KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 1): Telekom Malaysia Bhd (KL:TM) reaffirmed its role in developing an inclusive digital future for the country, based on trusted infrastructure, local talent and stronger national capabilities as the telecommunications giant marked its 80th anniversary on Aug 26.
TM chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Puteh said in a statement that the group's core mission remains focused on driving national progress beyond basic connectivity.
"For over eight decades, technologies have changed and generations of Malaysians have come and gone. But one responsibility has endured, our commitment to connect the people and the nation. For TM, this goes beyond providing networks. It means driving a progressive Digital Malaysia, for a more inclusive future.”
“As a national digital champion recognised on the global stage, we hold ourselves to world-class standards, because Malaysia deserves nothing less. That is the spirit behind our commitment across eight decades as well as our Digital Powerhouse 2030 aspiration — to create opportunities, bridge Malaysia to the world, and lay the pathway from today to the future," he said.
The milestone event, themed TM80: Merentasi Generasi, was held at Multimedia University (MMU) Cyberjaya and officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The celebration captured TM's journey — which traces its roots to the establishment of the Malaysian Telecommunications Department in 1946 — throughout the last eight decades, together with the people and technologies that empowered Malaysia.
As part of its continued push for nationwide connectivity, TM highlighted the recent deployment of a 75km submarine cable to Kampung Mukut in Pulau Tioman. The infrastructure now powers village-wide Wi-FI, vision AI closed-circuit television systems to help keep the village safe and manage visitor flows, and local tourism initiatives through an online community platform.
TM also shared that its international network currently spans more than 400,000km across 39 submarine cable systems, positioning Malaysia as a connector of the East and West. Its international access and route diversity was further boosted by its fifth local landing site, the Morib Cable Landing Station, which went online in September 2025.
Adding to this integrated ecosystem, TM operates six data centres and is adding new capacity through the TM Nxera regional campus that is built in accordance to international sustainability standards.
Beyond infrastructure, its AI Centre of Excellence — a dedicated internal hub established by the group to lead research, development and governance of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies — has obtained the international ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Artificial Intelligence Management System certification, making the group the first telecommunications provider in Malaysia to secure the international benchmark. This framework ensures all its AI systems are built with ethical safeguards, data risk management and rigorous governance.
In terms of talent development, it noted that MMU, established by the group in July 1996 as Malaysia's first private university, has since produced more than 80,000 graduates. It currently has over 18,000 students.
Meanwhile, the group said it continues to build links between Malaysia, Asean and the broader world through participation in global consortiums.
"While technology and the needs of the nation will continue to change, TM remains committed to the same responsibility – to lay the inclusive digital foundations for the country, even before it begins to need it," the group added.
TM shares closed unchanged at RM7.72 on Tuesday, valuing the group at RM29.7 billion. The stock has climbed nearly 12% in the last 12 months.