01 Nov 2022
TM launches first phase of 5G services for unifi mobile customers and businesses
Strengthening Unifi’s fixed-mobile convergence offering, TM aims to deliver seamless 5G transition and spur Malaysia’s 5G adoption and digital capabilities
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (“TM” or “the Group”) is uniquely positioned to accelerate Malaysia’s 5G adoption, as the Group leverages its convergence leadership in delivering seamless fixed and mobile services to customers and businesses.
Following the signing of DNB’s Access Agreement on 30 October 2022, TM launched the first phase of its 5G services today, offering unlimited 5G data to existing Unifi Mobile Postpaid customers, as well as new Postpaid and Prepaid customers.
“DNB’s Access Agreement provides a level playing field for telcos to access the single 5G network equally, to deliver a wider range of innovative services,” said Imri Mokhtar, TM’s Group CEO.
“Leveraging this equal entry into 5G plus our current suite of connectivity and digital solutions, TM will be better placed to drive innovation and digital transformation at a national level, aligning with key digital programmes such as JENDELA and MyDigital to competitively position Malaysia as a technology hub.”
“5G will reinforce TM’s leadership in fixed-mobile converged services for our consumer and MSME segments, strengthening our mobile capabilities to provide the widest and fastest all-in-one solution for fixed broadband, mobile service and digital content that meets today’s digital lifestyles and workstyles,” Imri added.
Acknowledging that one of the critical factors in 5G adoption is the willingness of customers to purchase new 5G-enabled devices, Unifi Mobile will also offer bundled 5G service-and-device plans, catering to a range of price points to ensure customer affordability from all backgrounds.
With 5G currently covering more than 33% of populated areas throughout Malaysia, this first phase is key to grow TM’s reach and presents the opportunity for a new push in Unifi’s convergence play, riding on its strength of 3 million households and close to 400,000 MSME customers. 5G will also strengthen Unifi’s proposition as a preferred digital partner for MSMEs, to provide complete one-stop services to accelerate their business growth.
Additionally, via TM One, its enterprise and Government sector arm, TM recently launched its 5G Sphere, a circle of leading technology and smart solution partners to form an ecosystem that will accelerate the co-creation of 5G innovative use-cases, taking enterprise 5G transformation from ideation to realisation. To date, there are 39 partners in this programme. TM’s nation-building efforts with the Government will also speed-up the availability of smart city, smart industry and 5G-enabled applications, creating a more sustainable and inclusive digital society and economy.
Simultaneously, TM continues to modernise the country’s fibre network architecture, integrating automation and virtualisation technologies to boost back-end infrastructures that will support the anticipated demand for 5G services and capabilities.
Ahead of this commercial launch, TM took strides to ramp up its 5G capabilities to grow its mobile and fixed-mobile convergence position, having recently appointed a seasoned industry leader, Jasmine Lee, as its Executive Vice President, Mobile and Chief Executive Officer of webe, as well as onboarding senior mobile talents to strengthen its innovation and competitiveness.
“As we transform to become a human-centred TechCo, TM’s 5G commitment goes beyond connectivity to enabling our interconnected society reshape the way we live and work. We recognise the value that this next-gen technology will bring to communities, businesses and the Government, and will continue to explore new ways to make 5G and digital progress accessible to all,” Imri concluded.
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TM One poised to offer comprehensive data centre capacity and data sovereignty for the government’s digital transformation
As the sole local CSP, TM One will ensure data sovereignty and greater trust, privacy and security in the migration and storage of Government and citizen data With the Malaysian Government’s Cloud Framework Agreement (CFA) formalised, the appointed Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) must now demonstrate their strategic offerings to potential clients. Anticipating the extended capabilities needed to implement the Government’s strategic shift to cloud, TM One, the enterprise and public sector business arm of Telekom Malaysia Group (TM), continues to expand its data centre portfolio. Furthermore, as the sole local CSP, TM One’s established in-country data centres, infrastructure and services ensure that all operations and transactions are independent of foreign regulations or third-party policies and requirements – which imparts greater agility and trust in the migration and supervision of Government and citizen data. Imri Mokhtar, Group Chief Executive Officer of TM said, “As Malaysia’s leader in end-to-end cloud and data centre services, we are committed to strengthening our digital offerings to meet the Government’s MyGovCloud requirements. Investing into the growth of our data centres will enable us to manage the volumes of public data throughout and after the migration process. Our locally-based infrastructure and cloud services also enable us to support the unique needs of the Malaysian Government, especially on data sovereignty.” With several carrier-neutral data centre facilities in Malaysia and one in Hong Kong that operate as multi-cloud providers for various hyperscalers, TM One is on course to launch its tenth centre, which will be a Tier III/Rated 3 Data Centre, anticipated to be unveiled in Q3 2022. With no less than 3MW of power and the ability to accommodate 700 equipment racks, this data centre will aim to improve power efficiency through its cooling system design which runs on modular air-cooled chillers. Across the board, TM One continues to strive towards achieving lower Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) while meeting the SLA of the customers. Similar to TM’s other globally certified hyperscale data centres in the Klang Valley, Iskandar Puteri and Brickfields, this new centre will also conform to security standards and certifications including ISO27001, PCI DSS, DCRA and TVRA which will safeguard the Government’s data and assets. Shazurawati Abd Karim, Executive Vice President of TM One said, “This latest edition to TM One’s data centres will include enhanced data security capabilities through TM One’s Cyber Defence Centre (CYDEC), addressing the Government’s potential risk areas including cybersecurity, compliance, privacy, ethics and social responsibility. To facilitate the transformative journey of individual Government agencies, TM One’s Professional Services team, along with our partner MSP, Cloud Connect, will work closely with these agencies on Cloud Design Planning, Migration Services, and Workload Optimisation Services, customising the solutions and experiences to the unique needs of each agency.” Cloud Connect, a local cloud broker and software engineering company will partner with TM One as its dedicated MSP. Having worked with service providers, enterprises, small-and-medium businesses, as well as Government agencies for a decade, Cloud Connect has a proven track record of implementing multiple enterprise integration projects, bringing together the right people, processes, and technological capabilities. This makes Cloud Connect the perfect fit to deliver TM One’s end-to-end cloud infrastructure and services to Government institutions in their transformation journey. Also addressing the importance of data residency, locality and sovereignty in the MyGovCloud endeavour, Shazurawati explains, “Our hyperscaled and intelligent cloud solutions and data centre facilities are governed by the laws of Malaysia, which guarantees data sovereignty and privacy for the Malaysian Government and its citizens. This removes the need and risk of foreign laws and policy intervention or inclusion, ensuring data privacy and security, while enabling greater flexibility and agility in Government services. “With our deep understanding of the Malaysian landscape and a full suite of established services and infrastructure, we are confident that our infrastructure, solutions, and partnership with Cloud Connect will enable the Government to reach their next advantage, today and tomorrow,” she concluded.
TM DELIVERS LANDMARK 2022 PERFORMANCE (FY2022) Revenue up 5.1% at RM12.12 billion; EBIT up 22.2% at RM2.09 billion; PATAMI up 27.7% at RM1.14 billion
FY2022 Key Highlights (vs FY2021) · Operating Revenue grew 5.1% from RM11.53 billion to RM12.12 billion, with growth across all customer segments and product lines · EBIT grew 22.2% from RM1.71 billion to RM2.09 billion, driven by strong revenue growth and improved cost efficiency · PATAMI grew 27.7% from RM0.90 billion to RM1.14 billion, contributed by lower financing cost · CAPEX investment at 20.0% of revenue or RM2.43 billion, highest in 5 years primarily on growth in fibre service and network expansion · Final interim dividend at 7.5 sen per share declared amounting to RM286.6 million, with total dividend of 16.5 sen per share amounting to RM627.5 million for 2022 · ESG rating upgraded, FTSE Russell rated 3.6 from 3.1 in 2021; CDP rated ‘B’ from ‘C’ in 2021. Both above industry average · FY2022 overall performance showed strong results with good trajectory and operational excellence across all lines of business The financial year 2022 (FY2022) performance, ended 31 December 2022, represents Telekom Malaysia Berhad’s (TM) progress of its 3-year transformation programme (2021-2023). Moving into the final year of this transformation phase, TM remains committed to its focus in delivering value to its stakeholders. Operating revenue grew by 5.1% to RM12.12 billion, from RM11.53 billion in 2021, fuelled by demand in connectivity, solutions and infrastructure. TM continued to strengthen its core businesses across Unifi, TM One and TM Global amidst intensified competition in the market. Through revenue growth and improved cost efficiency, TM’s Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) grew by 22.2% to RM2.09 billion, from RM1.71 billion last year. Profit After Tax and Minority Interest (PATAMI) rose to RM1.14 billion from RM0.90 billion, up 27.7% through higher operating profit and lower financing cost. Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) stood at 20.0% of overall revenue, amounting to RM2.43 billion invested to deliver growth in fibre services, network modernisation and upgrades. Unifi’s continuous growth momentum Unifi continues its leadership in converged solutions of fixed broadband, mobile services, digital content and solutions for both consumers and MSMEs, recording a revenue growth of 7.5% from RM5.22 billion to RM5.61 billion contributed by increased number of home and MSME customers. Unifi fixed broadband customers grew by 9.3% and exceeded the 3 million mark in 2022. To celebrate this milestone, customers were rewarded with free viewing of all 72 Unifi TV channels for one month, as well as pay-per-view movie discounts in appreciation for their trust and loyalty. Unifi launched its 5G services in November 2022, offering Uni5G plans to Unifi Mobile postpaid and prepaid customers. 5G will reinforce TM’s converged leadership to provide the widest and fastest all-in-one solution for fixed broadband, mobile service and digital content. Unifi Business’ digital solutions continue to boost and support MSME’s digitalisation needs from cloud storage, eCommerce hub, cybersecurity and digital marketing, serving critical needs from connectivity to digital solutions, accelerating their business growth. TM One drives enterprise-grade innovative solutions TM One reported a 0.5% growth in revenue from RM3.32 billion to RM3.34 billion in 2022, after several years of revenue decline amidst changing market dynamics and competitive landscape. This is attributed to higher recurring revenue and bespoke solutions deployment, as a trusted technology partner for large enterprises and the Government. Utilisation of data centre space and power have also increased in 2022. The twin-core data centre of KVDC and IPDC have obtained Green Electricity Tariff (GET) from TNB as well as Green Building Index (GBI) and Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) certifications. To strengthen its partner ecosystem, TM One launched ‘5G Sphere’ in October 2022 and today counts on over 70 leading technology and smart solution partners to accelerate the co-creation of 5G use-cases. On the other hand, Credence is advancing enterprise’s ‘cloud-first strategy’ as well as developing technologically-skilled professionals to accelerate cloud adoption in Malaysia. TM Global positions Malaysia forward as a digital hub in the region TM Global (rebranded from TM Wholesale) delivered a strong performance which made a significant contribution to the overall 2022 performance. TM Global’s revenue grew 7.8% from RM2.58 billion to RM2.78 billion, on the back of higher domestic data and international digital demand. Domestically, TM Global is the preferred partner for High-Speed Broadband Access (HSBA) with the highest new installation in 4Q 2022. Advancing the country’s 5G rollout, almost 4,000 fiberisation sites were completed for the year. Internationally, TM Global closed deals from US-based hyperscalers and Asia-Pacific carriers for its wholesale data centre solutions and international data services, elevating Malaysia as a trusted digital hub for the ASEAN region. Commentary and Outlook from Dato’ Imri Mokhtar, TM Group Chief Executive Officer “2022 was a milestone year for TM, tracking well in our transformation with growth across our business segments – Unifi, TM One and TM Global, and cost efficiency improvement. The stronger financial position places TM in a position to deliver better value and benefits for our stakeholders – customers, shareholders, partner ecosystem and community. “TM is committed to continuously invest in shaping a Digital Malaysia through technology that empowers communities, businesses and Government – not just in our core business, but also in new, adjacent growth areas such as cloud, data centre, cybersecurity and platform-services. “Sustainability will also be a domain we strive to make continuous progress. We have seen improvements in TM’s ESG ratings, for example the FTSE Russell ESG score rising from 3.1 to 3.6 in 2022 and also the CDP rating upgrade to ‘B’ from ‘C’ last year, both above the industry average. On governance, TM upholds transparency, disclosure and zero-tolerance to all forms of corruption, receiving the Gold Category in the recent Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption Award (AIGA) 2022. “As part of TM’s next transformation to become a human-centred TechCo, we announced a reorganisation in December 2022 to streamline our core businesses and subsidiaries under a new entity named TM Technology Services Sdn Bhd (TM Tech). TM Tech is set to become the main operating entity of the Group with effect from 1 March 2023. This new corporate structure will be the catalyst for the next phase of TM’s transformation to reinforce its fixed-mobile convergence leadership, further improve operational efficiencies and deliver a more seamless customer experience. “On the back of our current business momentum, there are new opportunities in the adjacent growth areas but also industry headwinds in terms of regulatory policy and higher technology costs. We are continuously assessing the impact of industry developments and will work closely with key stakeholders towards providing technology that is accessible to all in this digital era.”
TM's decision to exit menara KL concession
Telekom Malaysia Berhad ("TM" or "the Group") wishes to clarify that Menara KL ("MKL" or "Tower") is owned by the Government while the operations and maintenance of the tower is granted under a concession. TM via its wholly owned subsidiary, Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn. Bhd. (MKLSB) had undertaken the concession since 1996. As part of its business transformation programme, TM is focusing its efforts and resources on strengthening its core business of telecommunications and technology. After due consideration on the change in the business nature of MKL, from telecommunications services to tourism and hospitality, TM has decided in October 2021 not to renew the MKL concession and informed the Government accordingly. Subsequently in 2022, the selection process of the new Concessionaire was then taken up by the Government upon which TM was informed on the appointed company to take over the shares of MKLSB and the MKL concession. MKLSB shall continue to operate the concession and ensure the continuity of MKL operations for the Malaysian public, including international visitors. Employees will remain employed with MKLSB under the new Concessionaire for a minimum period of 3 years. This is to ensure their welfare is protected in this transition. In TM’s 3Q 2022 financial announcement to Bursa Malaysia, a reference was made in the subsequent changes to shareholding in MKLSB. TM practices good governance and transparency in our business undertakings to preserve the interest of our customers and stakeholders. TM will provide our full cooperation and disclosures as required by the authorities. Building on our commitment to enable a Digital Malaysia, TM will continue to deliver the best telco and technology services for the community, businesses, Government and industry.
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