Maxis introduces cloud computing service in schools (Malaysia)
Telecom operator Maxis developed Cyberkids with Cloud as a computing platform for schools to have instant access to virtual servers for the running of web-based applications. Cloud computing is about outsourcing server and storage functions (that is, computing power), allowing users to keep and access all data, software and applications via the Internet. In addition, the elasticity of cloud allows schools to tap into more computing power on demand. Cyberkids with Cloud frees schools from operating, maintaining and supporting servers and related hardware. Each school will be given free access to a cloud computing platform with 20GB storage with 100mbps bandwidth for a period of one year.
The deployment of the Maxis Cyberkids with Cloud programme encourages the integration of ICT in education as part of the daily teaching and learning process. With this, schools can boost the efficiency and productivity of both teachers and students through greater flexibility to experiment with newer apps and platforms. This beneficial service also further exemplifies the Company’s integrated position by enabling education that is available anytime and anywhere for teachers and students.
The Maxis Cyberkids with Cloud programme is a natural extension of Maxis’ award-winning Maxis Cyberkids programme which has entered its 10th year. It supports the government’s effort towards Vision 2020 – to transform the Malaysian education system by integrating ICT into mainstream education. The Company continuously strives to provide leading-edge technology and innovation to create value for the communities in which the company operates.
The most recent school to receive Maxis Cyberkids with Cloud training, SMK Merotai Besar in Tawau, is also the first rural school in Sabah to receive cloud technology. The school won the Cyberkids Challenge in 2010 and the Star Award in 2011 due to its commitment in sharing its Cyberkids experience with 40 other schools in the area. The school’s alumni now count themselves amongst the programme’s trainers as they seek to share what they have learnt to the benefit of the other schools in Tawau. This highlights one of the core goals of the programme which is to train teachers and students on how to use cloud.
Cloud technology is especially important for schools such as SMK Merotai Besar as it is able to remove barriers in education, providing equal opportunities for various communities to learn and obtain information, including special needs groups.
Celcom Axiata plans to invest $330 mn on network (Malaysia)
The Malaysian mobile network operator, Celcom Axiata has announced that it is planning to spend US$330 million during 2011 network coverage, capacity and quality. Of the planned CAPEX, 60% will go to enhance its data network while 40% will be spent on maintaining its current network.
The company’s network modernization exercise will eventually move the mobile network towards an all-IP infrastructure, migrating all its sites to single-RAN architecture and be ready to deploy future LTE services.
According to Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Shazalli Ramly, they will embark on an aggressive network transformation exercise and the major single-RAN migration will be taken into execution as quickly as this quarter.
He added that the company would probably spend a slightly smaller amount over the next three years to prepare the network for a future LTE service, and confirmed that the company is in talks with other networks about sharing some of their network infrastructure.
Celcom has already started trials of LTE network kit supplied by both Huawei and Ericsson, while rival network, Maxis carried out trials with kit supplied by Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei.
Malaysian mobile broadband market to be worth US$3 billion by 2015
A new research report has revealed that the Malaysian mobile broadband and data market was worth about US$2 billion in 2010 and is expected to reach US$3 billion by 2015.
According to researchers, the mobile subscriber market is heading towards saturation and all market players are looking at mobile broadband as a growth driver. While Malaysia’s mobile market is saturated with a subscriber penetration rate of 117% in 2010, mobile broadband and 3G services still represent significant opportunities with wireless broadband having the potential to achieve up to 5.6 million subscribers by 2015.
Wireless broadband has been fast gaining popularity over fixed broadband with almost 2 million wireless broadband subscribers compared to 1.65 million fixed broadband subscribers in 2010. In 2009, fixed broadband dominated over wireless broadband with 1.4 million subscribers to 0.9 million subscribers.
Still, fixed broadband will gain market share in 2011 and 2012 due to the introduction of high-speed broadband and wholesale deals by Maxis and Celcom. Governmental support for high-speed broadband will also help drive the fixed broadband market. The Malaysian fixed broadband market is expected to reach 2.2 million subscribers in 2015.
The increasing use of smartphones, driven by rapid price decline and application richness, has increased demand for mobile broadband. Smartphones access the internet via a 3G connection, allowing users to be connected on the go without the need for dongles.
According to researchers, with the Internet user base to reach 23-25 million by 2015, it is expected that 70% of them would have access to a personal internet connection. The smartphone strategy will be the big bet of all mobile operators going forward especially when almost 13 million broadband users are expected to access the internet via smartphones by 2015.
Other areas of interest include the enterprise services market which consists of data center services, M2M services, IT/System Integration services, and WAN services. The enterprise services market earned revenues of RM2.7 billion in 2010 and is expected to reach RM5.8 billion in 2015, making it the fastest growing ICT market in Malaysia.
The Malaysian Data Center Services market is set to grow at 16 percent CAGR with Cloud Computing to be an important driver of growth as Malaysian enterprises demonstrates increasing interest in Cloud services.
SaaS, the dominant segment of the Cloud market, is set to witness strong growth powered by CRM, Collaboration and HRM applications in the Malaysian market.
Researchers add that enterprises in Malaysia have recently begun embracing the SaaS delivery model. Their interest is primarily driven by the lower total cost of ownership in the services model, the conversion of CapEx to predictable OpEx and the ability to scale up or down depending on business needs.
Motivated by the growing interest, an increasing number of global participants are showing high level of activity in the country, which is helping improve awareness levels across enterprises.
However, enterprises continue to remain skeptical of Cloud adoption due to Security and Privacy concerns. This, along with the low reliability of broadband internet in the country, may hamper BAaaS adoption in the short-term. The government’s efforts towards building a knowledge economy and improving broadband infrastructure may alleviate these challenges in the long run.
DiGi submits business plans for 2600MHz spectrum usage (Malaysia)
DiGi Telecommunications, Malaysia’s mobile network operator has reportedly submitted its business plan to the country’s telecoms regulator related to its proposed use of spectrum in the 2600MHz band.
The operator made the submission following the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC’s) award of frequencies in the 2600MHz band last year; in October 2010 the regulator had assigned spectrum to nine companies, including DiGi.
It is understood that the regulator required each company to put forward a business plan regarding how the frequencies would be used.
According to DiGi, the board believes that the spectrum will enable the company to provide enhanced mobile broadband services to customers.
Those other companies that have been told they will be allocated frequencies are: mobile operators Celcom, Maxis, DiGi and U-Mobile; WiMAX players Asiaspace, Packet One Networks (P1), REDtone and YTL Communications; and a new company, Puncak Semangat.
The MCMC has confirmed that all nine will be required to pay for the allocated spectrum, although it has yet to disclose how much the additional spectrum will cost each operator. Access to the frequencies in question is not expected until the beginning of 2013.
Maxis Q3 net profit fell to $190.55 million
Malaysia’s largest mobile network operator Maxis Q3 net profit fell to US$190.55 million from a restated 380.46 a year ago. The company declared a dividend of 8 cents, meeting consensus forecasts.
The mobile operator gained 1.8 million subscribers to 13.53 million as at end-September, equivalent to a 15% rise, but this was offset by a drop in the average revenue per user, or ARPU, due to higher take-up of lower priced plans.
The company added that EBITDA (Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) margin was lower by 1% at 49.5% largely impacted by higher sales and marketing costs incurred for the 2010 FIFA World Cup sponsorship and increase in device expenses. The increasing demand for wireless broadband, internet access and other non-voice services will drive revenue growth in the foreseeable future. But mobile industry revenue growth has slowed in general, contrary to expectations.
The Malaysian telco space has become increasingly crowded and this has taken its toll on margins. Maxis stated that it expected a satisfactory year because of robust mobile data usage and sales of the new iPhone.
Western Union collaborates With SBI to Launch Mobile Money Transfer in India
Western Union has collaborated with State Bank of India (SBI) to provide accountholders with cross-border money transfers via mobile phones. In July, Western Union announced the introduction of the Account-Based Money Transfer (ABMT) service which will be launched in early 2011. This service will facilitate SBI customers with online bank accounts to pull a Western Union Money Transfer directly into their accounts via Internet or ATM.
According to Anil Kapur, Western Union’s Senior VP (South and Southeast Asia), India is the world’s No. 1 remittance recipient country, and according to World Bank figures, has received US$52 billion in 2009. Currently, consumers can send Mobile Money Transfers from nearly 70,000 Western Union Agent locations in 25 countries.
Western Union has 61,000 locations in India, and the mobile transfer partnership will allow it to expand its distribution within India using SBI’s network. Western Union already has a partnership with SBI, with over 12,000 SBI branches offering Western Union Money Transfer service.
SBI has 110 million accountholders, of which more than 4 million are registered for online banking.
Western Union also offers the Mobile Money Transfer service in the Philippines with Smart Communications and Globe Telecom; in Kenya with Safaricom; in Malaysia with Maxis; and in South Africa with Absa Bank.
The company also announced an agreement with EnStream in Canada and has agreements with Tunisian Post and Bank of Commerce & Development (BoCD) in Libya. In addition, Western Union previously announced an alliance with Zain (Airtel) in Africa.
Celcom to start LTE Trials with Huawei and Ericsson
Celcom, Malaysian mobile network has started trials of LTE network gear supplied by Huawei and Ericsson. As per reports the government has not yet outlined any plans to give any other radio spectrum for LTE services. It is presently trying to take back idle spectrum from some operators.
According to Celcom chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly, Celcom has clear reasons for doing these trials and find out what the technology can do for the company. Ericsson and Huawei are doing the trials for the company. The company would invest US$322.32 million a year over the next three years in capital expenditure. This would be funded by internally-generated funds.
Maxis, the opponent network of Celcom has also carried out LTE trials in alliance with Alcatel-Lucent and Huawei.
According to Pyramid Research, Malaysia will be among the fastest-growing markets in Asia Pacific due to operators’ aggressive Capex plans in broadband – fixed and mobile – urged in part by the government’s plans for a high-speed broadband network.
Maxis net quarterly earnings fall by 5%: Q2′ 2010
Maxis, Malaysia’s biggest mobile operator, has recorded a 5% fall in quarterly earnings despite ruling customer growth in the market.
The company saw a Post-tax profit of US$169.8011 million for the second quarter. Revenue increased by 2.3% compared to last year.
EBITDA was off 1.7% to 1.0 billion, with EBITDA margin down 4.1 points to 46.9%, mostly because of higher costs. Sales and marketing costs as a proportion of total spending grew from 4.1% a year ago to 5.2%.
According to CEO Sandip Das, Maxis had become the market leader in mobile broadband, adding 135,000 customers for the period. It now has 6.7 million mobile internet subs and data accounts for 36.6% of mobile revenue, up from 34.8% in Q1.
It added 280,000 net customers for the quarter to take its total to 12.97 million, snaring 47% of total net adds in Malaysia over the last four quarters.
