This article is intended to give an overview of the history of telecommunications in Malaysia.
| History of Malaysia |
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 Malaysiaportal |
This article is intended to give an overview of the history of telecommunications in Malaysia.
The first telegraph line connecting to the British Resident at Perak House in Kuala Kangsar to the house of Deputy British Resident in Perak at Taiping, and was laid by the Department of Posts and Telegraph in 1874. [1] This telegraph line measured 42.5 km and travelled across a forest at Bukit Berapit, and signalled the beginning of the era of telecommunications in Malaysia. However, during the Japanese occupation in World War II, the telegraph lines were nearly completely destroyed by the Japanese army.
As of 2022, there are 5 licensed cellular operators in Malaysia: CelcomDigi, Maxis Communications, U Mobile, YTL Communications and unifi mobile (formerly known as webe digital).
In June 2012, Telekom Malaysia announced the discontinuation of telegram services with effect from 1 July 2012. [1]
The primary regulator of telecommunications in Malaysia is the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). It issues licenses under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, the Postal Services Act 2012 and the Digital Signature Act 1997.
JARING was a Malaysian internet service provider based in Technology Park Malaysia (TPM). It was the first Internet service provider in the country and was formerly owned by MIMOS Berhad.
Celcom Axiata Berhad is the oldest mobile telecommunications provider in Malaysia. Celcom is a member of the Axiata group of companies. Celcom was merged with Digi to form CelcomDigi on 1 December 2022.
4G is the fourth generation of broadband cellular network technology, succeeding 3G and preceding 5G. A 4G system must provide capabilities defined by ITU in IMT Advanced. Potential and current applications include amended mobile web access, IP telephony, gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing, and 3D television.
Telekom Malaysia Berhad or simply TM is a Malaysian telecommunications company founded in 1984. Beginning as the national telecommunications company for fixed line, radio, and television broadcasting services, it has evolved to become the country's largest provider of broadband services, data, fixed line, pay television, and network services. TM ventured into the LTE space with the launch of TMgo, its 4G offering. TM's 850 MHz service was rebranded as unifi Mobile in January 2018.
CelcomDigi Berhad, formerly known as Digi.Com Berhad, is a communications conglomerate and mobile service provider in Malaysia. Its largest shareholders comprise Axiata and Norwegian-based Telenor, who hold equal ownership in CelcomDigi at 33.1% each. CelcomDigi is the largest wireless carrier in Malaysia, with 20.3 million subscribers at the end of Q4 2022.
Maxis Berhad is a communications service provider in Malaysia. It is one of the oldest and largest telecommunications companies in the country. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it provides a variety of communication products, applications and value added services for consumers, large enterprises as well as small & medium business owners. Maxis uses the dialing prefixes of "011 12000000 through 12499999", "012", "014-2", and "017". The majority of the company's stake is owned by Malaysian billionaire, Ananda Krishnan. Its coverage is from Arau (Perlis) to Long Pasia (Sabah).
Xpax, launched in 2004, is Celcom Axiata Berhad's line of prepaid mobile plan. As of December 2017, it served over 6.72 million subscribers, it comprises the majority of Celcom’s 9.56 million total subscriber base
Dialog Axiata PLC, is one of Sri Lanka's largest telecommunications service providers, and the country's largest mobile network operator with over 17 million subscribers which amounts to 57% of the Sri Lankan mobile market. Dialog is a subsidiary of Axiata Group Berhad which owns 73.75% controlling stake of the company, while Bharti Airtel owns 10.36%, and the rest is held by the public.
Sri Lanka Telecom PLC, doing business as SLT-MOBITEL, is the national telecommunications services provider in Sri Lanka and one of the country's largest companies with an annual turnover in excess of Rs 40 billion. The company provides domestic and corporate services which include fixed and wireless telephony, Internet access and IT services to domestic, public and business sector customers. As of 2018 SLT-MOBITEL was Sri Lanka's second largest mobile network operator with over 7.9 million subscribers.
YTL Power International Berhad is a subsidiary of YTL Corporation Berhad, one of the largest companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. As of June 2024, the total combined group market capitalisation is RM 103.65 billion. Furthermore, YTL Corp and YTL Power were listed in the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 for the year 2024, ranking 47th and 78th, respectively. The ranking of the 500 Largest Companies in Southeast Asia is based on the revenue for the fiscal year 2023. As of November 2023, YTL Corp and YTL Power are included as constituents of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI index.
Since its beginnings in 1995, the Internet in Malaysia has become the main platform for free discussion in the country's otherwise tightly controlled media environment. As of Q1 2017, Malaysia had broadband penetration rates of 103.6% and 81.8%.
See also: Maxis, CelcomDigi, Yes, Unifi
Unifi Mobile is a Malaysian internet service provider and the country's sixth mobile network operator. Originally known as Packet One Networks (P1), the company was founded on 11 February 2002 and is currently a subsidiary of the national telephone company, Telekom Malaysia.
Axiata Group Berhad, is a Malaysian multinational telecommunications conglomerate with extensive operations in Asia.
Tune Talk Sdn. Bhd., doing business as Tune Talk, is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) riding on the network of Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad. Tune Talk entered into an MVNO agreement with Celcom in December 2008. Tune Talk appointed Ameen Amaendran Abdullah as their CEO in 2018, taking over from Jason Lo who is credited with developing the company to its modern state. In November 2023, Ameen Amaendran Abdullah left the role of CEO and rejoined redONE. The role of CEO is currently vacant and will soon to be announced.
YTL Communications or YTL Communications Sdn. Bhd.dbaYes is a mobile network operator in Malaysia, the fifth in the country overall. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, YTL Communications is a subsidiary of the utilities company YTL Power International Berhad and serves as the communications arm of Jio Platforms, a leading infrastructure conglomerate in Malaysia. Yes uses the native dialling prefix identifier of 018 and 011-1.
Merchantrade Asia (Merchantrade) is a financial service company based in Malaysia. The company's business is centered on international money transfers, foreign currency exchange, wholesale banknotes, digital payment processing and mobile telecommunications. They also introduced microinsurance as part of their service offerings.
