AtlasONE would use the network to offer Internet protocol (IP) services to both large and small businesses.

"Consumers and enterprise customers can benefit from the availability, dependability and affordability of our wireless broadband service," Mohammad Badry Hanafi, chairman of AtlasONE, said in a joint-statement late Friday.

AtlasONE and Thales signed two agreements Friday for the latter to provide equipment and services for a national deployment of wireless broadband services.

Under the agreements, Thales would be responsible for all facets of system integration, programme management and broadband technology solution selection for AtlasONE's transmission network, it said.

AtlasONE plans to roll out comprehensive wireless last mile network infrastructure, initially in the Klang Valley and key markets along the Western Corridor of Peninsular Malaysia, in the second half of this year.

AtlasONE is hoping to set up 60 base stations for the 3.5 GHz spectrum by year-end, it added.

The wireless broadband deployment would be carried out by Thales together with its local technical support and services partner Landasan Network (M) Sdn Bhd, which would undertake the planning, installation, testing, commissioning, maintenance and management of AtlasONE's wireless broadband network, it said.

"Thales is excited and honoured to have been chosen by AtlasONE as the system integrator for the national rollout of its broadband network infrastructure," John Hughes, executive vice president of Thales Group, said.

AtlasONE won a licence in December 2001 from the government to provide broadband communication services while Thales is a leader in aerospace, defense and information technology.

SPACE.WIRE