Malaysia's Maxis to upgrade Melaka telecom towers with fiber backhaul

Malaysian mobile carrier Maxis has been selected by Melaka ICT Holdings (MICTH) to support the deployment of high-capacity fiber backhaul across telecom towers in the state of Melaka, marking a significant step in the region's push toward advanced digital infrastructure.

The agreement, finalized last week, will see Maxis upgrade MICTH-owned telecom towers from microwave backhaul to an advanced optical fiber network. The transition is designed to create what Maxis describes as "a robust digital backbone capable of supporting faster, more reliable, and secure 4G and 5G services while enhancing overall network performance throughout the state."

The project will expand fiber connectivity across Melaka's telecom towers from 40 percent to 80 percent, covering 151 towers as part of an investment valued at approximately RM30 million ($7.4 million). The initiative aligns with MICTH's broader strategy to digitalize its infrastructure and develop a high-capacity, robust, and low-latency network architecture.

Dr. Nazdiana binti Ab Wahab, chief executive officer of MICTH, emphasized the importance of the collaboration, stating: "Strategic collaboration with Maxis will accelerate the migration of MICTH-owned telecommunications sites from microwave-based connectivity to high-capacity fiber networks, enhancing network performance and supporting growing digital demands across the state. The partnership underscores the importance of public-private collaboration in strengthening Melaka's digital infrastructure and advancing the state's digitalization agenda."

Maxis chief executive officer Goh Seow Eng highlighted the future-proof nature of the upgrade, noting that the fiberized sites will provide the scalability needed to meet rising data demand. "By fiberizing these sites, we are laying the foundation for a future-proof ecosystem. This network offers the scalability needed to meet the exponential rise in data demand, providing the high-speed, low-latency backbone that mobile connectivity and AI traffic demands," he said.

The fiber upgrades are also expected to pave the way for high-speed broadband expansion into surrounding residential and commercial areas. Maxis will additionally leverage its wholesale expertise to offer mobile backhaul services to other mobile network operators, potentially broadening the impact of the infrastructure investment across the state's telecommunications ecosystem.