Digi aims to dial up higher service revenue

SUBANG JAYA: Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd is eyeing higher service revenue this year with the activation of its 900MHz spectrum coverage nationwide effective this July.
Speaking to reporters during a media briefing yesterday, its chief network officer Kesavan Sivabalan said with the new spectrum, the telco’s network will be significantly improved with a stronger indoor coverage, wider outdoor coverage, as well as better internet capacity.
“When we reach a wider area, of course we are looking at some uptake in terms of our service revenue,” he added.
Digi’s service revenue last year declined 1.9% to RM6.23 billion amid challenging market conditions. Internet revenue contributed almost 40% to total service revenue, supported by 12.3 million subscribers on its network.
Kesavan said Digi’s network has been reliant on its 1800MHz and 2600MHz spectrums, which come with lower coverage area and less ideal indoor coverage.
He said with the 900MHz spectrum, which is a lower-frequency band, it will be able to provide wider coverage and better penetration within buildings.
“Our new 900MHz spectrum gives many advantages. We have already started deploying it ... and effective July 1, we will turn it on. We will start in the key market areas.
“In addition, when layered with our 1800MHz and 2600MHz spectrums, customers will experience better network capacity to stream their favourite videos and play games, which makes Digi the Network Built for Entertainment’,” he added.
To recap, Digi was awarded and accepted the offer of spectrum assignments by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for 2x5MHz of 900MHz and 2x20MHz of 1800MHz spectrum bands for 15 years effective July 1, 2017.
As of end-2016, Digi expanded its 4G LTE network coverage up to 85% of Malaysia’s population in 275 cities and towns. The telco has also expanded its LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network coverage to serve 41% of Malaysians in 61 cities and towns.
“We have been aggressively expanding our network across Malaysia over the past year and today, we are thrilled to be able to serve 85% of Malaysians with high speed, consistent internet on our ‘Network Built for Entertainment’.
“Customers who are looking for new telecommunications technology are also in for a treat as Digi now offers Voice-over-LTE on all its 4G LTE sites, which offers high definition voice calls and faster call connection,” he added, noting it will launch Voice-over-WiFi technology within the first quarter of this year.