PETALING JAYA: Computer users in Johor are the first outside the Klang Valley to be able to surf the Internet wirelessly on the WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) platform.

Packet One Networks Sdn Bhd (P1) has made its WiMAX service available in that state — the first outside the Klang Valley to enjoy the service.

A total of 33 areas in Johor are covered by P1 WiMAX, including Johor Jaya, the Daiman 18 Golf Club, and Pasir Gudang.

P1 plans to expand its service to Skudai, Batu Pahat, Muar, Segamat and Kluang by the end of next year while Yong Peng will be covered in 2010.

“We are expanding our WiMAX network and are committed to providing wireless broadband in Johor,” said Michael Lai, chief ­executive officer of P1.

P1 WiMAX subscriptions in Johor are priced at RM89 monthly for the 1.2Mbps (megabits per second) package and RM199 for the 2.4Mbps package. A modem, worth RM999, will be given out free to every new subscriber until year end.

Later this month, P1 will be launching its WiMAX service in Penang.

Lai said the deployments are in line with the Government’s ­aspiration of increasing broadband penetration to 50% of Malaysian households by 2010.

According to the latest statistics on broadband penetration in the country by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission, about 17.5% of Malaysian households now have broadband.