TM REFUTES MONOPOLY ALLEGATIONS
Group’s investment structures, ops different from others, says CEO
TELEKOM Malaysia Bhd (TM) has dismissed claims that the government-linked company has been monopolising the telecommunications industry, thus making it difficult for other telcos to grow.
Group chief executive officer Datuk Noor Kamarul Anuar Nuruddin said the allegations are baseless as TM has been at the forefront of major connectivity developments since the company’s inception in 1946.
These included submarine cables, landing stations and broadcast services.
He said TM’s operations are carried out in accordance with the needs of the people and the government.
He added that every investment in upgrading or expansion is for long-term growth.
“TM has spent some RM20 billion in establishing fixed-line telephony, over RM4.4 billion on copper broadband, RM16 billion for fibre broadband and another RM2.2 billion on mobile infrastructure in the country,” he said in an interview recently.
Noor Kamarul said TM’s investment structures and operations are different from other telco players as it aspires to build the national telecommunications industry.
“TM wants to develop the sector and be the backbone of the government’s agenda for the benefit of the people.
“Hence, it is unfair to say that TM is monopolising the industry.
“We continue to invest in new developments where others have shied away from.”
Citing an example, he said TM pioneered Putrajaya’s telecommunications infrastructure development in 1997.
“TM invested over RM1 billion in Putrajaya when other telcos were not willing. Since then, TM has installed 1,160km of fibre optic cables, 27,000 broadband ports, 1,500 metro ethernet network ports, 245 WiFi access points and 14 C-RAN (wireless bandwidth) sites.”
Noor Kamarul said it does not make sense for other players to label TM as a monopoly after all the infrastructure development TM has implemented.
Chief strategy officer Tengku Muneer Tengku Muzani said TM’s aspiration to develop the telecommunications sector is not for immediate profit.
“What TM does is different from other telcos, which choose aspects including population density and specific places to develop the facilities.
“TM did the opposite. We need to cover all areas. In fact, we also take over abandoned projects for the benefit of the people.”