Maxis, Vodafone bring IoT solutions to Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Maxis Bhd has announced a partnership with London-based telecommunication company Vodafone Group plc to offer Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to Malaysian businesses across all industries.
The IoT, which is about connecting devices over the internet, allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely across existing data networks, to improve efficiency, enhance customer experience, create new revenue stream, as well as automate processes.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference here yesterday, Maxis head of enterprise marketing and products Shanti Jusnita Johari said by pairing its local market knowledge and high speed data network with Vodafone’s expertise and market platform, it will deliver the technology required by local companies to implement in their operations.
“Through our agreement with Vodafone, which brings with it a global standard of service, unrivalled IoT experience and highly ranked by analysts, we are equipping businesses in Malaysia with more than just connectivity through our advanced data network, but a suite of IoT solutions to digitalise and transform their operations.
“This is a milestone in our drive towards new ways of working and digitalisation for enterprises,” Shanti added, noting the IoT solutions is not just for large companies, but for small businesses as well.
Maxis head of new business enterprise Claire Featherstone said business-to-business (B2B) opportunity is expected to generate nearly 70% of potential value enabled by the IoT solutions.
Featherstone added there will be almost twice as many connected “things” as people in Malaysia. Globally, 25 billion devices are to be connected by 2020.
“I think in Malaysia today, the connected devices are predominantly in financial services industry, retail and fleet management, in terms of asset tracking as well as commercial fleet. Those are some of the key verticals that we are looking at,” she added.
Vodafone provides a range of services including voice, messaging, data and fixed communications. It has mobile operations in 26 countries, partners with mobile networks in 56 more and fixed broadband operations in 17 markets.
As of March 31, 2016, Vodafone had 462 million mobile customers and 13.4 million fixed broadband customers.