Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today signed a collaboration agreement with PERNEC PayPoint Sdn Bhd (PPSB), a subsidiary of PERNEC Corporation Bhd for Wireless Broadband Deployment to expand its Streamyx Zone WiFi coverage at strategic locations of Pernec Payphones nationwide.   

Rafaai Samsi, Executive Vice President, TM Wholesale signed the Agreement on behalf of TM, while PPSB was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Tengku Asmaluddin Tengku Arshad. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Datuk Bazlan Osman, Executive Director / Group Chief Financial Officer, TM and Abdul Karim Abdul Sallam, Managing Director, PERNEC Corporation Berhad.   

“This strategic alliance between both companies will bring about the deployment of TM’s Streamyx Zone at Pernec Paypoint strategic locations nationwide, thereby further expanding TM’s wireless broadband coverage. We target to widen the coverage to 10,000 sites by the end of this year, either by ourselves or by working with partners such as Pernec.  I am pleased to note that the partnership that we seal today will increase our coverage to an additional 2,000 sites throughout the country,” said Datuk Bazlan.  

Speaking at the ceremony, Abdul Karim said that with the availability of over 35,000 payphones nationwide, PPSB is well positioned to contribute to the expansion of TM’s Streamyx Zone sites. To date, Abdul Karim noted that PPSB has invested over RM5 million to purchase the necessary equipment and has installed the hotspots at more than 400  locations, adding that the company projected to install up to 3,000 hotspots this year and at another 5,000  locations in 2011. PPSB also plans to increase the number of its fixed line payphones by another 10,000 to cater to the expected high demand for broadband internet across the country.  

“Since our establishment in 1973, PERNEC has aggressively participated in nation building, and we view this collaboration as part of our contribution for this purpose. Our experience in the telecommunications sector has enabled us to offer the best, cost effective solution to our clients,” added Abdul Karim. 

TM currently has 3,400 Streamyx Zones sites nationwide, providing WiFi broadband access to its 328,000 subscribers at public places, including shopping malls, cafes and F&B chains, airports, convention centres, hotels, university campuses, hospitals, golf club houses and many more. Customers can also enjoy this facility on prepaid basis by purchasing the prepaid card for Streamyx Zone at the nearest TMpoints and selected sales outlets nationwide.  

To spot a Streamyx Zone site, simply look out for the Streamyx Zone sign at your local eatery, shopping malls or refer to www.streamyx.com.my.  This service can be accessed with a laptop, PDA, Tablet PC or other mobile devices with standard Wi-Fi capability (802.11b/g wireless LAN standard) at any Streamyx Zone nationwide. Users can conveniently check their e-mail, browse the Internet, make phone calls via Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service, watch video-streaming and blog, among others. Users only need to open their web browser and key-in their username and password. Once connected, users can enjoy broadband speeds of up to 384kbps and 100% mobility within the range of the access point.  

TM, as Malaysia’s broadband champion, continues to provide broadband Internet access to the consumers nationwide via fixed and wireless connectivity. In addition to its Broadband for the General Population (BBGP) under the brand Streamyx with the fastest speeds of 4Mbps, TM is aggressively offering its High Speed Broadband (HSBB) service, UniFi which promises bandwidth at faster network access speed of 5Mbps and above, targeting superior end-to-end network performance, including international bandwidth. All these initiatives, including enhancing customers’ online experience, are testament to TM’s support towards the National Broadband Initiative (NBI).  

PPSB, Malaysia’s national and largest payphone operator, is leading the way in reinventing the payphones business by integrating them with a host of new communications applications in an effort to ensure that payphones remain relevant in today’s fast-changing technological world. 

PPSB has a 57% market share with over 35,000 Payphones and 2,000 USP Payphones running on VoIP nationwide. Operating under the helo brand, PPSB has expanded its portfolio of services from the traditional coin operated & prepaid calling Card Payphones to VoIP Prepaid Calling Card, Prepaid Mobile Top-Up, SMS and WiFi internet network coverage.