Maxis to expand fiber backhaul across Melaka telecom towers

Maxis selected for Melaka fiber-backhaul upgrade

Malaysian mobile carrier Maxis has been selected by Melaka ICT Holdings (MICTH) to support the deployment of fiber backhaul to telecommunications towers across the state of Melaka.

The project forms part of MICTH’s plans to digitize its infrastructure and develop a high-capacity, robust, and low-latency network architecture.

Under the agreement, Maxis will upgrade MICTH-owned telecommunications towers by replacing microwave backhaul with a high-capacity optical fiber network. The agreement was finalized last week.

Maxis said the upgrade will establish a digital backbone for faster, more reliable, and secure 4G and 5G services, while improving network performance throughout the state.

Expanding fiber coverage to 151 towers

Melaka plans to increase fiber connectivity across its telecommunications towers from 40 percent to 80 percent. The project will cover 151 towers and represents an investment of approximately RM30 million ($7.4 million).

“Strategic collaboration with Maxis will accelerate the migration of MICTH-owned telecommunications sites from microwave-based connectivity to high-capacity fiber networks, enhancing network performance and supporting growing digital demands across the state,” said Dr. Nazdiana binti Ab Wahab, chief executive officer of MICTH.

“The partnership underscores the importance of public-private collaboration in strengthening Melaka’s digital infrastructure and advancing the state’s digitalization agenda.”

Maxis said the partnership will also help the region accommodate increasing data use, including traffic generated by artificial intelligence applications.

“By fiberizing these sites, we are laying the foundation for a future-proof ecosystem. This network offers the scalability needed to meet the exponential rise in data demand, providing the high-speed, low-latency backbone that mobile connectivity and AI traffic demands,” said Goh Seow Eng, chief executive officer of Maxis.

The company said fiber upgrades at the tower sites could also support the future expansion of high-speed broadband services into nearby residential and commercial areas.

Maxis will use its wholesale expertise to provide mobile backhaul services to other mobile network operators.