Kuala Lumpur, 13 August 2024 — EDOTCO Malaysia, the nation’s largest telecommunications infrastructure company, is proud to announce two strategic partnerships with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Boost to accelerate Malaysia’s digital economy through next-generation digital infrastructure and financial inclusion initiatives.
The MOUs signing ceremony was held earlier today at Laman EDOTCO in Saujana Subang in the presence of YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital. In his speech, the Minister highlighted the importance of these partnerships and said, “The MOU with MDEC will leverage EDOTCO’s digital infrastructure expertise to support Malaysia Digital ecosystems, enhancing sectors such as Digital Agriculture, Digital Cities, and Digital Tourism. This partnership is designed to ensure that the communities within the MD ecosystem have the infrastructure support necessary to drive innovation and growth nationwide. With this endeavour, MDEC and EDOTCO are creating a fertile ground for Malaysia’s digital innovators to accelerate their growth for the benefit of all Malaysians, bridging the urban-rural divide and positioning Malaysia as a leader in the digital age.”
“The innovative partnership with Boost introduces the first-of-its-kind ‘Tower Landowner Credit Access’ initiative, which not only provides financial benefits but also enhances financial literacy for landowners, many of whom are unbanked or underbanked. I applaud the joint efforts by EDOTCO and Boost for this initiative, as it is closely aligned with the Government’s goal of promoting digital inclusion and participation, especially in financial services,” he added.
MDEC Partnership: Future-Ready Connectivity Infrastructure for Malaysia Digital Ecosystem
In a move that underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to accelerating digital adoption and transformation, EDOTCO will be able to offer expert advisory services and preferential rates for next-generation digital infra solutions to Malaysia Digital (MD) status companies in efforts to foster supportive ecosystem and promoting digital growth.
As an infrastructure ecosystem partner for Malaysia Digital initiatives, EDOTCO will play an active role in creating a reliable, future-ready digital infra foundation for Malaysia’s digital economy to propel. This includes providing 4G and 5G in-building connectivity for Malaysia Digital Cybercities and Cybercentres, as well as alternative connectivity solutions such as deploying low-orbit satellites and sustainable smart city solutions.
EDOTCO is uniquely positioned to support the Malaysian tech ecosystem with its cutting-edge Network Planning and Analytics (NaPA), offering enhanced network planning, data-driven decision-making, optimised network performance, and improved service quality. By ensuring the availability of advanced connectivity infrastructure, startups and innovators can focus on continuing to develop new technologies and services that can better serve both urban and rural communities, driving further growth in Malaysia’s digital economy.
Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC, said: “MDEC is thrilled to be one of EDOTCO’s partners in this milestone. Their proven track record in digital infrastructure makes them the ideal partner in empowering Malaysia’s innovators. With over 20,000 towers across the nation and a commitment to sustainability and innovation, I believe EDOTCO has the capability to support the rapid deployment of the infrastructure that is essential in growing Malaysia’s digital economy. Their expertise, together with MDEC’s will ensure Malaysia could swiftly adopt new technologies, enhancing connectivity and providing a solid foundation for businesses to innovate in. This is aligned with the national strategic initiative, Malaysia Digital (MD) which focuses on fostering innovation, talent development, and investment within the digital ecosystem. MDEC will continue to support EDOTCO in this milestone”
Boost Partnership: Financial Empowerment for Tower Landowners
EDOTCO’s collaboration with Boost, a homegrown regional fintech leader, introduced the ‘Tower Landowner Credit Access’ initiative. This initiative is set to benefit more than 2,200 individuals and private landowners with existing tenancy agreements with EDOTCO.
Designed to provide substantial financial empowerment and stability through simplified access to cash, the first phase of the collaboration aims to support SME tower landowners, while the second phase will be expanded to individuals in the coming months. By leveraging tenancy agreements, the initiative opens up new avenues for credit access, particularly benefiting those who are unbanked or underbanked.
Through this initiative, EDOTCO and Boost are fostering a more inclusive financial environment that strengthens community support and promotes financial inclusion, reinforcing their shared commitment to empowering the communities they serve.
Sheyantha Abeykoon, Group CEO of Boost, added: “The partnership with EDOTCO exemplifies our commitment to providing simplified access to finance for those in need. By integrating our holistic fintech solutions, we support essential financial needs for the underserved, fostering economic growth within these communities. These are key steps in our transformation into a full-fledged digital bank in the region to driving positive financial inclusion impact across the country.”
Adlan Tajudin, Group CEO of EDOTCO, commented on both partnerships: “These collaborations with MDEC and Boost are pivotal in driving Malaysia’s digital economy forward. By partnering with MDEC, we are ensuring that our tech ecosystem will have access to cutting-edge infrastructure, enabling startups and innovators to thrive. Simultaneously, our initiative with Boost will provide financial stability and empower our underserved landowners, who are key stakeholders in our business. These partnerships reinforce our commitment to fostering inclusive growth, as we build a stronger, more connected Malaysia.”
