Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM): Leading the way in digital transformation and connectivity excellence
The company was recognised at the Asian Telecom Awards 2025 for its Smart City’s Network Infrastructure Initiative and outstanding leadership in digital transformation and connectivity.
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) emerged victorious with wins in the Infrastructure Initiative of the Year - Malaysia and Telecom Company of the Year - Malaysia categories at the Asian Telecom Awards 2025.
The company secured the awards through its wholesale domestic and international arm, TM Global.
Smart City’s Network Infrastructure Initiative
TM Global has redefined smart city connectivity through the deployment of its smart city network infrastructure, called the Distributed Radio Access Network (D-RAN), in Putrajaya, Malaysia’s administrative and smart city hub.
As of 31 December 2023, TM Global successfully deployed 59 D-RAN sites which enhanced both 4G and 5G coverage. The deployment has also elevated 5G coverage to over 97%, with consistent speeds exceeding 100 Mbps. This achievement has empowered residents and businesses with seamless digital experiences.
A global speed testing leader also reported on 17 March 2024 that Putrajaya now has the highest median mobile download speed in Malaysia at 190.86 Mbps—a remarkable increase from 61.24 Mbps in Q4 2022.
To avoid cluttering Putrajaya’s visual appeal and environmental harmony, TM Global introduced a series of innovative solutions with its D-RAN deployment. Amongst these is the deployment of camouflaged poles designed specifically for Putrajaya’s urban aesthetic— stackable, city-themed poles that seamlessly integrate into the environment whilst hosting antennas, Wi-Fi, and CCTV.
TM Global also championed infrastructure sharing by enabling mobile network and service providers (MNSPs) to co-host Baseband and Radio Remote Units at single sites, which reduced redundancy and simplified maintenance. The initiative included optimising connectivity as well by aggregating signals from cell sites to TM Global’s exchanges or Edge Facilities before connecting to the Regional Point of Interconnect (POI).
Aside from the technical achievements of the D-RAN solution, TM Global was able to help lower costs for MNSPs by promoting infrastructure sharing and reducing resource duplication. This initiative supports Putrajaya’s environmental objectives by minimising the infrastructure’s environmental footprint.
Digital transformation and connectivity excellence
TM Global has also contributed significantly to the group’s consolidated financial performance, demonstrating resilience and operational excellence in the face of market challenges. With the group’s Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) increasing by 7.9% year-to-date (3Q YTD 2024) and revenue growth reaching RM8.66b, TM Global plays a key role in driving digital transformation, optimising costs, and delivering value to its stakeholders.
Furthermore, TM Global boasts a strategic approach to expanding technological capabilities and enhancing service offerings. In Malaysia, the company has been dedicated to advancing 5G connectivity and is a key enabler of smart cities, the Internet of Things (IoT), and autonomous systems.
This growth is supported by the expansion of TM’s fibre infrastructure, which includes the fibreisation of over 5,000 backhaul sites and the deployment of 59 D-RAN sites in Putrajaya.
As TM Global recognises the increasing demand for data centres, co-location, and cloud services, it also scaled its data centre and edge facilities.
TM Global has partnered as well with a sustainable data centre platform to launch AI-ready data centres equipped with high-performance GPUs, facilitating AI model processing, and machine learning acceleration.
Moreover, TM Global has made significant strides in the hyperscale market by expanding its data centre capacity. This initiative has led to meeting the growing demand for scalable data hosting services from hyperscalers, OTT players, carriers, and enterprises.
This expansion is supported by an enhanced high-speed, border-to-border connectivity infrastructure that ensures seamless data transfer between data centres and cable landing stations as well as addresses the rising need for domestic backhaul from hyperscalers.
TM Global is also setting new standards in artificial intelligence with its GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) offering—an initiative that accelerates AI adoption by providing businesses and end-users with powerful computational resources to support AI-driven innovation. With its sovereign infrastructure in Malaysia and global reach, TM Global’s GPUaaS platform offers businesses a reliable, secure, and scalable solution for harnessing the full potential of AI technologies.
In addition to its AI initiatives, TM Global has been modifying its mobile communication service offerings by introducing advanced Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS) and comprehensive firewall solutions.
TM Global has a clear focus on driving digital transformation, enhancing connectivity and empowering businesses and consumers, which are key values to becoming a digital powerhouse in the region.
The Asian Telecom Awards recognises exceptional accomplishments within the telecom industry in the Asia Pacific region. It also highlights the journey of telecom companies that have driven progress and ignited transformative shifts within the sector.
The Asian Telecom Awards is presented by Asian Telecom Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for delivering cutting-edge, award-winning telco products and services to customers, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at [email protected].
