Broadband wireless operator P1 signed a “technology cooperation agreement” with China Mobile, intended to “spearhead the TD-LTE technology in Malaysia and South-East Asia.” According to Malaysian newspaper The Star, P1 intends launching a network using the technology alongside its existing WiMAX deployment in the first half of 2012. Michael Lai, CEO of the company, said that “the economies of scale brought by China Mobile, with its subscriber base of over 600 million will see rapid development of the entire TD-LTE ecosystem.” P1 is majority owned by WiMAX solutions company Green Packet, with South Korean operator SK Telecom its second largest shareholder.

Earlier this month, P1 joined the Global TD-LTE Initiative, a 20-member alliance intended to “create value for stakeholders across the TD-LTE ecosystem.” Announced at the GSMA Mobile World Congress this year, it was suggested that the alliance, which is also backed by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Clearwire, “may put the final nail into WiMAX’s coffin.” China Mobile is currently in the process of piloting TD-LTE technology, with reports claiming that Japan’s SoftBank is also preparing for a launch. Qualcomm is also set to deploy the technology in broadband wireless spectrum it owns in India. Seperately, in South Korea, SK Telecom has stated positive test results, working in partnership with China Mobile.