German technologies group Siemens is to set up a joint venture in Malaysia with local companies Symphony House and Tabung Haji Technologies to offer a platform for three mobile telephone companies to provide rural mobile network coverage. The joint venture partners will set up two companies –­ an asset management company and an operations and maintenance company –­ to provide base stations for Maxis, Celcom and DiGi for their rural mobile network coverage. Siemens will offer the technological requirements, Tabung Haji Technologies the financing, and Symphony House the information technology aspects. The joint venture is expected to take off soon with the Malaysian government aiming to provide rural mobile network coverage by the end of next year.