TM Global recently participated in the ASEAN Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) in conjunction with the ASEAN Tourism Forum from 15 to 18 January 2025.

Held at Persada Johor International Convention Centre with the theme "Unity in Motion: Shaping ASEAN's Tourism Tomorrow", the event brought together various stakeholders related to the Tourism Industry in Asia.

TM Global showcased its capability to support companies in expanding and strengthening their presence in ASEAN through its digital infrastructure and platform solutions.

Visitors to TM Global's exhibition booth experienced an engaging demonstration of next-generation gaming technology. The interactive showcase highlighted seamless gameplay enabled by advanced infrastructure solutions.

TM Global's participation in this event provided a valuable platform for promoting its gaming solutions and networking with various hospitality industry stakeholders.

TM, Malaysia’s telecommunication leader, has further strengthened its core capabilities by ramping up its digital infrastructure to enable GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS). Hosted entirely within the country, this initiative aims to bolster Malaysia's AI infrastructure and accelerate digital transformation. The solution was unveiled following the launch of the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) by YAB Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The first of its kind in Malaysia, this innovative solution leverages NVIDIA GPU technology hosted at TM’s Uptime Tier-III certified data centres. TM’s GPUaaS provides low-latency, real-time, high-performance AI computing capabilities while ensuring data sovereignty and security, reinforcing Malaysia’s aspirations to become a leader in AI innovation within ASEAN.

TM’s GPUaaS eliminates the need for capital-intensive investments, providing scalable and on-demand access to cutting-edge resources. Backed by TM’s nationwide fibre optic network and edge computing facilities, it seamlessly integrates GPU resources with high-speed connectivity to power AI-driven applications such as:

• AI for Public Services: Real-time AI Avatars providing information for citizens.
• Healthcare Diagnostics: AI-powered imaging and analytics.
• Autonomous Vehicles: Real-time traffic and navigation systems.
• Immersive Media: AR/VR content creation with real-time rendering.

Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group Chief Executive Officer, stated, “TM’s GPUaaS will further enhance our digital infrastructure and support the nation’s AI aspiration. By offering cost-efficient access to high-performance computing for AI model training and inferencing, we enable businesses and the Government sector to adopt AI-driven solutions with greater ease, ensuring both operational efficiency and scalability.

“Our GPUaaS design is modular and scalable, catering to various user needs. Leveraging this agility, we are pleased to announce that TM has secured an international customer for GPUaaS requirement to be delivered by year-end. This initiative underscores TM’s commitment to empower industries and unlock new opportunities through AI infrastructure, as we align our Digital Powerhouse 2030 aspiration to fast forward the future of a Digital Malaysia.”

TM’s data centres hosting GPUaaS are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified green buildings, designed to ensure sustainability and energy efficiency. This aligns with Malaysia’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, supporting innovation while reducing environmental impact. In addition to hosting TM’s GPUaaS, these data centres are also available to host other GPU providers.

The sovereign GPUaaS reinforces Malaysia’s readiness to become a digital-first economy; transforming critical sectors such as healthcare and transportation, driving economic development and enhancing public service delivery.

TM Global recently participated in the Digital Putrajaya Exhibition and Conference (DiPEC) 2024 in Putrajaya. The event focused on "AI And Data-Driven Future Cities" and brought together various stakeholders from local councils, government agencies, and the private sector.

As a key mobile wireless infrastructure provider in Putrajaya, TM Global showcased its Centralised Random Access Network (CRAN) and Distributed Random Access Network (DRAN) solutions, including a model of its camouflage DRAN smart pole that aligns with Putrajaya's identity. DRAN solution facilitates 4G and 5G deployment in Putrajaya while supporting sustainable urban development through innovative stacking poles and connectivity solutions. This solution also enhance public safety and smart city management, with CCTV feeds connected directly to the local council's Integrated Operations Centre.

TM Global also showcased its edge gaming solution during the event by inviting participants to experience high-quality gameplay at its booth. The solution, suitable for gaming providers, leverages TM's Edge Facilities, which are located closer to the end user to minimise latency.

TM Global's participation in this event provided a valuable platform for promoting its smart city solutions and networking with key urban connectivity stakeholders.

TM Global demonstrated a strong presence at Telecoms World Asia 2024, held from November 19–20 in Bangkok, Thailand. Over the course of this two-day event, our booth showcased a comprehensive suite of end-to-end wholesale telecom services, including beyond connectivity solutions and data hosting offerings designed to empower businesses on both regional and global scales. The event provided an exceptional platform to engage with attendees and exchange insights on shaping the future of the telecommunications industry.

Our GCEO, Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, took the stage for the keynote panel, “Telco as a National Service – Keeping a Billion Customers Connected.” He shared TM's initiatives in talent development, focusing on equipping internal teams with expertise in AI and digital literacy to keep pace with evolving technology trends. Meanwhile, our EVP, Khairul Liza Ibrahim, lent her expertise during the discussion, “Wholesale in Asia in 2024: Where Are We?” She highlighted TM’s extensive infrastructure across Malaysia and globally, emphasizing its pivotal role in connecting businesses within ASEAN and beyond.

Additionally, our Vice President of Data Centre, Mahathir Said, contributed to the panel, “The Strategic Blueprint – Should Telcos Divest Their Data Centres or Remain Self-Sufficient?” He underscored TM’s unique position in the data centre sector, showcasing its self-sufficient model through key initiatives such as the expansion of two Tier-III data centres in Cyberjaya and Johor and the construction of a new AI-ready data centre. These discussions collectively highlighted the importance of reskilling internal talent to navigate the challenges of today’s dynamic business environment, among other critical topics.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who visited our booth and engaged in meaningful conversations. Your collaboration inspires us to push boundaries, driving innovation for the benefit of businesses and communities alike.

Let’s keep the momentum going—here’s to fostering innovation and building stronger connections. See you at the next event!

KUALA LUMPUR, 11 NOVEMBER 2024 – TM Global, TM’s wholesale business arm, will expand its Klang Valley Data Centre (KVDC) in Cyberjaya and Iskandar Puteri Data Centre (IPDC) in Johor, addressing the growing demand for domestic and international data hosting services. 

This is the next phase in TM’s strategic roadmap to grow its infrastructure ecosystem and position Malaysia as a preferred digital hub in Southeast Asia, aligning with its aspiration to become a Digital Powerhouse by 2030. These expansions and TM’s partnership with Nxera to develop a new, hyperconnected, AI-ready data centre, lays the foundation for digital services such as cloud, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things. 

Scheduled for commercial operations in 2025, the second phase of both KVDC and IPDC will deliver a combined IT load of about 20MW. The expansion will meet Uptime Institute’s Tier-III standards, and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating for long-term sustainability, a globally recognised green building certification.

Khairul Liza Ibrahim, TM Global’s Executive Vice President, said, “KVDC and IPDC are integral infrastructures in Malaysia’s digital ecosystem, serving as international gateways and interconnected points to support 5G networks. This second phase of our data centre expansion will feature sustainable designs, boosting our capacity to support hyperscalers, OTT players, cloud and next generation AI providers, as well as enterprises.” 

TM Global’s data centres are complemented by seven regional Edge Facilities located throughout the country. These support high-performance computing and co-location services to bring content closer to end-users with minimal latency.

“We have further enhanced our data hosting services with a recent acquisition of the Facilities-based Operator license in Singapore, allowing us to provide seamless, secure data centre-to-data centre connectivity through our extensive domestic fibre optics network and international submarine cable systems. This enables us to meet the growing connectivity demands across the region, linking data centres from Thailand to Malaysia, Singapore, and Batam in Indonesia,” Khairul Liza emphasised.

TM Global offers a comprehensive suite of platform-based services, including Multi-Edge Computing and Content Delivery, to elevate data hosting solutions. These services are tailored to optimise performance and efficiency, ensuring a robust and reliable data-driven network for customers. Leveraging its extensive network infrastructure, TM Global equips carriers, enterprises, hyperscalers, OTTs, and next-generation AI application providers with the tools necessary to drive innovation and seamless digital integration. 

TM Global recently participated in the Malaysia Cloud & Datacenter Convention 2024, held in Kuala Lumpur, which brought together more than 1500 participants, including representatives from leading telcos, data centre and cloud service providers, infrastructure providers, corporate companies, media, and government agencies.

Isaac Goh, General Manager of Data Centre Architecture & Delivery at TM Global, joined a panel discussion titled "Transforming and Building High-Density Data Centers." In the session, Isaac shared his experience in transforming TM’s data centre years ago, incorporating future-proof designs to meet demand anticipated 5 years ahead. He provided valuable insights into the data centre construction and transformation, highlighting the challenges of keeping pace with growing demand. Isaac also emphasized the importance of scalable and flexible data centre architectures to accommodate diverse customer needs well into the future.

TM Global’s participation in this key industry convention provided a valuable platform for engaging in meaningful discussions and building connections with industry players. This involvement aligns with TM Global’s commitment to strengthening its position as a leading data centre provider and propelling Malaysia into a regional digital hub.

TM Global serves as a strategic partner for content providers and hyperscalers in the U.S. seeking to expand their global footprint and enhance their services in Southeast Asia.

With a population of over 600 million and a rising middle class, Southeast Asia holds tremendous opportunities for content providers, hyperscalers and other digital players. About 70-80% of the region’s adult population are Internet users, while 50-60% regularly purchase digital products and services.

The digital economy in Southeast Asia is steadily growing and projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030. The online media market, which includes video-on-demand services, online gaming, advertising and music streaming platforms, is expected to hit US$34 billion by the end of 2025.

To capitalize on the immense growth opportunities in the region, content providers such as music and video streaming platforms, gaming companies and hyperscalers— businesses that require large-scale data centers and cloud infrastructure — are partnering telecommunications and technology companies to expand their market reach into this highly competitive region.

A Strategic Partner For Growth

Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, TM Global, the domestic and international wholesale business arm of TM, is an infrastructure-based business that delivers cutting-edge connectivity and digital solutions, leveraging its extensive global connectivity and network infrastructure.

TM Global has regional offices in key locations worldwide, catering to the needs of organizations in major centers, including the U.S. (TMUS). This is among TM Global’s six regional offices that includes Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Australia and UK.

TMUS established its first U.S. office in Washington D.C. in 2000. In 2014, it strategically expanded closer to the Silicon Valley by opening an office in San Francisco. This move provided opportunities for TM Global to work closely with leading hyperscalers, tech partners and over-the-top (OTT) players who are expanding their presence and services into Southeast Asia.

TMUS delivers a comprehensive range of solutions from connectivity to content delivery, and platform services. It also provides hosting services via its six data centers in Malaysia and one in Hong Kong, positioning its facilities as carrier-neutral and highly reliable hubs. These data centers are supported by TM Global’s extensive global submarine cable systems spanning over 340,000km (211,266 miles), connecting Southeast Asia to greater Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the U.S.

“Our expansive network and extensive range of platform solutions uniquely position us to empower U.S. businesses seeking to capitalize on the burgeoning market opportunities in Southeast Asia. We aim to become the preferred partner for global digital infrastructure projects, providing seamless connectivity between the two regions,” says Khairul Liza Ibrahim, Executive Vice President of TM Global.

Most recently, TM Global partnered Nxera, another leading telecommunications provider in the Southeast Asia region, to develop an advanced, AI-ready data center in Johor, Malaysia. This joint, hyperconnected data center will drive development of the region’s digital ecosystem, enabling real-time information sharing that will benefit businesses of all sizes, while nurturing future digital talents.

Challenges in Data Hosting

When it comes to delivering seamless, low-latency content, hyperscalers and content providers must decide on their data hosting strategy. Typically, there are two options: setting up data centers in the targeted region, which is a capital-intensive model, or adopting an operating expenditure model by partnering with a strategic partner in that region.

Should they opt to set up their own data centers, there are several challenges that may arise. It is important to secure a reliable and uninterrupted power supply, to ensure continuous operation and data safety. This requires robust infrastructure and often backup systems to mitigate power outages. Finding the right location and obtaining approvals from local authorities can also be challenging, which may delay timelines.

Another key challenge they could face is retaining talent. While Southeast Asia boasts a highly skilled workforce, the competition for top talent is fierce. Key stakeholders, including governments and private sectors, are continuously working to grow digital talent pools.

Considering these challenges and the demands to scale quickly, partnering with established telecommunications companies such as TM Global is often a more viable option in entering this dynamic region.

Enhancing Customer Experience

Engaging a strategic telecommunications partner can help content providers and hyperscalers deliver low-latency, high-bandwidth content and reduce data bottlenecks to enhance user experience. TM Global’s Edge services efficiently address these challenges, enabling content providers to bring their content closer to end users and processing data closer to its source, thereby ensuring high-quality digital experiences.

U.S. enterprises can also take advantage of TM Global’s Platform-as-a-Service (“PaaS”) solutions, infrastructure and support to provide seamless content distribution across Southeast Asia. To better serve the entertainment and gaming industries, TM Global has expanded its TMUS operations to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, strategically positioning its offices closer to these key markets.

“The opening of two new offices in Los Angeles and Las Vegas demonstrates our dedication to provide best-in-class solutions and services to content providers and hyperscalers in that dynamic market. While our commitment to enhance connectivity infrastructure remains unwavering, we are also driving value for our stakeholders through continuous innovation to better serve the entertainment and gaming industries,” Khairul Liza explains.

To date, TM Global works with more than 160 partners world-wide. This is a testament of its commitment to excellence and dedication to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions, marking a pivotal step in TM’s aspiration to become a Digital Powerhouse by 2030.

This article was first published in Forbes Magazine, October 1, 2024

TM Global, the domestic and international wholesale business arm of Telekom Malaysia (TM), is pleased to announce the extension of its collaboration with Radian Arc, global cloud infrastructure provider, for another two years. This continued collaboration will focus on expanding TM’s cloud gaming offerings at wholesale level.

Building on the successful collaboration initiated in 2022, the extended collaboration will see TM Global and Radian Arc further enhance Malaysia's cloud gaming landscape, as well as expanding these services to other regions including Middle East and African countries. The extended agreement will continue to leverage on Radian Arc’s GPU Edge technology complemented by low-latency SHAKS Gamepad controller developed by Radian Arc’s South Korea-based partner, AKSys Co. This will enable a seamless gaming experience and boost TM Global’s capability in offering high quality, real-time applications.

The signing took place in Seoul with the presence of YB Fahmi Fadzil, Malaysia’s Minister of Communications, who arrived in South Korea for a working visit. TM was represented by Khairul Liza Ibrahim, TM Global’s Executive Vice President, while signing on behalf of Radian Arc was its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), David Cook.

Khairul Liza Ibrahim said, "This collaboration with Radian Arc reinforces our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that drive digital transformation. The versatility of GPU technology can be extended beyond gaming offerings, allowing us to cater to a diverse set of workloads and meeting the evolving needs of our customers. We are excited to expand our collaboration with Radian Arc, which not only enhances our existing services but also create opportunities to tap into new markets.”

This collaboration will accelerate TM Global’s aspiration to further explore new innovative services like Bandwidth-on-Demand (BoD), enabling flexible, cost-efficient and real-time capacity management, and GPU-based services. This will enable TM to offer high-performance solutions for various applications such as Large Language Model (LLM) training, AI inferencing, and Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS). These new offerings will empower customers with scalable, cloud-based resources that drive innovation for their digital transformation journey.

David Cook, CEO of Radian Arc, commented, “We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Telekom Malaysia, paving the way for groundbreaking services like GPU-as-a-Service and BoD. Together, we will not only enhance TM's offerings but also expand our reach to new regions, empowering businesses with the technology they need to thrive.”

The collaboration reflects TM’s strategic roadmap towards becoming a Digital Powerhouse by 2030, aligning with its commitment to develop a converged ecosystem for digital transformation across all sectors, and strengthening Malaysia’s competitiveness as a key digital hub for Southeast Asia.

 

TM and Nxera, the regional data centre arm of Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, held a groundbreaking ceremony for their data centre campus in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. The groundbreaking comes one month after the announcement for a joint venture to develop data centres in Malaysia and uplift Johor’s digital hub status.

This 64MW state-of-the-art, sustainable, hyper-connected, AI-ready data centre campus reinforces Malaysia’s high quality digital infrastructure. It also supports the government's efforts to drive the digital economy and transform the country into a hub for industrial growth, AI development and innovation.

Malaysia's Digital Minister YB Gobind Singh Deo; YB Lee Ting Han, Chairman, Johor State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee; and Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling graced the groundbreaking event as the Guests-of-Honour.

Minister YB Gobind said, "This investment by TM and Nxera reinforces Malaysia's position as the digital hub in Southeast Asia, further advancing the nation's economic growth. Based on advance estimates, Malaysia's economy expanded 5.8% in the second quarter of 2024, and such investments are in line with projections that Malaysia's digital economy will contribute 25.5% to the nation's GDP by the end of the year. The relationship between TM and Nxera expands to Malaysia and Singapore, with both nations being a good case study of a productive working partnership between two ASEAN member states."

YAB Dato Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Menteri Besar, Johor said, “TM-Nxera’s upcoming data centre campus, located right here in Iskandar Puteri, holds particular significance as one of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone’s first investment projects. We welcome the comprehensive scope of their investment with respect to high quality infrastructure, sustainability as well as employment and skilling opportunities which supports our emphasis on talent development, green technology and renewable energy. This data centre campus will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and enable businesses to harness the power of cloud computing and AI. We hope this will set the stage to shape a vibrant business ecosystem where more high-tech and high-value content companies will be attracted to locate their operations within the special economic zone and give a further boost to Johor’s digital economy.”

Senior Minister of State Low said, “Data centres are important enablers of our digital economy, powering our economy’s data-driven needs. As technology advances, robust, next-generation digital infrastructure like the TM-Nxera Data Centre will be essential to support AI advancements and foster value creation. Today’s groundbreaking marks a milestone in the deepening economic relations between Singapore and Malaysia, and I look forward to the outcomes we can achieve through close collaboration.”

Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group CEO, said, “Today marks a pivotal milestone in our journey to becoming a digital powerhouse as we break ground on this cutting-edge AI-ready data centre. This facility exemplifies our commitment to fostering industry growth, driving innovation, and enhancing socio-economic development. With support from the Federal Government, and Johor state agencies and authorities, we are confident that this AI-ready data centre will equip businesses with unparalleled computing power, AI capabilities, and other cutting-edge technologies. We are excited to lead the way into a future where AI and data analytics drive transformative solutions, revolutionising industries and enriching both our nation and the world.”

Bill Chang, CEO of Nxera and Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, said, “As one of the largest investments in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, this state-of-the-art data centre campus is an integral part of our mission to empower digital economies and communities in the region while ensuring energy and water resources are deployed responsibly and efficiently.  It expands our regional data centre platform’s strategic presence in this fast-growing Asia region. With Malaysia embracing AI to drive competitiveness and innovation, our campus will spur economic growth by helping companies leverage AIs and cloud computing to drive efficiencies and accelerate their business transformation. Our investment isn’t just about the campus, it is about bringing benefits to the local economy through digitalisation, developing local talent, creating employment opportunities and enhancing international connectivity. We would like to express our gratitude to the Johor State Executive Council, Invest Johor, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and Malaysian Investment Development Authority for their support.”

Scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2026, this cloud-enabled Tier 3 data centre campus will use liquid cooling to handle higher power density AI workloads. The facility will be designed, built and certified to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, incorporating energy and water-efficient solutions to optimise the use of resources. This underscores the joint venture's commitment to long-term sustainability goals. To support the new data centre campus, the joint venture plans to expand submarine cable connectivity, enabling a thriving and vibrant digital ecosystem. 

Located just 16 km from Singapore, the data centre campus will allow customers to seamlessly expand their infrastructure from the city state and the rest of the region. Further, the data centre can be scaled up to 200MW in response to market demand.

In addition, apart from creation of new employment opportunities that is important for nation building, the joint venture will invest in building talent for the data centre industry by fostering collaborations between universities in Singapore and Malaysia. It aims to design comprehensive courses with specialised curriculum to provide students with well-rounded knowledge and the requisite skills to propel Malaysia’s growth aspirations. For communities and the region, this means superior country-to-country connectivity and a smarter, more resilient digital economy.

As announced in Bursa, this joint venture is conditional upon receiving approval from TM shareholders in the upcoming EGM.

TM Global recently participated in the 2024 Johor Interconnect Word Forum, held in Johor Bahru, which brought together more than 350 leading Telcos, Internet Service Providers, Internet Exchanges, Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) Investors, and Government Agencies. This event provided an exceptional platform for TM Global to engage in meaningful discussions and foster relationships with industry players.

Baharul Nizam Said Daliman, our Vice President of International Sales, participated in the panel discussion titled “Can Malaysia do better to be the next Connectivity and Data Center Hub?”. In his remarks, Nizam discussed the challenges faced in meeting the surging demand from hyperscalers, highlighted the significant opportunities arising from Johor’s collaboration with Singapore and reaffirmed TM Global’s commitment to this growth through strategic investments in submarine cable systems as well as cable landing stations in Morib and Kuala Sedili.

TM Global’s Head of Data Centre, Mahathir Said, shared his valuable insights during the discussion on "Transforming and Adapting Telecom and Data Centers into the AI and Digital Age". He emphasised the technical capabilities of data centres to support AI requirements and the factors fueling substantial investor interest in Johor for new data centre developments. The recent announcement on TM's new hyperconnected AI-ready data centre in collaboration with Singtel made the panel highly engaging and sparked interest among attendees.

This is the second year TM Global has participated in the Johor Interconnect World Forum. We will continue to engage in various industry forums to drive sustainable growth and establish Malaysia as the regional digital hub.