Motorola wins $12 million contract to expand cellular system in Malaysia.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1996--Sapura Digital Sdn. Bhd. has awarded Motorola's International Cellular Infrastructure Division (ICID) a $12 million contract to expand cellular phone service in Malaysia.

Motorola will supply a DCS (Digital Communications System) 1800 digital cellular network for the second phase of Sapura Digital's Advanced Digital Access for Mobile Telecommunications (ADAM) Personal Communications Network (PCN).

The expansion, which will be completed by year end 1996, will increase ADAM coverage to include the cities of Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Kuching, Kota Baru and Kuala Trengganu. As part of the Malaysian contract, Motorola will install its InCell(TM)6 digital cellular base stations.

"With the explosive growth in cellular telephone use taking place in Malaysia and throughout Southeast Asia, operators are looking to provide their subscribers with the best service while maintaining minimal investment costs," said Pertti Johansson, corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola's ICID. "Sapura's selection of Motorola's DCS-1800 equipment is a true vote of confidence in our ability to provide the latest, high-quality, digital PCN infrastructure equipment and strong technical team expertise."

Sapura Holdings Executive Chairman Tan Sri Dato' Shamsudin Abdul Kadir said, "Sapura's tie-up with Motorola is yet another significant development in our expansion plans for the ADAM network. Adam users will greatly benefit from the wider coverage and higher quality communications service."

DCS 1800 is a digital cellular standard based on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) international standard. The open architecture of DCS 1800 and GSM allows operators to select equipment from multiple vendors and seamlessly integrate networks. In addition, DCS 1800 operates at a higher frequency range where there is typically more bandwidth available than at the 900 MHz, allowing for higher subscriber density and traffic capacity.

Sapura Digital is a subsidiary company of Sapura Holdings and is one of the five GSM-based network (GSM/PCN) operators in Malaysia. Sapura's PCN network, ADAM, began operation on August 8, 1995. To date, ADAM supports an estimated 25,000 subscribers.

Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors, and advanced electronic systems and services. Motorola's 1995 sales were $27 billion.

CONTACT: Motorola CIG, Arlington Heights

Jack Seller, 847/632-7248