Michael Lai

"Broadband is not a privilege, its a right for all" - Michael Lai.

Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer of Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (P1) passionately believes in enriching lives through the power of high-quality, high-performance broadband connectivity. Putting this passion into action has resulted in Michael being one of Malaysias most sought after leaders in to propel the nation forward with broadband for all. 

With over 20 years of experience in the Information, Communications and Technologies (ICT) industry, Michael leads one of the worlds leading WiMAX telecommunications companies -  P1, with the challenge to develop the start-up right from the ground up. 

 Michael has a formidable track record that includes a fair mixture of technical as well as marketing and branding background. Michaels pioneering efforts in embracing and actively engaging with online communities has earned him many affectionate nicknames from acclaimed observers.

The Peak Magazine - one of the regions most exclusive lifestyle publications - dubbed him the "Wizard of Wireless", Malaysia's leading English daily - The Star -  reported that Michael "has one of the best resumes in the country to drive broadband forward". Mobile World -  a leading Asian technology publication -  calls Michael Malaysia's "Mr. Broadband" for his efforts is pushing the boundaries of broadband penetration and access in the country. 

 Today with Michael at the helm, P1 is at the global forefront of commercial WiMAX deployment. P1 is Malaysia's leading WiMAX telco and is currently the worlds largest deployment of 802.16e 2.3GHz WiMAX network, outside Korea. P1 is also the first Intel-invested WiMAX telco in Southeast Asia. Recently, P1 entered into the portable wireless broadband market with WIGGY - the region's most advanced USB modem, incorporating MIMO smart antenna technology capable of download speeds of up to 10Mbps (currently the fastest USB modem in Malaysia).

Michael's leadership has transformed P1 from a relatively unknown to a global leader in WiMAX technology in a little over eight months. As it stands, P1 currently posses the largest subscriber base and the largest WiMAX network in Malaysia.

Prior to joining the group, Michael was the CEO of TMNet, the region's largest Internet service provider. Michael's tenure there transformed TMNet into a billion-dollar enterprise with over 1 million subscribers within 18 months.

Michael was also previously Senior Vice President of Branding and Market Development for Celcom, and Marketing Director for Oracle Malaysia. He is an Electrical Engineer by training with a Masters in Business Administration.