KUALA LUMPUR (May 10, 2013): DiGi.Com Bhd, which is ready to roll out its 4G LTE mobile broadband services by June this year, has allocated RM750 million for capital expenditure (capex) this year, the bulk of which will be used for its ongoing network modernisation efforts, said its CEO Henrik Clausen.
These include improvement of its billing platform and establishing a common information technology operating model.
The balance of capex will be spent to expand its network coverage and capacity upgrades.
Clausen also said the introduction of 4G LTE services will have limited impact on its performance for the current financial year ending Dec 31, 2013 (FY13).
It will also refocus on the broadband segment through the introduction of new tablet plans and revitalisation of existing broadband plans.
Last year, the mobile operator swapped more than 3,200 sites or 60% of its total network and expanded its 3G network to 67% of populated areas in Malaysia from 54% a year ago.
Clausen said it also made good progress on site sharing and fibre build initiative with Celcom-Axiata, with owned and jointly built fibre in the north and south of Peninsular Malaysia.
"It is a 10-year game and the question is about doing it in a right way. We will do it in a creative way," he told reporters after the group's AGM here yesterday, when asked on the progress of its 4G LTE services.
On plans for a business trust, Clausen said the telco is still evaluating the opportunity for it now.
"The framework is new, so we need to understand it before decide what to do," he said, did not elaborate.
The group is expecting between 5% and 7% growth in revenue this year. Its revenue rose 6.7% to RM6.4 billion for FY12, driven by strong mobile internet usage.
Posted on 10 May 2013 - 05:36am
