AITech Top Voice: Interview with Hafiz Lockman, U.S. Country Director at Telekom Malaysia

As the global economy becomes more interdependent, the importance of cross-border digital infrastructure is at a critical juncture. From allowing easy access to the cloud to energizing digital ecosystems across continents, the future will be with the organizations that lightly interconnect regions with speed, reliability, and intelligence. TM Global is at the centre of this mission. TM Global is the international and wholesale arm of Telekom Malaysia (TM), and is dedicated to building more intelligent pathways throughout Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Europe.

At TM Global, our mission is to bring the world together through extraordinary connectivity–connecting the unconnected in bold new ways. TM Global is the global and wholesale business division of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), one of Southeast Asia’s premier combined telco and technology providers. Our breadth of terrestrial and submarine cable networks across more than 30 submarine cable systems, our complementary partnerships, and the team’s skills position TM Global to drive global connectivity successfully. Our heritage of terabits of connectivity gives us a unique perspective and competitive positioning amongst a myriad of potential competitors.

To help achieve this goal, TM Global provides hundreds of connections across the globe with substantial access to our network of undersea cables with interconnections in more than 20 countries. This combined connectivity approach provides a significant number of value-added services (VAS) as part of a larger bundle of connectivity, data, content, and platform services to to carriers, hyperscalers, OTTs and multinationals.

With the advent of the digital economy, TM Global is focused on increasing not just connectivity but also empowering our partners with secure, scalable and intelligent interconnectivity for your digital ecosystem, which allows them to bridge the market-divides and fully capture the potential of digital transformation, as we go east (Asia) and west (rest-of-the-World).

What are TM Global’s key offerings? How do you use AI ML to improve the overall infrastructure and cybersecurity to posture TM’s solutions?

Our core offerings include extensive international connectivity via submarine cables, a growing portfolio of edge and LEED certified hyperscale data centres, and our latest milestone which is Malaysia’s first sovereign GPU-as-a-Service platform.
Across the Group, AI and ML are increasingly embedded in our operations to strengthen network performance, enhance customer experience, and bolster cybersecurity. A good example is our Conversational AI solution, which is transforming customer engagement in healthcare, retail, and finance sectors.
The solution uses advanced ML to handle voice, text, and digital queries, automating tasks like appointment booking and inquiries, which significantly improves service efficiency.
We have also launched an AI-powered chatbot last year to streamline operations and boost internal productivity. The chatbot enables our frontliners to pinpoint issues, resolve them swiftly and enhance customer experiences with data-driven insights.

TM Global recently hosted a highly impactful Tech Day focusing on GPU-as-a-Service and AI solutions. From your perspective as the U.S. Country Director, what does this event signal about TM Global’s ambitions in the AI and GPU infrastructure space?

TM Global’s Tech Day in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year brought together industry leaders, government stakeholders, and technology innovators to spotlight our latest milestone: Malaysia’s first sovereign GPU-as-a-Service platform.
Having served as the TM USA Country Director and now overseeing sales across multiple global regions, Tech Day demonstrates Malaysia’s strategic readiness to serve as a trusted digital hub, especially as global players look for scalable, sovereign, and secure GPU infrastructure.

Southeast Asia’s digital economy is evolving rapidly. How do you see TM Global contributing to this transformation, particularly in enabling AI adoption, data sovereignty, and regional innovation at scale?

TM through TM Global is accelerating Southeast Asia’s digital transformation with the launch of Malaysia’s first sovereign GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) empowering enterprises and public sector organisations to develop and deploy AI models without the burden of heavy upfront investment.
Our GPUaaS is designed with flexibility at its core, allowing customers to tailor their AI environment by selecting the specific components they need—space, hardware, GPU chips, and connectivity—based on evolving workloads and business priorities.
We are building scalable, AI-ready infrastructure through our upcoming TM Nxera data centre in Johor, offering 64MW of capacity, expandable up to 200MW. This is complemented by a network of core and edge data centres strategically located in Klang Valley, Iskandar Puteri, and Seberang Jaya, supporting latency-sensitive AI applications such as smart city analytics, cloud gaming, and real-time processing.
Our infrastructure is backed by a hyper connected high-speed nationwide fibre and diversified DC-to-DC connectivity, enabling seamless integration not only across TM-owned data centres but also with third-party facilities. This allows businesses to scale flexibly, across multiple environments, without compromising on performance.
Hosted entirely within Malaysia, our facilities ensure data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, and robust security—meeting the needs of highly regulated industries and enabling AI innovation that’s both scalable and secure.

The concept of GPU-as-a-Service is becoming crucial for scalable AI. Can you elaborate on how TM’s GPUaaS is positioned to support enterprises, especially those needing real-time AI capabilities across borders?

TM’s GPUaaS is purpose-built to meet the rising demand for scalable, high-performance AI computing—particularly for enterprises requiring real-time capabilities across borders. Hosted in TM’s Uptime Institute Tier III-certified data centres and powered by industry-leading NVIDIA GPU technology, our platform delivers low-latency, high-throughput performance while upholding data sovereignty and regulatory compliance.
As mentioned earlier, flexibility is a key design principle of our GPUaaS offering. By eliminating the need for heavy upfront capital investment, it provides modular, on-demand access to advanced GPU resources. Customers can customise their setup—choosing from space, hardware, GPU chips, and TM-provided connectivity—to meet specific workload and business requirements.
This flexibility is further enhanced by TM Global’s nationwide fibre network and edge computing facilities, enabling seamless integration between compute and connectivity for latency-sensitive AI applications. These include AI avatars for public services, real-time diagnostics and predictive modelling in healthcare, autonomous vehicle systems with split-second navigation and many more —all powered by on-demand, modular access to high-performance GPU resources.
Modular and borderless, TM Global’s GPUaaS enables enterprises to scale AI workloads efficiently, whether locally or regionally, while maintaining full control over their data—a critical advantage in today’s compliance-driven landscape.

With TM Global’s infrastructure being anchored in Malaysia, how does your sovereign AI Infrastructure approach resonate with U.S.-based or international companies seeking secure and compliant AI deployments?

TM Global’s sovereign AI Infrastructure is built on a foundation of trust, security, and regulatory compliance, anchored firmly within Malaysia’s jurisdiction. It is purposefully designed to meet the needs of global enterprises looking to deploy AI solutions in a secure, compliant, and future-ready environment
Our data centres are specifically engineered to prioritise security at every layer. Built with a “security by design” philosophy, they integrate advanced safeguards such as real-time surveillance, intelligent threat detection, and automated response systems—ensuring continuous protection against evolving cyber threats and supporting robust risk management for mission-critical operations.
For U.S.-based and international companies, TM Global offers more than just a sovereign platform—we serve as a strategic bridge to the ASEAN region, providing secure access to one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies.
With data fully protected under Malaysian law and managed to the highest standards, we enable enterprises to scale AI deployments confidently and compliantly across Southeast Asia.

Edge computing was a prominent topic at Tech Day. What role does edge infrastructure play in TM’s strategy to deliver low-latency, high-performance AI services across Southeast Asia and beyond?

The prominent topic at Tech Day was GPU-as-a-Service. Nevertheless, Edge infrastructure is a critical pillar in TM’s strategy to deliver low-latency, high-performance AI services across Southeast Asia.
Supported by our integrated network of core and edge data centres—coupled with DC-to-DC connectivity across both TM-owned and third-party facilities—our infrastructure enables seamless, secure, and high-performance processing and movement of AI workloads.
With connectivity diversity via terrestrial fibre and a robust submarine cable system, we ensure resilient, high-speed links across the region.
Additionally, our Facilities Based Operation or FBO licence in Singapore strengthens our role as a strategic bridge between Malaysia and Southeast Asia, allowing enterprises to deploy latency-sensitive applications like AI, cloud gaming, and live streaming with confidence and speed.

TM Global is known for its robust cross-border connectivity solutions. How are you working to enhance enterprise connectivity between the U.S. and Asia, and what new initiatives can customers expect in the coming year?

At TM Global, we are focused on strengthening digital corridors that connect the U.S. with Malaysia and the broader Southeast Asia region by enabling seamless, high-capacity data transfer across borders and oceans.
Our extensive submarine cable portfolio forms a hyper connected bridge between the US and ASEAN, delivering resilient, high-capacity, and low-latency intercontinental connectivity.
Key transpacific systems such as the Asia-America Gateway (AAG), Cahaya Malaysia, and the Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG) provide direct links from Southeast Asia to North America, supporting the data demands of hyperscalers, OTTs, and global enterprises.
These are further complemented by major regional systems including SEA-ME-WE 4, SEA-ME-WE 5, APCN 2, DMCS, and Batam-Dumai-Melaka, which enhance diversity and reach across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Additionally, systems like the Asia Link Cable (ALC) reinforce intra-Asia route diversity, ensuring more resilient and scalable regional traffic flows. Together with TM Global’s terrestrial fibre and edge infrastructure, this ecosystem enables secure and seamless digital connectivity—bringing the US closer to ASEAN and opening the region to the world.
In parallel, we have established a strong presence in the United States with offices in Washington DC, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, allowing us to work more closely with American carriers, hyperscalers, and digital-native companies to bring their services closer to Southeast Asian users.

During Tech Day, various real-world AI use cases were shared by your partners. Can you share one or two standout examples of how enterprises are leveraging TM Global’s GPUaaS to transform their operations or customer experiences?

Enterprises are leveraging TM Global’s GPUaaS to significantly enhance both operational efficiency and customer experience by enabling high-performance AI applications.
A standout example is the deployment of an AI-powered virtual assistant that simplifies complex operations by integrating multiple internal systems into a single, unified dashboard. This allows employees to access critical documentation without switching between platforms, leading to faster issue resolution, more informed decision-making, and a noticeable boost in productivity.
Additionally, this enables employees to focus on higher-value, strategic tasks, while customers benefit from quicker and more consistent service.
This example illustrates how TM Global’s GPUaaS is helping organizations unlock the full potential of AI—streamlining workflows, empowering teams, and ultimately delivering better outcomes for both operations and customer engagement.

Looking ahead, what’s next for TM in terms of AI innovation and service expansion? Are there any upcoming collaborations or launches that U.S. or global customers should keep an eye on?

As AI adoption accelerates globally, TM Global is actively expanding our capabilities with a strong focus on flexibility and scalability.
This includes acquiring the latest GPU chips and diversifying our GPUaaS and AI infrastructure offerings—enabling customers to choose modular components such as space, hardware, GPU chips, and connectivity based on their specific needs.
In parallel, TM Global collaborates closely within a broader AI ecosystem to bring the latest advancements in AI technology to our customers, ensuring they remain agile and competitive in an increasingly dynamic digital landscape.

What are your predictions for the future of AI-powered data centers and cloud modernization technology?

The future of AI-powered data centres and cloud modernisation is driven by security, automation, sustainability, flexibility, and intelligent infrastructure. As organisations increasingly rely on AI for critical operations, ensuring a secure digital foundation is more important than ever.
Facilities are evolving into self-optimising environments, using AI for predictive maintenance, dynamic workload management, and energy efficiency. At the same time, cloud platforms are becoming more decentralised and hybrid, with AI enabling seamless integration across on-premise, cloud, and edge environments.
Technologies such as AI-as-a-Service, edge computing, and green infrastructure are now critical enablers for real-time analytics, digital transformation, and sustainable growth—all of which depend on an infrastructure that is not only high-performance and adaptable, but also secure by design.
TM Global, the international and wholesale arm of TM, plays a central role in enabling this shift. Through AI-ready, energy-efficient data centres like KVDC and IPDC, and a growing edge presence, TM and TM Global offer the scalability, low-latency performance, and modular flexibility needed to support diverse AI workloads. Its diversified submarine cable systems, DC-to-DC connectivity, and secure infrastructure ensure data sovereignty and regulatory compliance—critical for sensitive and regulated industries.
Safeguarding data is critical for today’s businesses, and TM ensures this through data centres designed with security at their core. Leveraging a proactive architecture, we implement continuous threat detection, real-time monitoring, and intelligent defence mechanisms to protect against evolving cyber threats.
Strategic alliances, including the partnership with Singtel’s Nxera, further strengthen TM’s ability to deliver hyperconnected, secure ecosystems.
With these capabilities, TM and TM Global are not only meeting current enterprise demands but also positioning Malaysia as a trusted digital gateway to ASEAN, empowering global players to innovate and scale with confidence.

This interview article was first published on AI Technology Insights on 28 July 2025 as part of its Global Telecom Leadership Spotlight.