Telekom Malaysia signs backhaul deal with edotco

Telekom Malaysia has entered an agreement with regional infrastructure services company edotco aimed at providing backhaul services for Malaysian mobile operators’ LTE deployments.

Under the partnership, Telekom Malayia will provide its next-generation backhaul (NGBH) services for connectivity between operators’ cell sites and their core network at edotco’s ground-based tower sites in selected areas.

The two companies will also explore opportunities to provide common infrastructure via smart centralized radio access network (smart CRAN) services to allow operators to expand their coverage footprints.

Malaysia-based edotco provides end-to-end tower services ranging from tower leasing, co-location, build-to-suit, energy, transmission and operation and maintenance. The company operates in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan and Myanmar, and has a portfolio of over 26,000 towers across these markets.

“Telekom Malaysia is proud to be given the opportunity to fulfill our role as the strategic partner in the country’s economic development. This partnership allows us to share and converge our capabilities towards accelerating Malaysia to be digitally connected,” Telekom Malasia group CEO Dato’ Sri Mohammed Shazalli Ramly said.

“Telekom Malaysia is also committed to support the Government’s aspiration in providing better broadband access to Malaysians nationwide and further embrace smart solutions by offering next generation services.”

The collaboration is subject to the signing of a definitive agreement that is expected to be finalized within the next six months.