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Tag: Maxis

  • Maxis Berhad Pioneers Quantum Safe Networking In Malaysia, Bolstering Data Security For Businesses

    Maxis Berhad Pioneers Quantum Safe Networking In Malaysia, Bolstering Data Security For Businesses

    Maxis Berhad (Maxis), Malaysia’s leading telecommunications company, has introduced the country’s inaugural Quantum Safe Networking (QSN) solution, primarily targeting government agencies and businesses. This cutting-edge security feature has been launched through Maxis Business – the company’s business-to-business branch – and was developed in collaboration with Nokia. The managed service offers data encryption directly at the optical layer.

    Securing Critical Information Against Quantum Computing Threats

    The QSN solution ensures the significant protection of critical data against possible risks linked to future quantum computing. It empowers businesses to prosper in the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technology. The introduction of this solution was made at the Cyber Digital Services, Defence and Security Asia 2025 event, hosted by Maxis Business.

    The aforementioned event was held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). Here, Maxis Business showcased an exhibition titled ‘Building Tomorrow’s Security Today,’ featuring the QSN solution, along with other innovative network monitoring solutions, real-time field visibility, and solar energy.

    This revolutionary solution offers quantum-safe encryption for data in transit. In doing so, it addresses the severe threat of future decryption by quantum computers of data intercepted today, a situation often dubbed as “harvest now, decrypt later.” The solution is particularly advantageous for sectors that demand stringent data integrity and sovereignty, such as banking and financial services, healthcare, and the public sector.

    Enhancing the Security of Maxis’s Fiber Connectivity Services

    The QSN solution augments the security of Maxis’s fiber connectivity services, which are particularly critical for enterprises, cloud providers, and financial institutions that rely on data center interconnects and high-capacity fiber links. This solution perfectly complements the company’s Data Centre Connect solution, thereby providing secure, private access to leading cloud providers and data centers nationwide for businesses operating in physical, hybrid, or multi-cloud environments.

    In the words of Prateek Pashine, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of Maxis, “Securing today’s data against tomorrow’s risks is a vital necessity for any organization, especially in the face of rising cyber threats. By becoming the first Malaysian telco to provide quantum-safe networking, we are establishing a new benchmark for network protection. This gives businesses and government agencies the confidence to expedite their digital transformation journeys. This initiative also showcases our dedication to strengthening Malaysia’s digital resilience, which aligns with the national cybersecurity agenda.”

    To this, Ming Kin Ngiam, Head of Southeast Asia South for Network Infrastructure at Nokia, added, “Our collaboration with Maxis tackles a pressing business requirement: safeguarding data in transit against evolving security threats without compromising the performance enterprises rely on.”

    Maxis’s Commitment to a Secure, Resilient Digital Infrastructure

    Maxis has successfully completed the fiberization of all major data centers in Malaysia, thereby connecting them to its national network. This robust infrastructure allows Maxis to provide up to three diverse fiber routes to these data centers, ensuring businesses benefit from exceptional resilience and high availability. Furthermore, this secure network can be fortified with quantum-safe encryption, thereby ensuring that data in transit remains secure against current and future quantum threats.

    The introduction of QSN enriches Maxis Business’s extensive spectrum of end-to-end solutions, which includes core connectivity, IoT, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and other digital services.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the Quantum Safe Networking (QSN) solution?
    The QSN solution is a security feature that offers quantum-safe encryption for data in transit, protecting it from potential threats posed by future quantum computing.

    Which sectors will benefit the most from the QSN solution?
    The solution is particularly beneficial for industries that require strict data integrity and sovereignty, such as banking and financial services, healthcare, and the public sector.

    What does the introduction of QSN mean for Maxis and its customers?
    The introduction of QSN establishes Maxis as a pioneer in network protection in Malaysia. For customers, it means enhanced security, protection against emerging cyber threats, and a boost in confidence to accelerate their digital transformation journeys.

  • Maxis Launches Groundbreaking Quantum-Safe Networking to Secure Malaysia’s Digital Transformation

    Maxis Launches Groundbreaking Quantum-Safe Networking to Secure Malaysia’s Digital Transformation

    Maxis Berhad has officially unveiled Malaysia’s first Quantum Safe Networking (QSN) solution, positioning itself as the leading telecommunications provider in the nation to offer this cutting-edge security feature. Designed specifically for government agencies and businesses, this advanced service is managed through Maxis Business, the company’s B2B division, and marks a significant collaboration with Nokia, focusing on encrypting data directly at the optical layer.

    Shielding Data Against Quantum Threats

    The QSN solution ensures that vital information is safeguarded against the looming threats posed by emerging quantum computing technologies. This innovation supports businesses navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services. Maxis introduced the solution at the Cyber Digital Services, Defence and Security Asia (CyberDSA) 2025 event, attended by Minister of Digital, YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

    During this event, dubbed ‘Building Tomorrow’s Security Today,’ Maxis Business showcased not only their QSN but also a suite of innovative solutions targeting network monitoring and renewable energy, proving that the future of retail is not just in the products but in robust security infrastructures.

    Quantum-Safe Encryption: A Necessity for Key Industries

    The introduction of quantum-safe encryption fundamentally addresses the pressing threat of “harvest now, decrypt later,” where data currently intercepted could potentially be decrypted by future quantum computers. This solution is especially crucial for sectors that demand stringent data integrity, such as finance, healthcare, and public administration.

    Not only does QSN enhance the security of Maxis’s fiber connectivity services, but it also builds a fortress for enterprises, cloud providers, and financial institutions reliant on high-capacity fiber links and data center interconnections. This new offering dovetails with Maxis’s Data Centre Connect solution, ensuring secure, private access to essential cloud providers and data centers across Malaysia, whether businesses operate in physical, hybrid, or multi-cloud ecosystems.

    Voices of Leadership: Maxis and Nokia Collaborate for Future Safety

    Prateek Pashine, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of Maxis, expressed the growing urgency for secure data practices in today’s cyber landscape. “In an era of escalating cyber threats,” he remarked, “securing today’s data against tomorrow’s risks is a critical imperative for any organization. As the first telco in Malaysia to enable quantum-safe networking, we are setting a new standard for network protection.” His sentiments echo the broader mission of enhancing Malaysia’s digital resilience in alignment with national cybersecurity priorities.

    Ming Kin Ngiam, Head of Southeast Asia South for Network Infrastructure at Nokia, underscored the practical significance of this partnership. “Our collaboration with Maxis addresses a real business need: protecting data in motion against evolving security risks while maintaining the performance enterprises depend on,” he noted. With Nokia’s carrier-grade platforms and Maxis’s robust network, businesses can now future-proof their operations without sacrificing speed or reliability — a win-win for organizations navigating the digital terrain.

    Maxis has completed the fiberization of all major data centers in Malaysia, connecting significant multi-tenant facilities and cloud provider campuses to its national network. Organizations can now benefit from up to three diverse fiber routes to these centers, ensuring exceptional resilience and high availability backed by service-level agreements of up to 99.999%. To bolster protection, this robust infrastructure is further augmented by the quantum-safe encryption feature, creating secure pathways for sensitive data against both current risks and future quantum threats.

    With these enhancements, Maxis Business is poised to support enterprises in minimizing downtime and safeguarding sensitive information while boosting operational confidence. The launch of QSN not only expands Maxis Business’s solutions portfolio but also illustrates a commitment to providing comprehensive end-to-end services, including core connectivity along with IoT, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Quantum Safe Networking (QSN)?
    QSN is an advanced solution introduced by Maxis that encrypts data directly at the optical layer, protecting it from future quantum computing threats.

    What industries benefit most from QSN?
    Critical sectors such as banking, healthcare, and public administration, which require high levels of data integrity and sovereignty, stand to benefit significantly from this technology.

    What other solutions does Maxis offer alongside QSN?
    Maxis provides a comprehensive range of end-to-end solutions, including core connectivity, IoT, cloud computing, and cybersecurity services, ensuring businesses are well-equipped for the digital age.

  • Maxis Teams Up with China Mobile International to Launch CMLink MVNO in Malaysia

    Maxis Teams Up with China Mobile International to Launch CMLink MVNO in Malaysia

    China Mobile International Limited (CMI) has made significant strides in the Asian telecommunications landscape with the launch of its first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service in Malaysia. This announcement was made during the China Mobile SEA Cooperation Conference held in Kuala Lumpur, marking a pivotal moment for CMI as it taps into the vibrant Malaysian market by partnering with Maxis’s mobile network.

    Operating under its CMLink brand, CMI plans to offer customers seamless 4G and 5G mobile services, enhancing connectivity and communication opportunities in the region. A mobile virtual network operator provides mobile services without owning the underlying network infrastructure, instead utilizing the capabilities of host operators like Maxis. CMI has previously established MVNO services in markets across the globe, including the UK, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, and Italy.

    Innovative Features Tailored for Global Citizens

    CMLink promises to cater specifically to the needs of students and professionals living in or traveling to Malaysia. Its standout features, such as “1CMN” (one card, multiple numbers) and China-Malaysia data sharing services, aim to ensure that users can remain effortlessly connected between China and Malaysia. There’s nothing quite like having your own “phone backpack” — that is, not just one number but multiple ones, all while enjoying seamless service!

    A Partnership Reinforced for Future Growth

    This new collaboration is a natural extension of the long-standing relationship between Maxis and CMI. Their partnership was further solidified by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in August 2024, which aimed to propel 5G initiatives and drive forward digital innovation in the region.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the significance of CMI’s launch in Malaysia?
    This launch marks CMI’s first foray into the Malaysian market as an MVNO, providing enhanced mobile services to a growing demographic, particularly students and professionals bridging connection between China and Malaysia.

    What are the key services offered by CMLink?
    CMLink offers features like “1CMN” (one card, multiple numbers) and China-Malaysia data sharing services, allowing users to maintain seamless connectivity across borders.

    How does this collaboration between CMI and Maxis benefit both companies?
    The collaboration not only strengthens the existing partnership but also positions both CMI and Maxis to leverage 5G technology and enhance digital innovations, driving growth in the rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape.

  • Maxis Teams Up with Aduna to Transform Network API Innovation in Retail Sector

    Maxis Teams Up with Aduna to Transform Network API Innovation in Retail Sector

    In a significant move to stimulate digital innovation across Malaysia, Maxis has entered into a partnership with Aduna and Ericsson aimed at promoting standardized network application programming interfaces (APIs). This collaboration was unveiled through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the GSMA Digital Nation Summit held recently in Singapore. The initiative promises to give developers and businesses streamlined access to Aduna’s extensive platform of common network APIs, empowering Malaysian enterprises to harness Maxis’s robust connectivity and network capabilities to explore new opportunities and roll out next-generation services.

    Accelerating API-Driven Solutions

    Through this partnership, Maxis, Aduna, and Ericsson are poised to accelerate the development and deployment of API-driven solutions, significantly cutting down the time required to introduce new features and services. The initial focus is on high-impact APIs, including number verification, SIM swapping, customer identity verification (KYC), and location verification. These innovative tools are crucial for combating digital fraud and enhancing online transaction security, particularly benefiting sectors such as financial services and e-commerce, which increasingly rely on e-wallet solutions and expansive digital infrastructures.

    A Universal Link for Innovation

    Furthermore, the advent of network APIs is paving the way for unprecedented opportunities across various sectors, acting as a universal link for software and applications to interact seamlessly. With enhanced accessibility and integration, businesses can deploy solutions rapidly that operate efficiently across different mobile networks and markets, thereby benefitting a myriad of industries and their end users. It’s like seamlessly blending different ingredients into a perfect digital dish—tasty and efficient.

    Voices from the Leaders

    Prateek Pashine, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of Maxis, emphasized the company’s mission: “Our mission is to equip businesses with the tools they need to innovate for tomorrow, today. APIs play a critical role in the modern digital economy, and Maxis is committed to leveraging them to unlock greater value for businesses. Through this partnership with Aduna, we can enable the development of more secure, user-centric services backed by seamless access to advanced network APIs.”

    Meanwhile, Anthony Bartolo, CEO of Aduna, highlighted the broader impact of this collaboration: “Aduna is committed to building a global ecosystem that accelerates the next wave of digital innovation. Our platform enhances connectivity, allowing for seamless collaboration between developers, enterprises, and telecom providers to drive innovation. We are thrilled to partner with Maxis, a leader whose commitment to digital empowerment is clear. This collaboration will bring our unified network APIs to one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic digital economies, providing businesses in Malaysia with access to powerful and scalable solutions.”

    Championing Open Standards

    This partnership is a testament to Maxis’s dedication to supporting global open standards and protocols, fully aligning with the GSMA Open Gateway framework and the CAMARA Project. In 2024, Maxis took a pioneering role as an early supporter of the Bridge Alliance API Exchange (BAEx) initiative, designed to aggregate telecom APIs across the Asia Pacific region while facilitating API adoption. The initiative provides developers and businesses seamless access to a variety of telecom assets. Additionally, Maxis has been involved in the world’s first international federation of telecom APIs, working alongside telecom companies from Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, to provide enterprises with real-time telecom network data for enhanced authentication and fraud prevention.

    This initiative underscores Maxis’s commitment to being a key player in Malaysia’s digital evolution. By advocating for the adoption of open, interconnected APIs, Maxis is not just leading the charge in Malaysia’s digital transformation; they are also creating sustainable value for customers, partners, and an entire ecosystem of industries.

    Questions & Answers

    What are the key benefits of the partnership between Maxis, Aduna, and Ericsson?
    The partnership aims to accelerate the development and deployment of API solutions, enabling quicker launches of new features and enhanced security against digital fraud, particularly in financial services and e-commerce.

    What types of APIs will the collaboration initially focus on?
    The initial focus will be on high-impact APIs including number verification, SIM swaps, customer identity verification (KYC), and location verification, critical for securing online transactions.

    How does this partnership align with Maxis’s broader goals?
    This collaboration aligns with Maxis’s commitment to global open standards and the GSMA Open Gateway framework, supporting Malaysia’s digital transformation by promoting accessible and innovative API solutions.

  • Maxis Partners with Nokia to Modernize Data Center Infrastructure

    Maxis Partners with Nokia to Modernize Data Center Infrastructure

    The deployment will support Maxis’s business growth by providing a scalable, secure, and efficient data center architecture.

    The modernization of Maxis’s data center connectivity technology will help the company simplify its network operations, solve issues faster, and automate workloads, all on a robust and secure infrastructure.

    Nokia will deploy its cutting-edge 7220 Interconnect Router (IXR) data center switches and EDA technology across Maxis’s multiple data centers. This upgrade will enable Maxis to provision infrastructure resources without delay, will reduce complexity, and will ensure that Maxis’s current applications running on the network can scale gracefully.

    “This expansion of our longstanding collaboration with Nokia will drive next-generation connectivity in anticipation of customers’ growing needs. It reflects Malaysia’s emergence as a hub for data centers and hyperscalers in line with greater adoption of AI-enabled cloud infrastructure. This initiative will enhance our network capabilities, ensuring we are able to continue providing best-in-class, connectivity-adjacent solutions powered by fast, secure, and reliable connectivity,” said Goh Seow Eng, Chief Executive Officer at Maxis.

    “Data center networks are critical infrastructure and need to be extremely reliable while also being simple to deploy and operate. We are pleased to work with Maxis to modernize their data center infrastructure with our advanced data center switches and EDA technology to provide Maxis with a future-proof architecture that is scalable, resilient, and easy to deploy. This collaboration is a testament to the strength of our technology and our commitment to supporting our customer’s growth in the booming data center market in Southeast Asia,” added Ming Kin Ngiam, Head of Southeast Asia South for Network Infrastructure at Nokia.

    Nokia is helping cloud builders worldwide to construct modern data center networks that are highly reliable, secure, and easy to operate, which is essential to meet the growing demands of artificial intelligence (AI) workloads globally. Nokia’s EDA ensures faster response times, reduces manual effort, minimizes errors, consumes less compute resources, and handles network-wide operations at-scale with consistent performance. By proactively resolving issues, it boosts reliability and reduces operational costs.

    The Nokia 7220 IXR, a key component of Nokia’s Data Center Fabric solution, provides fixed-configuration, high-capacity platforms that offers unmatched scale, flexibility, and operational simplicity within data center and cloud environments. These scalable, next-generation platforms are designed to meet the high connectivity and density demands of webscale companies, service providers, and enterprises.

  • Maxis in Metaverse Aims to Provide Immersive, Engaging Experiences for Customers

    Maxis in Metaverse Aims to Provide Immersive, Engaging Experiences for Customers

    Maxis is exploring the future of living, working, playing and learning in the metaverse. This is in line with its Rangkaian Kita Rangkaian Malaysia (RKRM) campaign to serve all Malaysians in every way possible and at all times.

    RKRM is the reinforcement and deepening of Maxis’ Always Be Ahead brand purpose. Maxis is driven by its evolution from a mobile telecommunications provider into a connectivity and digital solutions expert, one that offers solutions for every segment, powered by its leading 4G network and fiber coverage, as well as the best 5G innovation.

    While still in its preliminary stages, Maxis in metaverse aims to provide a unique destination for an immersive experience with highly engaging, relevant and rewarding interactions. Through the platform, Maxis provides a glimpse into the possibilities of what the future may look like from multiple perspectives – from essential services, customer engagement, enterprise solutions, gaming, talent procurement and immersive education – and is building an ecosystem of partnerships with multi-industry verticals.

    “The metaverse mirrors our brand purpose and our What’s Possible core value as it expands minds to the possibilities of what we can do in the digital future to continue serving our customers in the best possible way,” said Patrick Er, Maxis’ chief sales and service officer.

    In kickstarting this exploratory phase, Maxis has unveiled Malaysia’s first Virtual Telco Store in the metaverse, Maxis Centre Decentraland, a connected retail experience in the metaverse to benefit customers with specific offerings. Users will be able to shop for Maxis products and services using the latest 3D technology; view and develop ideas on how they can transform their homes with Maxis home devices powered by Maxis Fiber; and even purchase collectible NFTs through collaboration with Malaysian artists.

  • Maxis Records Strong Q2 Performance

    Maxis Records Strong Q2 Performance

    Maxis recorded a strong second quarter performance, delivering solid growth across all segments within its core consumer business as well as good momentum in its enterprise business.

    Service revenue increased to RM2,084 million, up 4.3%. Of which, revenue for the consumer business grew 4.4% to reach RM1,698 million, while the enterprise business yielded RM386 million in revenue, up 4%.

    With more Malaysians increasingly relying on converged connectivity and digital experiences at home, work and on the go, Maxis continues to attract customers with highly relevant solutions to meet their digital lifestyles. This resulted in increased revenue across the company’s mobile and fixed offerings, with market leadership in both postpaid and prepaid mobile.

    Concurrently, Maxis’ enterprise business maintained its growth momentum this year on the back of its core mobile strength. Maxis has been focused on playing a key role in supporting SMEs and enterprises in their digitalization ambitions through holistic converged ICT offerings and strategic collaborations.

    With a strong commitment to supporting the nation’s digital ambitions, Maxis continued to invest in its All-Ways Connected network (Maxis’ Rangkaian Menyeluruh) during the quarter, with a significant portion of these investments going toward fulfilling Jalinan Digital Negara (JENDELA) aspirations, upgrading its core network capacity and providing the best network experience for its customers. This has resulted in higher customer satisfaction levels than the previous quarter, with a touchpoint Net Promoter Score (TP-NPS) of +64 points.

    “Our solid performance across all segments underlines our sharp focus on our strategy and agility, and we are well-positioned for continued growth in a rapidly changing and competitive telco landscape. We are focused on continuously improving our converged network performance and leveraging our strong talent pool in striving to deliver the best innovation and services to our customers,” commented Gökhan Ogut, CEO, Maxis.

  • Malaysia confirms utilizing SWN model for 5G implementation

    Malaysia confirms utilizing SWN model for 5G implementation

    The Malaysian government is sticking to its plan of deploying 5G through a single wholesale network (SWN). In a joint statement from the ministries of finance and communications and multimedia, up to 70% equity in the wholly state-owned 5G company, Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), will be available to telcos.

    Malaysian finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz emphasized that the maintenance of the SWN model is the government’s firm stance on policy continuity. “The implementation of 5G will drive the country’s socio-economic transformation and this is estimated to contribute RM 659 billion to the value of GDP until 2030,” Aziz explained.

    The finalized decision has come in contrast to the concerns among wireless carriers that a single, shared 5G network could hamper digital competitiveness. Nonetheless, the government will retain a 30% equity stake in DNB while the majority of the stakes are intended for operators. It is worthy to note that this special-purpose vehicle company was established in early March 2021 to drive 5G infrastructure development in Malaysia.

    Accessing DNB’s 5G network is estimated to cost less than what major local telecom operators such as Celcom Axiata, Digi, Maxis, and U Mobile have incurred during 4G rollouts. In line with this, DNB has offered free 5G services to service providers until March 31 as part of its commercial trial. Aiming to achieve 80% coverage of populated areas by 2024, the trial is bound to be extended until June 30 to allow more operators to sign up.

    Access to high-quality 5G services would accelerate the recovery of the post-pandemic Malaysian economy. Moreover, “the SWN model will help bridge the urban-rural digital divide to enable all Malaysians to enjoy high-quality 5G services and be widely available to them through telecommunications companies,” said Malaysian communications and multimedia minister Annuar Musa.

    In retrospect, the Malaysian government refused the prior recommendation of having a dual wholesale network (DWN) model and selected Ericsson to develop the country’s 5G network infrastructure.

  • Maxis to power Ranhill’s voice and cloud connectivity

    Maxis to power Ranhill’s voice and cloud connectivity

    Maxis has been selected by integrated water supply company Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd (Ranhill) as their voice and cloud connectivity provider. Maxis will leverage its extensive portfolio of converged solution offerings and capabilities to support Ranhill’s digitalization journey focusing on greater operational efficiency and customer service excellence.

    With its industry-leading next-generation enterprise-grade network, Maxis will be connecting 77 of Ranhill’s sites across Johor including their headquarters and water treatment plants through its SD-WAN. Higher bandwidth and a resilient network will also enhance Ranhill’s workforce management capabilities with the latest applications. They will then have real-time visibility of their data and be able to make decisions to increase the productivity and efficiency of their 2,000 employees.

    “We are pleased to be selected by Ranhill as their connectivity, voice, and cloud solutions provider. Through our unique capabilities and experience, we are able to offer Ranhill a fully managed service portfolio from onboarding right up to 24/7 support with greater cost-effectiveness and flexibility.  As their partner, we want to ensure that their connectivity needs are met so that they can operate efficiently and have the peace of mind of being well prepared for their digital transformation journey and to Always Be Ahead in a changing world,” said Paul McManus, chief enterprise business officer, Maxis.

    “Selecting Maxis as our service provider and partner is an integral step to realizing our vision of becoming a world-class water utility company. By connecting all our sites with the latest technology from Maxis, we will be better equipped to support the people of Johor through efficient management of quality water supply. We now have the necessary infrastructure and platform to unlock the benefits of digitalization as part of our ongoing effort to further enhance customer experience,” said Nor Ifuan Md Nor, chief executive officer, Ranhill SAJ.

    Maxis’ managed SD-WAN services runs on Cisco Meraki technology, and enables operational tasks such as configuration, management, and maintenance to be significantly simplified. There are significant benefits of SD-WAN as enterprises look to become more agile through automation and intelligence. They will have access to a converged connectivity solution that is flexible, scalable, and cost-effective. The built-in security in SD-WAN also enables end-to-end secure communications and the implementation of security policies across the network.

    “Connectivity has always been important but even more so today, as more customers are using multi-cloud environments, and this continues to increase. Together with Maxis, Cisco is proud to be providing Ranhill with secure and optimized access to business-critical resources. This partnership speaks volumes on how we are able to come together to deliver a solution to Ranhill that will allow secure and optimal access to workloads.

    Through this collaboration, customers can securely connect to the cloud with the signature simplicity they have come to expect from Cisco Meraki,” said Vicki Batka, vice president of Asia Pacific, Japan & China partner sales, Cisco.

    Future Opportunities in the Pipeline

    In addition to boosting Ranhill’s fixed and wireless connectivity, Maxis is also able to address their voice communications needs. Prior to this deployment, Ranhill had various challenges in getting high quality voice services, particularly at their rural sites. With Maxis’ voice solutions now extended to the underserved areas of Ranhill, their customers and employees gain access to seamless voice services.

    Maxis and Ranhill are also exploring collaboration in the future for initiatives related to Internet of Things (IoT), cloud services, and cybersecurity. This will be part of Ranhill’s next phase of digitalisation in their organisation.

  • Maxis store designers create ‘retail experience of the future’

    Maxis store designers create ‘retail experience of the future’

    Australian retail design firm Public Design Group and retail consultancy Fitch have collaborated to create a “retail experience of the future” for Malaysian telco Maxis.

    According to Public Design Group, the new Maxis flagship store at Gardens Mall – which follows the consultancies’ previous collaboration with Singtel – is a contemporary twist on a cafe-style theatre set, where shoppers receive “the highest level of personalised service from a brand new human service model” based on a conviction that “mall retailers have an inherent responsibility to engage and entertain shoppers well beyond the confines of product”.

    The store features a Gallery of Living Potential – a series of product-solution stories told through products, staff and large-format digital screens leaning back against the “gallery” wall. Waiters serve shoppers at tables in the “street”, while maitre d’ sales staff engage browsers throughout the store to discuss the new Maxis proposition.

    “The business focus is no longer on selling third-party devices,” said Public Design Group’s director of retail strategy Jason Pollard. “It’s now all about raising awareness of how the internet enables better living. This leads to multiple devices, premium content, and managed services all being sold under one umbrella lifestyle story, for example Wellbeing”.

    The store’s retail experience is designed to optimise human exchange with personalised demonstration of product solutions, digital queuing systems and seamless transaction processes.

    “Motivating store teams is key to ensuring a sustainable increase in business performance, and that’s what we have been able to do by creating a theatre set for customers and staff alike,” said Pollard. “When staff can play and enjoy the product, they self-educate whilst becoming advocates. The staff in this store stage a singing and dancing performance for customers daily; their happiness directly influences the quality of shopper experience.”

    “The lack of corporate colour and the recessed store entrance is part of the Maxis corporate brand being deliberately recessive,” said Public Design Group chief designer Dan Cooper. “We are seeing a gradual shift in retailers understanding of the importance of brand experience over and above branded environments.

    “Shoppers believe this environment has been designed for them to experience rather than for Maxis to sell; it’s very much a ‘pull’ rather than a ‘push’ psychology. When we look at what the Maxis brand means to people, it’s not their logo, their promotions or their tone of voice any more, it’s a fantasy world that shoppers can escape into, full of optimism, colour and compelling lifestyle stories.”

    Fitch Hong Kong collaborated with Public Design Group to create the digital content in the store, as well as developing a number of tech-driven initiatives to optimise customer processing and transactions. They are now working on phase two of the customer experience plan, where the stories in the Gallery of Living Potential are being taken to a deeper level of digital immersion.

  • Maxis to launch full 5G trials with Huawei

    Maxis to launch full 5G trials with Huawei

    Malaysia’s Maxis has signed an agreement with Huawei during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to accelerate 5G development in Malaysia.

    Under the agreement, the companies plan to collaborate on full-fledged 5G trials involving end-to-end systems and services.

    The memorandum of understanding was signed by Maxis CEO-designate Gokhan Ogut and CTO Morten Bangsgaard, as well as Huawei rotating chairman Guo Ping, president of Southern Pacific Jeffery Liu and CEO of Malaysia Michael Yuan.

    “Maxis has long started its 5G journey, and we are already focusing on live trials, investments and evolving our network infrastructure to be ready for a future where smart solutions will be part of everyday life,” Ogut commented.

    “We are pleased to be working with world class technology leader and long term partner Huawei on our 5G trials, and to be a pioneer in bringing the latest technologies to Malaysia once again.”

    Huawei said that to date it has signed over 30 commercial 5G contracts and shipped more than 40,000 5G base stations across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

  • Samsung buys Spanish AI firm Zhilabs in prep for 5G

    Samsung buys Spanish AI firm Zhilabs in prep for 5G

    Samsung Electronics announced that it has acquired Barcelona-based artificial intelligence startup Zhilabs in a bid to further enhance its 5G capabilities.

    Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

    Zhilabs will be fully owned by Samsung, but it will continue to operate independently under its own management, the South Korean vendor said in a statement.

    Zhilabs provides AI-based network and service analytics solutions and its products are used by telecoms carriers including Celcom, Maxis, NTT East, Telenor, O2, Vodafone, TIM, and Telefonica.

    Samsung said AI-based automation will play a central role in the introduction of new services driven by 5G, such as industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and connected cars, as carriers seek to implement new automated solutions and network virtualization features.

    “5G will enable unprecedented services that generate exponentially greater data traffic, for which automated and intelligent network analytics tools are vital,” said Youngky Kim, president and head of networks business at Samsung Electronics.

    “The acquisition of Zhilabs will enable Samsung to help carriers meet these demands to measure and ensure the quality of each subscriber’s service experience.”

    The acquisition of Zhilabs is also part of the company’s pledge, announced in August, to invest 25 trillion won ($22 billion) in AI, 5G, automotive electronics components and biopharmaceuticals technologies.

  • Maxis, AirAsia put up RM30 mil for World Cup airing on RTM

    Maxis Bhd (Maxis) was announced as the main sponsor for the live telecast of 41 World Cup 2018 matches through Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).

    Information and Communications Minister, Gobind Singh Deo, said meanwhile, AirAsia Bhd (AirAsia) had agreed to a RM12 million sponsorship in the gold category, sealing the deal for the games’ telecast here, which costs an overall RM30 million.

    He said there were other corporate bodies who had expressed interest to sponsor the telecast.

    “RTM is still in a negotiation process with the interested parties. We encourage those interested to come forward. The RM30million is meant for the 41 World Cup matches, so other sponsorships could be used for promotional activities and even additional telecast for the remaining matches,” he said in a Press conference to launch FIFA World Cup 2018 the free live telecast today.

    He said the government thrived in providing the platform for the people for different fields including patriotism, recreational and entertainment.

    “We can’t deny the fact that football is a very popular sport among the people. Thus, the telecast agenda was given priority so that the message could be channeled effectively.

    “The sponsorship is not only important in making that the World Cup telecast a success, but also a boost to RTM’s reputation,” said Gobind, who is a fan of Brazil football team.

    Out of the 64 matches, RTM will show 41 matches, out of which 28 will be live and 13 delayed.

    RTM allocates a total of 400 hours of telecast through TV1 and TV2 in the 21st FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Russia starting from June 14.

    TV viewers also stand a chance to win flight tickets in a contest by AirAsia held throughout the tournament.

  • Morten Lundal to step down as Maxis CEO

    Morten Lundal to step down as Maxis CEO

    Morten Lundal will be stepping down from his position as chief executive officer of Maxis next year after serving the Malaysian telecoms operator for nearly five years.

    In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, Maxis said Lundal will be leaving the company when his contract expires on March 31, 2018.  No official reason was provided, and Maxis will reveal a successor in due course, the operator said.

    Lundal joined Maxis as CEO back in October 2013, bringing over 16 years of experience in the telecoms industry onboard. He was previously CEO of Digi, before joining Vodafone in various global positions within the British telecoms giant in 2008.

  • Maxis’ continuous plans to enhance network in Sarawak

    Maxis’ continuous plans to enhance network in Sarawak

    Maxis Bhd’s (Maxis) network expansion plans in Sarawak is an ongoing development, as it currently covers 89 per cent of the population with its 4G network.

    According to head of Sarawak region Alexius Bong, at this point in time, Maxis has no intentions to stop and will continue to expand “even to the smallest towns.”

    “Because you can’t hide the fact that people are consuming more data and you need that network to support (demand), it is definitely a focus in our plan to do that,” he revealed in an exclusive interview with The Borneo Post earlier this week.

    On plans to open more retail outlets in Sarawak, Bong stressed that Maxis is very focused on retail expansion and distribution footprint. It currently has nine Maxis centres and 15 dealer-operated retail stores in the state.

    “By this year end, we intend to add six more retail stores plus another 20 dealer-operated stores at the same time to increase our distribution footprint, it goes in tandem with our network,” he added.

    These plans will occur throughout Sarawak, with the focus now on secondary towns. Maxis also intends for customers to have the same experience whether they are visiting Maxis centres or dealer-operated outlets.

    Continuous network expansion will be one of the key areas Maxis focuses on in Sarawak this year.

    “We want to continue expanding our network, we have such a great product that syncs together with this,” Bong added.

    “At any one time, the focus of the network is not just the network itself – it ties back to the consumer.

    “With that, we want to ensure that whether it is prepaid, postpaid, or wireless broadband (WBB), we will continue to enhance our product proposition especially on internet offerings.

    “Of course, we will continue to expand our distribution and retail because market presence is significant in our business and is very important.”

    At the same time, Maxis would also like to relook at the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia and, how they can help SMEs digitalise the way they work.

    Head of prepaid, Navin Manian, highlighted that Maxis is also trying to give a much better experience by going purely digital for its customers.

    “It’s not just all product-centric, we also look into the customer experience,” Navin said.

    “So it’s a big drive now, for both postpaid and prepaid segments to move our customers from the old UMB usage behaviour to now the app and we have been doing very good in that space.”

    On the expected takeup rate for the prepaid segment in East Malaysia, Navin revealed that Maxis has been doing really well in the region over the past few years from a series of products that they have been launching.

    “We are very confident that this will continue a good growth trajectory for us here,” he added.