edotco group chief executive officer Adlan Tajudin.
PETALING JAYA: edotco Group Sdn Bhd, a 63%-owned subsidiary of Axiata Group Bhd
, has partnered with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corp (MDEC) to accelerate the development of smart cities and digital ecosystems across Malaysia.
The collaboration aimed to enhance the country’s digital infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in supporting the digital economy, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
He said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) will leverage edotco’s digital infrastructure expertise to support Malaysia’s digital ecosystems, enhancing sectors such as digital agriculture, digital cities and digital tourism.
“This partnership is designed to ensure that the communities within the digital ecosystem have the infrastructure support necessary to drive innovation and growth nationwide,” Gobind added.
The initiative will support smart city projects by improving urban living through better traffic management, energy conservation and enhanced public services.
In the tourism sector, he said advanced digital solutions will offer seamless and enriched experiences for tourists, boosting the industry’s contribution to the economy.
Gobind emphasised the critical role of connectivity in the nation’s future and the importance of public-private partnerships.
“Today, connectivity is the lifeblood of progress.
“The economy of the future won’t be powered by rail or road, sail or coal – it will be powered by digital infrastructure.
“Only through robust digital connectivity can we realise our ambition to build an innovative and dynamic digital economy, particularly in South-East Asia,” he said during the keynote address of the event, yesterday.
As of June, Malaysia’s 5G rollout has achieved 81.8% coverage in populated areas, with 43.6% adoption of 5G services, reaching 14.8 million subscribers.
Gobind acknowledged edotco’s significant contribution to this achievement, highlighting that the company had completed the highest number of 5G sites across the country, with an impressive portfolio of over 2,000 telecommunications towers.
edotco group chief executive officer Adlan Tajudin also highlighted the company’s role as a government-linked company in accelerating the nation’s digitisation efforts.
“Our collaboration with MDEC represents a landmark initiative that will see edotco offering future-ready connectivity infrastructure advisory and preferential rates to companies, tech startups and investors under the MD initiative,” Adlan pointed out.
He said the partnership with MDEC will enable tech startups and enterprises to harness the power of digital technology, improving efficiency and productivity.
In digital agriculture, he said unconnected farmers will be equipped with connectivity support for Internet of Things (IoT) equipment to implement precision farming techniques.
“In digital city planning, edotco is capable of providing infrastructure support for IoT sensors to enable smart city solutions that improve urban living through better resource management, traffic control, and public services,” Adlan added.
Additionally, edotco has partnered with Boost Holdings Sdn Bhd to introduce the ‘Tower Landowner Credit Access’ initiative, aimed at providing financial benefits and stability to over 2,200 landowners.
This programme offers competitive rates, promoting financial inclusion and empowering landowners to improve their financial standing.
The initiative is expected to drive Malaysia’s digital economy forward, creating a digitally inclusive Malaysia where every individual, regardless of location, has access to high-quality digital services.
To note, Axiata’s unit Axiata Digital Services Sdn Bhd holds a 78% stake in Boost, while Great Eastern Digital Pvt Ltd owns the remaining 22% equity interest.
