities here. We believe our technologies can help WiMAX and 3G operators to achieve their objectives, giving the most in terms of performance. We see us growing strong in this region in the coming years. There’s no doubt about that.
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