By Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, Dec 4: Sarawak’s telecommunication infrastructure provider Sacofa Sdn Bhd has entered into a partnership with Maxis Bhd to provide affordable high-speed fibre broadband to more Sarawakians.
A letter of understanding (LoU) was signed between the two leading telecommunications entities, where Sacofa would be offering High-Speed Broadband (HSBB) Network Services to Maxis.
Under the deal, Maxis will have full access to Sacofa’s HSBB Network Services in the state, enabling Maxis to offer its already available fibre plans to even more homes and businesses.
The partnership, once formalised with the signing of an access agreement early next year, will enable Maxis to further expand its broadband plans in Sarawak via Sacofa’s FTTX platform Sacofa Open Fibre Infra Access called Sofia.
Sofia, launched in January this year, is a turnkey solution that enables Internet Service Providers to link-up directly to Sacofa’s fibre-optic network, offering high-speed broadband services to end-users at competitive rates, said Sacofa managing director Mohamed Zaid Zaini at the LoU signing here today.
Sofia is an enabler that liberalises the market and creates a healthy competitive environment for service providers, which in turn is anticipated to lower broadband prices and increase speeds for their broadband packages.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the LoU signing ceremony. Sacofa was represented by Mohamed Zaid and chief executive officer Sudarnoto Osman, while Maxis was represented by chief operating officer Gokhan Ogut and head of Core Convergence, Enterprise Shanti Jusnita Johari.
“As the leading infrastructure provider in Sarawak with an extensive fibre footprint, we are committed to working closely with telcos to enable them to expand their coverage throughout the state.
“Our role as an infrastructure provider is to provide a conducive platform, upon which service provider can offer higher broadband speeds at attractive prices. Our FTTX solution Sofia is the right platform in Sarawak to accomplish this,” Mohamed Zaid said at the event.
Ogut, in his speech, said the partnership would enable Maxis to extend its fibre broadband to more Sarawakian consumers.
“It is clear that high-speed Internet access is very important to Sarawakians, seeing that their average data usage of more than 12GB per month is among the highest in the country.
“By having access to a wider HSBB network with over 194,000 home passes expected over the next three years from this partnership, more Sarawakians can look forward to a superior Internet experience at home,” he continued.
Abang Johari lauded the collaboration between Sacofa and Maxis, which can be seen as a step forward to provide high-speed fibre broadband service to the people in Sarawak.
“I wish to congratulate both parties for embarking on this partnership that will definitely drive our digital economy and benefit Sarawak as well as the local consumers.
“Such a partnership will expand connectivity in the state and this is important for us to spur our economic activities in line with the modern global economy,” he said. — DayakDaily
