Maxis ups ante in fixed-line segment

MAXIS Bhd (6012), a mobile phone operator, plans to be aggressive in its fixed-line business as it seeks to win more corporate customers this year.

It wants to install fibre optic cables in as many as 150 buildings this year, which is about 50 per cent more than last year.

Users can transfer more information with fibre optic cables, which means that the service would be attractive for heavy data users like companies.

"We are connecting about 30 to 40 buildings, as we speak," Maxis vice president and head of enterprise and carrier business division Fitri Abdullah said after signing a collaborative agreement with Macro Lynx in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
So far, Maxis has wired up 340 buildings in Klang Valley, including having wired more than 100 buildings last year.

Both Maxis and Macro Lynx, a broadband service provider, have agreed to work together to offer a suite of fixed telecommunications solutions, including voice and data, for tenants of GTower, a commercial building that also comes with a five-star hotel, G City Club Hotel.

"Our venture with Maxis means our customers at GTower will enjoy even more value-added services and enhance their multimedia experience at work and play," said Macro Lynx chief operating officer Rick Ng. Macro Lynx operates the ICT facilities for GTower.

Maxis will not be alone in this fixed-line race. It will compete with Telekom Malaysia Bhd, the state-owned fixed-line operator, which is rolling out its RM11 billion high speed broadband project.

There are also smaller rivals like Time dotCom Bhd, which recently launched broadband services to provide customers with an Internet surfing speed of up to 50 Megabits per second.

For Maxis, its strategy is to find the right partner.

"As far as our fixed strategy is concerned, besides extending the fixed-line footprint on our own, we are also working closely with developers and partners," said Fitri.

Previously, both Maxis and Macro Lynx had teamed up on a similar project for a commercial building in Mid Valley.

Maxis is also looking to expand its presence outside the Klang Valley this year.

"In 2009, we put in place direct fiber access into an additional 31 per cent of buildings in the Klang Valley. This year, we have good news for our customers as we extend our reach beyond the Klang Valley to Penang and Johor Baru," said Fitri.

Also present at the signing ceremony was Goldis Bhd head of corporate investment Colin Ng, who is also GTower executive director. Macro Lynx is a subsidiary of Goldis.