Pan-Asian towerco EDOTCO will be providing advisory services and preferential commercial terms for next-generation digital infra solutions to Malaysia Digital status companies.
This is as a result of a landmark agreement it has secured with Malaysia’s government organisation MDEC and fintech company Boost. Malaysia Digital is MDEC's national strategic initiative aimed at addressing current key challenges in the digital landscape for a robust and agile digital economy.
The agreements give EDOTCO the opportunity to help advance next-gen infrastructure including smart cities and 5G adoption in Malaysia, and with Boost to provide affordable credits to its landlord community.
The national digital drive
During a signing ceremony held earlier this month, YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital 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.
The minister continued “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 Minister of Digital will speak at TowerXchange Meetup Asia on Wednesday 27 November at the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
EDOTCO is uniquely positioned to support the Malaysian tech ecosystem with its network planning and analytics tools, offering enhanced network planning, data-driven decision-making, optimised network performance, and improved service quality.
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.
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, 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 which focuses on fostering innovation, talent development, and investment within the digital ecosystem. MDEC will continue to support EDOTCO in this milestone.”
Landowner credit access initiative
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.
It is designed to provide substantial financial empowerment and stability through simplified access to cash, with the first phase of the collaboration aiming to support SME tower landowners. 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.
Sheyantha Abeykoon, Group CEO, 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, EDOTCO commented: “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.”
