18 Jun 2024

TM AND SINGTEL’S NXERA FORM JOINT VENTURE TO DEVELOP NEXT-GENERATION DATA CENTRES

TM AND SINGTEL’S NXERA FORM JOINT VENTURE  TO DEVELOP NEXT-GENERATION DATA CENTRES Article Header
TM

KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, 18 JUNE 2024 – TM is partnering Nxera, the regional data centre arm of Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, in a joint venture to develop data centres in Malaysia starting with a sustainable, hyper-connected AI-ready data centre campus in Johor. This strategic partnership aims to serve the needs of hyperscalers, next-generation AI application providers and enterprises pursuing accelerated digitalisation and cloud in the region. The joint venture is a unique proposition, bolstered by the extensive subsea cable networks of TM and Singtel’s Digital InfraCo which provide global connectivity and enhanced network performance with lower latency and improved reliability.

Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group Chief Executive Officer, said, "Establishing a hyper-connected AI-ready data centre marks the next phase in our long-standing partnership with Singtel, leveraging our strengths and commitment to elevate ASEAN as the preferred digital hub destination. TM brings the largest domestic network infrastructure, extensive international subsea cable systems and the largest interconnected DC in Malaysia, a solid backbone for this project. This will serve as a catalyst for high performance computing and lay a solid foundation for the future advancement of cloud and AI applications. This collaboration of two main telcos in the region is unique and has positive impact to the development of digital ecosystem that not only benefit the businesses but also nurturing future talent. Through this partnership, TM continues to demonstrate its dedication to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions, marking a pivotal step in our aspiration to becoming a Digital Powerhouse by 2030.”

Bill Chang, CEO of Nxera and Singtel's Digital InfraCo unit, said, "We are excited to enter the Malaysian market with TM as our strategic partner. This collaboration advances our vision to be the region’s leading sustainable, hyperconnected AI-ready data centre platform, supporting businesses with the digital infrastructure needed for the growing demand for cloud, digitalisation and AI. The development of this first data centre campus in Johor, which can be expanded in phases, demonstrates our ability to scale quickly in markets that are important to our customers. With our joint industry expertise and strong track record, we will build and operate one of the most efficient, sustainable and connectivity-rich data centres in Malaysia. In addition to data centres, we will be expanding the submarine cable connectivity between Singapore and Johor to enhance digital connectivity. Our joint venture will also partner institutes of higher learning in Malaysia to nurture talent for our projects and the industry. Our strategy of developing data centre sites with close proximity to our operations in Singapore allow us to capture spill-over demand from our customers and help them scale their business with confidence.”  

Located in Iskandar Puteri, just 16 km from Singapore, the data centre campus will be the largest to date for both TM and Nxera. It will be built to the latest standards for reliability, security and sustainability while offering the best local and international connectivity. With its close proximity to subsea cable links between Singapore and Malaysia, the data centre will be well-placed to support the increasing demand from both countries’ digitalisation and development initiatives.

The initial phase of the data centre is planned for 64MW and can be scaled up to 200MW in response to market demand. This high-power density campus will be able to host large computing and AI capabilities such as requirements by cloud hyperscalers, GPU-as-a-Service providers and features advanced technologies such as liquid cooling to support high-power density workloads and operations efficiently. The data centre will be a LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building, emphasising its commitment to greater energy efficiency and sustainable practices.

As Malaysia’s integrated telco and technology leader, TM will contribute its expertise in the region’s network infrastructure deployment to deliver customised range of wholesale data, connectivity, data centre and platform solutions catering to both local and international needs. Additionally, TM also provides Cloud services via its sovereign Cloud Alpha Edge solution.

TM currently operates seven data centres across Malaysia with 2 core data centres located in Klang Valley and Johor. Its entry into the Asia Link Cable Systems (ALC) partnership facilitates the laying of a submarine cable system spanning approximately 7,200km, with an initial design capacity of 24 Terabits/sec. Coupled with the establishment of an international Cable Landing Station at TM Exchange Kuala Sedili, Johor, these serve as vital infrastructure enhancements to accelerate the growth of the data centre industry in the state.

Nxera is a rapidly growing regional platform backed by Singtel and leading global investment firm KKR, leveraging its data centre operations in Singapore to expand overseas. Customers can also tap into a host of services such as Singtel’s Paragon cloud orchestration platform and upcoming GPU-as-a-Service. They will be able to orchestrate their AI workloads in a multi-network and multi-cloud environment, serving as a catalyst for greater innovation, entrepreneurship and business excellence.

Nxera is developing three new AI-ready data centres in the region in addition to 62MW of existing capacity in Singapore. This includes a new 58MW data centre in Tuas, Singapore and data centres with partners in Indonesia and Thailand. Nxera’s total pipeline capacity is set to increase from its current operational capacity of 62MW in Singapore to more than 200MW in the region in the next three years. The data centres will be served by Digital InfraCo's comprehensive network of subsea fibre-optic cables which provide customers with the best country-to-country connectivity in the Asia Pacific region.

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TM ONE NAMED FROST & SULLIVAN MALAYSIAN CYBERSECURTY SERVICES COMPANY OF THE YEAR

TM One, the enterprise and government sector solutions arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (“TM”), was named the Frost & Sullivan Malaysian Cybersecurity Services Company of the Year for 2022.   The award was decided based on a series of detailed evaluations following Frost & Sullivan’s best practices criteria, in which TM One excelled as a service partner in addressing Malaysia’s enterprise and government sector cybersecurity needs.   “TM One is recognised based on its extensive cybersecurity capabilities and resources. With a full suite of cybersecurity services and infrastructure, coupled with a deep understanding of the Malaysian market landscape, TM One continuously upholds a strong reputation of effectively addressing its customers’ security needs,” said Anh Tien Vu, Industry Principal, Global Cybersecurity Research Team at Frost & Sullivan.   Shazurawati Abd Karim, Executive Vice President, TM One, said: “We are honoured to receive the Frost & Sullivan Malaysian Cybersecurity Services Company of the Year Award. With cybersecurity emerging as a top priority for organisations in their transformation journey, we are committed to growing our end-to-end solutions so that we can provide our customers digital freedom and peace of mind as they expand their businesses in the digital space. Understanding their unique business needs, we work with organisations to assess their cybersecurity capabilities and provide advisory services through our dedicated TM One Cyber Defense Centre (CYDEC) – helping them make the right choices to respond to cyber threats more effectively.”   Addressing Cybersecurity Gaps among Enterprises and Public Sector   More Malaysian organisations are now investing heavily in cybersecurity. As they become increasingly present and vulnerable in the digital space, organisations need to adopt a stronger security posture in their information technology, operational technology, and cloud infrastructure capabilities.   Shazurawati said, “One of the key challenges for organisations is the shortage of in-house security expertise, professionals, and tools, requiring them to outsource their security operations. By working closely with customers to assess their security posture, technology maturity, and business needs, TM One offers customised solutions for managed security services, consultation and advisory, and other value-added services to help them navigate today’s complex technological landscape.”   TM One is also strengthening the public sector’s cybersecurity, working alongside the Malaysian Government to enhance digital connectivity and smart innovations for cities and industries to propel the nation towards becoming a digital economy. In addition to connectivity, TM One continues to invest in local data centres, digital infrastructure and services, ensuring data sovereignty remains within Malaysian borders while bringing global best practices to the nation’s public sector. Its investments to strengthen Malaysia’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) is one of its efforts to protect government and public data, with its cybersecurity solutions developed in compliance with Bank Negara Malaysia’s Risk Management in Technology (RMiT) policy and the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA).   Anh Tien Vu said, “One consideration that stood out for Frost and Sullivan was that TM One has earned endorsements and collaborations from local cyber authorities, such as Cybersecurity Malaysia and the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) of Malaysia through its implementation of best practices, and world-class infrastructure backed by experts. Frost & Sullivan commends TM One’s steadfast efforts in providing cybersecurity services that exemplify this implementation of best practices, which have benefited customers and communities tremendously.”   “On top of developing our own end-to-end solutions, TM One continues to strengthen its partnership ecosystem, collaborating with companies from various security domains to diversify its offerings and coverage. This includes FNS Value Co. Limited, the sole distributor of its Blockchain Secure Authentication solution in Malaysia, which helps secure digital transactions and online credentials, and Telefónica Tech – a global leader in cybersecurity, Cloud and IoT, as a partner in delivering Digital Risk Protection,” explained Shazurawati.   “Our efforts to expand our cybersecurity services and to provide customers with cutting-edge security reflect our commitment to tackling today’s growing cybersecurity concerns. With next-gen technologies such as 5G opening up both new opportunities and threats, TM One is poised as the enabler for organisations’ next advantage and security, today and tomorrow,” she concluded.

TM AND GOVT INTRODUCE NEXT-GEN 999 EMERGENCY SYSTEM

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 November 2025 – Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications, has made available the Next Generation Emergency Response Services 999 (NG MERS 999), representing a significant enhancement to the nation’s emergency communications infrastructure. This milestone follows the 2024 agreement between both parties, reinforcing their commitment to deliver smarter, faster and more inclusive emergency services across the country. A key highlight is the enhanced SaveME 999 mobile application, which now provides Malaysians, including people with special needs and assistance, with direct access to 999 operators through video, text, and multimedia-based distress alerts. This places Malaysia among the first in the world to operationalise nationwide inclusive digital emergency access at large scale. Members of the public may continue to call 999 as usual. The SaveME 999 app serves as an additional option, particularly for those who require accessible features. The NG MERS 999 is a fully digital, integrated platform that replaces the legacy MERS 999 system which is also developed and operated by TM. The upgraded system enhances operational efficiency, optimises resource deployment, and significantly improves response times across more than 800 locations nationwide. Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “TM is proud to stand alongside the Ministry of Communications in delivering this vital national infrastructure that protects lives and strengthens our resilience. NG MERS 999 represents a leap forward in Malaysia’s digital transformation, harnessing AI and multi-channel communications to empower faster, smarter and more inclusive emergency response for all.” He added, “Inclusivity sits at the heart of NG MERS 999. The enhanced SaveME 999 and the Responder App put critical technologies directly in the hands of users and responders, enabling a faster and more optimised emergency response. This reflects TM’s commitment to building a more connected, secure and digitally resilient Malaysia on its journey to becoming a Digital Powerhouse by 2030” Malaysia is setting a new benchmark in emergency response with the adoption of Advanced Mobile Location (AML) for precise caller geolocation, a unified five-agency 999 platform, and strengthened digital accessibility for PwDs. These capabilities mirror, and in several areas exceed, implementations seen in advanced emergency systems internationally.   Advanced Technology and Inclusivity Developed and operated by TM, the NG MERS 999 integrates AI-powered analytics, geolocation services, and secure sovereign cloud hosting to streamline emergency call management and enable real-time decision-making. Two key applications – SaveME 999 (for the public to send multimedia alerts with GPS data) and the Responder App (for real-time tracking and coordination among emergency agencies) – ensure faster response and improved outcomes in life-critical situations. Aligned with the NG112 framework and built to stringent ISO-certified benchmarks, NG MERS 999 reinforces Malaysia’s public safety infrastructure and readiness for the digital future. With NG MERS 999, every emergency call is now met with greater speed, accuracy, and care — reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a leader in digital public safety innovation.

TM takes a bold step in the enterprise business: hires key senior tech leader from the region Krish Datta as EVP into the leadership team for enterprise digital business: watch out what is happening next

​Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) announced the appointment of Krish Datta, an established regional technology leader, as Executive Vice President of Digital Services. Krish brings deep expertise in building technology businesses from infancy to regional leadership alongside a broad, diverse set of experiences and skills to the newly created role.   “I am delighted Krish has joined TM. He is a proven technology executive who has been instrumental in building and leading technology companies,” said Imri Mokhtar, Group CEO of TM. “In this new role, Krish will deepen our commitment and ability to enable our Enterprise and Public Sector customers’ digital transformation as we help them improve and accelerate every area of their business with simplicity and confidence. “While our focus remains on our core business, we have charted big, bold moves for the future as TM continues on our growth path. Our foray into enterprise digital services will open up new opportunities for TM to expand our customer base. More importantly, it will also enable us to better serve our existing customers by offering them solutions that will boost their business performance and at the same time, provide data-driven insights to make critical business decisions. “Krish at the helm of our new digital services arm marks the start of an exciting new chapter for us. As our customers in the Enterprise and Public Sector space continue to build the future of business, he will help TM realise our opportunities in B2B digital services. I am excited to see what Krish and his team will deliver!” “I am excited to join TM, for more than one reason.” said Krish Datta. “I love building sustainable tech businesses, and this opportunity to build a technology-focused team offers me the ability to create, from the inside, another reliable TM brand, a new identity for Enterprise Technology along with a scope to help a country I love.”   With over 34 years of technology industry experience, Krish has built and led several enterprise technology-based businesses across ASEAN, India, Japan, Australia, and the Middle East. He is a passionate business and people leader who has demonstrated a successful track record in Asia with well-established global MNCs and start-up companies. Krish was in SAP Asia Pacific for over 16 years holding various leadership positions. He established SAP in Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and went on to hold the position of President, SAP Southeast Asia, responsible for all aspects of the business from sales, marketing, sales operations, presales, partner and eco-system, finance, support, HR, and consulting.   Upon leaving SAP in 2011, he started a Goldman Sachs-backed data management services and software provider, Back Office Associates (now known as Syniti) in Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East region as its CEO. He went on to build the business over the next eight years and exited after building a manicured business, including key technology and delivery capabilities which included global delivery centres in India, Philippines, and P&L across nine countries. He became the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Xampr which started a no-code low-code mobile platform for mobile application development, focusing on integration, last-mile process and flexible template-based workflow and adoption. An art lover he also founded online art platform Mayinart. Krish holds an MBA in Marketing and Strategy from the European Business School, University of Surrey, UK and a First-class Honours Degree in Applied Physics/Classical Physics from the University of Calcutta, India. He has also completed the Global Leadership Development Program from INSEAD, France.

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