Monday August 30, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Maxis Bhd has appointed Huawei as the exclusive supplier for its Next Generation High-Speed Internet network. The job will also include the building and managing of a full-service Fibre To The X network using GPON technologies.
In a joint statement on Friday, the companies said this would offer Maxis subscribers fresh fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) services, which included high-speed Internet services after its completion within the year.
“An agreement was inked on Aug 19 to formalise the partnership,” it said.
Jean-Pascal van Overbeke says Maxis is committed to have the best network in the country.
The statement said under the agreement, Huawei would offer an end-to-end turnkey services package that included active and passive equipment, holistic optical distribution network designs, and construction management for the construction of the Next Generation High-Speed Internet network.
“Upon completion of the project, a network of homes in Klang Valley, Penang and Johor Bahru will be connected on a last-mile basis, using fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) wired technologies,” it said.
It said Huawei would also design and build the active network infrastructure and would also manage the FTTH network for three years.
Maxis chief operating officer, Jean-Pascal van Overbeke, said Maxis was committed to have the best network in the country.
“The Next Generation High-Speed Internet network is part of Maxis’ committment to providing over 12 million customers with the richer experience,” he said. — Bernama
http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2010/8/25/it_news/20100825101541&sec=it_news
Sunday, August 29, 2010
College CEO sues telco over phone ‘data leak’
Monday August 30, 2010
KOTA BARU: A chief executive officer has filed a RM20mil suit against a telecommunications company for allegedly revealing contents of her SMS exchanges and recordings of her teleconversations with other individuals to third parties.
Noor Haslina Abdullah, 39, (pic) who is CEO of a private college in Kuala Terengganu, filed the suit against the telco at the High Court registry here at 2pm yesterday through the law firm of Messrs Rafizi Zubairi & Co.
In her statement of claim, she said her feelings were hurt, besides suffering trauma and mental stress as a result of the episode.
She alleged that when she arrived at her office on March 11, she received a package which contained nine A4 sized pages with information about her SMS exchanges and a pen drive that had recordings of her telephone conversations.
She added that she lodged a police report on the matter on March 14 and sought relief from the telco, but was ignored.
She is seeking damages totalling RM20mil and other relief deemed fit by the court. – Bernama
KOTA BARU: A chief executive officer has filed a RM20mil suit against a telecommunications company for allegedly revealing contents of her SMS exchanges and recordings of her teleconversations with other individuals to third parties.
Noor Haslina Abdullah, 39, (pic) who is CEO of a private college in Kuala Terengganu, filed the suit against the telco at the High Court registry here at 2pm yesterday through the law firm of Messrs Rafizi Zubairi & Co.
In her statement of claim, she said her feelings were hurt, besides suffering trauma and mental stress as a result of the episode.
She alleged that when she arrived at her office on March 11, she received a package which contained nine A4 sized pages with information about her SMS exchanges and a pen drive that had recordings of her telephone conversations.
She added that she lodged a police report on the matter on March 14 and sought relief from the telco, but was ignored.
She is seeking damages totalling RM20mil and other relief deemed fit by the court. – Bernama
TM, Govt ink services deal worth RM170mil
Wednesday August 25, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia (TM) has signed an agreement with the Government for the provision of network and maintenance services, as well as Internet-Protocol Virtual Private Networks (IP VPN).
The telco has undertaken to provide the services, which are stipulated for the period from Jan 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2011 and are valued at a total of RM170.4mil, according to a filing with Bursa Malaysia.
IP VPN is a new service to be provided to the Government to enable the transmission of videos between RTM's regional TV studios and Angkasapuri.
TM has been providing the network and maintenance services prior to the privatisation of the Telekoms Department and this transaction is a renewal of the existing services provided by TM, with the IP VPN service as value-add.
TM has been providing network and maintenance services for RTM's television and radio facilities nationwide since 1946.
These services include the operation and maintenance of TV and FM radio transmitters, electricity, mechanical and electrical facilities, the provision of TV and FM circuits, as well as the rental of floor and tower spaces. - Bernama
http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2010/8/25/it_news/20100825101541&sec=it_news
KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia (TM) has signed an agreement with the Government for the provision of network and maintenance services, as well as Internet-Protocol Virtual Private Networks (IP VPN).
The telco has undertaken to provide the services, which are stipulated for the period from Jan 1, 2009 to Dec 31, 2011 and are valued at a total of RM170.4mil, according to a filing with Bursa Malaysia.
IP VPN is a new service to be provided to the Government to enable the transmission of videos between RTM's regional TV studios and Angkasapuri.
TM has been providing the network and maintenance services prior to the privatisation of the Telekoms Department and this transaction is a renewal of the existing services provided by TM, with the IP VPN service as value-add.
TM has been providing network and maintenance services for RTM's television and radio facilities nationwide since 1946.
These services include the operation and maintenance of TV and FM radio transmitters, electricity, mechanical and electrical facilities, the provision of TV and FM circuits, as well as the rental of floor and tower spaces. - Bernama
http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2010/8/25/it_news/20100825101541&sec=it_news
TM's pre-tax profit for first-half of year up 15%
Tuesday August 24, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) posted a pre-tax profit of RM519.5mil for the first six months ended June 30, 2010, an increase of 15.4% from RM450.2mil previously.
Its revenue also increased to RM4.28bil from RM4.23bil previously, driven by increasing demand for Internet and data services.
For the second quarter ended June 30, the group recorded a pre-tax profit of RM166.9mil, a drop of 53.5% from RM358.9mil in the same quarter for last year.
However, its revenue increased 1% to RM2.15bil from RM2.13bil previously.
Speaking at a press conference, TM Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said that the half year performance was boosted by growth in data revenue by 11.5% to RM822.6mil, compared with RM738.0mil in the same period last year, arising from demand for higher bandwidth services.
He said Internet services revenue increased by 8.6% to RM854.2mil for the first half of this year from RM786.7mil previously.
"This is mainly the result of year-on-year growth of 12.5% in broadband customers to 1.541 million in the current first half of the year from 1.37 million in the same period last year," he explained.
On the take-up rate for its High Speed Broadband (HSBB) service, Unifi, Zamzamzairani said that it has been very encouraging, with more than 4,800 customers on board as at June 30, with total orders having exceeded 12,000 as of last week.
"We hope to achieve between 40,000 to 50,000 Unifi customers by year end," he added.
Since July, TM has expanded its Unifi coverage to 18 more areas, including five areas outside the Klang Valley.
The group is on track to increase its Unifi service to a total of 48 exchange areas by Dec 31. - Bernama
http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2010/8/24/it_news/20100824100139&sec=it_news
KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) posted a pre-tax profit of RM519.5mil for the first six months ended June 30, 2010, an increase of 15.4% from RM450.2mil previously.
Its revenue also increased to RM4.28bil from RM4.23bil previously, driven by increasing demand for Internet and data services.
For the second quarter ended June 30, the group recorded a pre-tax profit of RM166.9mil, a drop of 53.5% from RM358.9mil in the same quarter for last year.
However, its revenue increased 1% to RM2.15bil from RM2.13bil previously.
Speaking at a press conference, TM Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said that the half year performance was boosted by growth in data revenue by 11.5% to RM822.6mil, compared with RM738.0mil in the same period last year, arising from demand for higher bandwidth services.
He said Internet services revenue increased by 8.6% to RM854.2mil for the first half of this year from RM786.7mil previously.
"This is mainly the result of year-on-year growth of 12.5% in broadband customers to 1.541 million in the current first half of the year from 1.37 million in the same period last year," he explained.
On the take-up rate for its High Speed Broadband (HSBB) service, Unifi, Zamzamzairani said that it has been very encouraging, with more than 4,800 customers on board as at June 30, with total orders having exceeded 12,000 as of last week.
"We hope to achieve between 40,000 to 50,000 Unifi customers by year end," he added.
Since July, TM has expanded its Unifi coverage to 18 more areas, including five areas outside the Klang Valley.
The group is on track to increase its Unifi service to a total of 48 exchange areas by Dec 31. - Bernama
http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2010/8/24/it_news/20100824100139&sec=it_news
Telekom Q2 net profit within expectations
Wednesday August 25, 2010
By LEONG HUNG YEE
hungyee@thestar.com.my
Operationally earnings did not decline much, say analyts
PETALING JAYA: Despite recording a lower net profit in its latest quarter, analysts said Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s (TM) results were largely within expectations because operationally its earnings did not decline much.
TM posted a net profit of RM124.4mil in its second quarter ended June 30. This was 53.2% lower than the previous year and 48.8% lower than the preceding quarter.
However, the lower earnings were due to a number of non-operational items. For one, TM’s profits last year were boosted by gains from the disposal of quoted investments and the sale of rights in then-mobile unit Axiata Group Bhd.
In TM’s preceding quarter, it had enjoyed a foreign exchange gain (on translation of foreign currency denominated borrowings) of RM166.6mil. In comparison, TM only enjoyed a RM18.1 mil foreign exchange gain for the quarter under review, which explains the drop in net profit.
To be sure, TM’s lower profit in its latest quarter was also the result of the telco having higher operational cost, which bumped its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) margin to 31.6% from 33.2% in the first quarter of the year.
AmResearch Sdn Bhd said by stripping off TM’s forex gain of RM18.1mil and another one-off gain of RM3.2mil, its net income would have been RM104.2mil.
“We consider this largely within our estimate. We are looking at TM’s second half of financial year ending Dec 31, 2010 to register slightly better numbers due to a more robust Unifi subscriber base,” it said.
AmResearch said the latest quarter did not enjoy the impact of UniFi-related earnings as the service was only launched in late March. AmResearch expects TM’s UniFi to have at least 20,000 subscribers by year-end.
TM said that it has about 12,000 UniFi subscribers. Analysts said this implies a monthly net addition of about 3,000.
Analysts said TM’s operations remained intact and the group managed to register net adds of 56,000 and 17,000 to both its broadband and voice subscribers respectively in the second quarter.
An analyst also pointed out that TM was a dividend play with its strong cash flow. TM will be paying an interim gross dividend of 13 sen per share less 25% tax, or about RM348.8mil, to shareholders by end-September. As at June 30, TM has cash and bank balances of RM3.6bil.
ECM Libra Investment Research said TM had incurred increased costs from rolling out its UniFi services, including having to pay more international gateway fees and advertising and promotion costs for the high-speed broadband service.
“These costs more than offset savings from lower doubtful debts provision, resulting in its Ebitda margin eroding to 32.9% for the first half,” it said.
ECM added that the start of consumer billings for UniFi in July should ease further downward pressure on margins, though TM’s management had cautioned spending would continue as UniFi rollout progresses.
Kenanga Research said TM was optimistic of signing up a major telco player for selling wholesale access to its High Speed Broadband network by September and that this would increase the utilisation of the network.
On the sale of TM’s 15% stake in Measat Global Bhd, OSK Research said TM was waiting for the offer document and would deliberate on the offer after consulting its independent financial adviser.
“We estimate proceeds from the sale of Measat shares would amount to 7 sen per TM share, with TM booking a gain on disposal of RM177mil, based on the written down book value of its investment,” OSK said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/25/business/6914274&sec=business
By LEONG HUNG YEE
hungyee@thestar.com.my
Operationally earnings did not decline much, say analyts
PETALING JAYA: Despite recording a lower net profit in its latest quarter, analysts said Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s (TM) results were largely within expectations because operationally its earnings did not decline much.
TM posted a net profit of RM124.4mil in its second quarter ended June 30. This was 53.2% lower than the previous year and 48.8% lower than the preceding quarter.
However, the lower earnings were due to a number of non-operational items. For one, TM’s profits last year were boosted by gains from the disposal of quoted investments and the sale of rights in then-mobile unit Axiata Group Bhd.
In TM’s preceding quarter, it had enjoyed a foreign exchange gain (on translation of foreign currency denominated borrowings) of RM166.6mil. In comparison, TM only enjoyed a RM18.1 mil foreign exchange gain for the quarter under review, which explains the drop in net profit.
To be sure, TM’s lower profit in its latest quarter was also the result of the telco having higher operational cost, which bumped its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) margin to 31.6% from 33.2% in the first quarter of the year.
AmResearch Sdn Bhd said by stripping off TM’s forex gain of RM18.1mil and another one-off gain of RM3.2mil, its net income would have been RM104.2mil.
“We consider this largely within our estimate. We are looking at TM’s second half of financial year ending Dec 31, 2010 to register slightly better numbers due to a more robust Unifi subscriber base,” it said.
AmResearch said the latest quarter did not enjoy the impact of UniFi-related earnings as the service was only launched in late March. AmResearch expects TM’s UniFi to have at least 20,000 subscribers by year-end.
TM said that it has about 12,000 UniFi subscribers. Analysts said this implies a monthly net addition of about 3,000.
Analysts said TM’s operations remained intact and the group managed to register net adds of 56,000 and 17,000 to both its broadband and voice subscribers respectively in the second quarter.
An analyst also pointed out that TM was a dividend play with its strong cash flow. TM will be paying an interim gross dividend of 13 sen per share less 25% tax, or about RM348.8mil, to shareholders by end-September. As at June 30, TM has cash and bank balances of RM3.6bil.
ECM Libra Investment Research said TM had incurred increased costs from rolling out its UniFi services, including having to pay more international gateway fees and advertising and promotion costs for the high-speed broadband service.
“These costs more than offset savings from lower doubtful debts provision, resulting in its Ebitda margin eroding to 32.9% for the first half,” it said.
ECM added that the start of consumer billings for UniFi in July should ease further downward pressure on margins, though TM’s management had cautioned spending would continue as UniFi rollout progresses.
Kenanga Research said TM was optimistic of signing up a major telco player for selling wholesale access to its High Speed Broadband network by September and that this would increase the utilisation of the network.
On the sale of TM’s 15% stake in Measat Global Bhd, OSK Research said TM was waiting for the offer document and would deliberate on the offer after consulting its independent financial adviser.
“We estimate proceeds from the sale of Measat shares would amount to 7 sen per TM share, with TM booking a gain on disposal of RM177mil, based on the written down book value of its investment,” OSK said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/25/business/6914274&sec=business
TM first half profit rises on higher revenue
Tuesday August 24, 2010
CEO: Ability to leverage on inherent strengths boosts results
KUALA LUMPUR: National telecommunications services provider Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s (TM) net profit surged 25.1% to RM367.3mil for the six months ended June 31, 2010, compared with RM293.7mil in the previous corresponding period, on higher revenue for data and Internet and favourable foreign exchange gain.
“The commendable first-half results were due to our ability to leverage on inherent strengths and scale opportunities in this competitive environment,” group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa told a media briefing.
“While we are seeing intense competition in the mobile and broadband market, TM continues to see strong growth in its broadband services.”
TM’s higher interim net profit was also attributable to the group’s strong focus on efficiency improvements, slower decline in voice usage and lower depreciation.
With such positive results for the first half of the year, TM will be paying an interim gross dividend of 13 sen per share less 25% tax, or about RM348.8mil, to shareholders by end-September.
The group is on track to meet its full-year dividend commitment of at least RM700mil, or up to 90% of normalised profit after tax and minority interests, whichever is higher, for its financial year ending Dec 31.
Group revenue for the first half grew 1% year-on-year to RM4.28bil. This was led by increasing demand for the group’s data and Internet services, which respectively reported revenue increase of 11.5% to RM822.6mil and 8.6% to RM786.7mil.
On a quarterly basis, TM’s group revenue also showed an increase of 1% year-on-year to RM2.15bil for the three months to June.
Net profit for the quarter under review, however, was a decline of 53.2% to RM124.4mil due to lower unrealised foreign exchange gains.
According to an analyst, the lower quarterly net profit was not surprising as TM could have expensed higher costs for the group’s fast-growing high-speed broadband services, UniFi, but some portion of the revenue could only be realised in the following quarter.
On the take-up rate for UniFi, Zamzamzairani told reporters that the group had 4,800 customers signed on as at the end of June, with total orders (for UniFi) exceeding 12,000 as of last week.
“We hope to achieve between 40,000 and 50,000 Unifi customers by the end of 2010,” he explained.
UniFi service rollout had already reached more than 500,000 premises nationwide as of last week, and the group was on track to achieve 750,000 premises by the end of the year.
According to Zamzamzairani, prospects for the telecommunications sector would remain challenging for the second half of the year but, with the improving economic conditions in the region, the company remained confident of achieving encouraging results.
“Going forward, our focus will still be on cost management and efficiency improvement,” he said.
TM gained three sen yesterday to close at RM3.58 per share. Year-to-date, the counter had posted a gain of 17.4%.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/24/business/6907690&sec=business
CEO: Ability to leverage on inherent strengths boosts results
KUALA LUMPUR: National telecommunications services provider Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s (TM) net profit surged 25.1% to RM367.3mil for the six months ended June 31, 2010, compared with RM293.7mil in the previous corresponding period, on higher revenue for data and Internet and favourable foreign exchange gain.
“The commendable first-half results were due to our ability to leverage on inherent strengths and scale opportunities in this competitive environment,” group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa told a media briefing.
“While we are seeing intense competition in the mobile and broadband market, TM continues to see strong growth in its broadband services.”
TM’s higher interim net profit was also attributable to the group’s strong focus on efficiency improvements, slower decline in voice usage and lower depreciation.
With such positive results for the first half of the year, TM will be paying an interim gross dividend of 13 sen per share less 25% tax, or about RM348.8mil, to shareholders by end-September.
The group is on track to meet its full-year dividend commitment of at least RM700mil, or up to 90% of normalised profit after tax and minority interests, whichever is higher, for its financial year ending Dec 31.
Group revenue for the first half grew 1% year-on-year to RM4.28bil. This was led by increasing demand for the group’s data and Internet services, which respectively reported revenue increase of 11.5% to RM822.6mil and 8.6% to RM786.7mil.
On a quarterly basis, TM’s group revenue also showed an increase of 1% year-on-year to RM2.15bil for the three months to June.
Net profit for the quarter under review, however, was a decline of 53.2% to RM124.4mil due to lower unrealised foreign exchange gains.
According to an analyst, the lower quarterly net profit was not surprising as TM could have expensed higher costs for the group’s fast-growing high-speed broadband services, UniFi, but some portion of the revenue could only be realised in the following quarter.
On the take-up rate for UniFi, Zamzamzairani told reporters that the group had 4,800 customers signed on as at the end of June, with total orders (for UniFi) exceeding 12,000 as of last week.
“We hope to achieve between 40,000 and 50,000 Unifi customers by the end of 2010,” he explained.
UniFi service rollout had already reached more than 500,000 premises nationwide as of last week, and the group was on track to achieve 750,000 premises by the end of the year.
According to Zamzamzairani, prospects for the telecommunications sector would remain challenging for the second half of the year but, with the improving economic conditions in the region, the company remained confident of achieving encouraging results.
“Going forward, our focus will still be on cost management and efficiency improvement,” he said.
TM gained three sen yesterday to close at RM3.58 per share. Year-to-date, the counter had posted a gain of 17.4%.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/24/business/6907690&sec=business
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Is the old 555 notebook or the new IPad better?
Monday August 23, 2010
Monday Starters - By Soo Ewe Jin
THERE is just so much information going around. And so many gadgets that channel the information to us.
“Not tonight dear, I’ve got information overload” could well be another excuse for tired spouses to use in this time and age.
I was having supper with my wife at a WiFi-connected coffee outlet recently and unlike the 24-hour teh tarik joints, the silence was deafening.
Every table was occupied but people were not talking to one another. There were just as many notebooks as there were customers, and obviously there was plenty of virtual conversations going on.
The old 555 notebook and the new notebook.
One person was using an iPad, and I also saw a few iPhones. Amidst all the modern gizmos and gadgets, my under-RM150 handphone seemed like a relic from the dinosaur age.
But unknown to the people enjoying their coffee and conversing via Facebook or Twitter, I have in my pocket what must surely qualify as the most ancient but most reliable information tool ever invented.
I came across it by accident when I took a dear 80-year-old friend for lunch a few weeks ago and he needed to photocopy some documents.
At the shop, I saw a few stacks of notebooks, in different colours, tucked away in a corner, with the 555 symbol on it.
Okay, at this point, all of you in the workforce who are young enough to call me “Uncle” should go home and ask your parents what this little notebook is all about.
But for the baby-boomers who are at the higher level of management, I am sure you will be interested to know where this shop is.
Long before a notebook became a computer, this 555 notebook was the essential item in one’s pocket.
We used it to jot down numbers, appointments, birthdays and other essential reminders.
In my growing-up years, we got really worried at the end of the month when we went to the sundry shop because the owner would wave the 555 notebook at us, and remind us that the bills had not been settled.
Multi-tasking is a given in this fast-paced working life of ours and we are getting reminders all the time.
Which is why I find the 555 notebook to be so useful.
In the front half, I write down the things I have to do and cancel them out once they get done. In the back half, I scribble down the more long-term issues, like changing the TV if my better half approves.
Somewhere in the middle, I have a section which I call “unexpected”. Here I list down unexpected events, like people in hospitals I plan to visit, or people I need to call or write to.
What is interesting, in these few weeks since I started using the notebook, is that I can immediately see how productive I have been and also the urgency I attach to the items that get written into this notebook.
Unlike annoying electronic reminders which, like alarm clocks, often get turned off and ignored, I find that I simply cannot ignore what I have written in the 555 notebook as I flip and check the handwritten pages each day. For me, it is key to managing information in a more personal, human, albeit archaic, way.
Deputy executive editor Soo Ewe Jin still dreams of getting an iPad but he will also make sure that he never leaves home without his 555 notebook in his pocket.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/23/columnists/mondaystarters/6878162&sec=mondaystarters
Monday Starters - By Soo Ewe Jin
THERE is just so much information going around. And so many gadgets that channel the information to us.
“Not tonight dear, I’ve got information overload” could well be another excuse for tired spouses to use in this time and age.
I was having supper with my wife at a WiFi-connected coffee outlet recently and unlike the 24-hour teh tarik joints, the silence was deafening.
Every table was occupied but people were not talking to one another. There were just as many notebooks as there were customers, and obviously there was plenty of virtual conversations going on.
The old 555 notebook and the new notebook.
One person was using an iPad, and I also saw a few iPhones. Amidst all the modern gizmos and gadgets, my under-RM150 handphone seemed like a relic from the dinosaur age.
But unknown to the people enjoying their coffee and conversing via Facebook or Twitter, I have in my pocket what must surely qualify as the most ancient but most reliable information tool ever invented.
I came across it by accident when I took a dear 80-year-old friend for lunch a few weeks ago and he needed to photocopy some documents.
At the shop, I saw a few stacks of notebooks, in different colours, tucked away in a corner, with the 555 symbol on it.
Okay, at this point, all of you in the workforce who are young enough to call me “Uncle” should go home and ask your parents what this little notebook is all about.
But for the baby-boomers who are at the higher level of management, I am sure you will be interested to know where this shop is.
Long before a notebook became a computer, this 555 notebook was the essential item in one’s pocket.
We used it to jot down numbers, appointments, birthdays and other essential reminders.
In my growing-up years, we got really worried at the end of the month when we went to the sundry shop because the owner would wave the 555 notebook at us, and remind us that the bills had not been settled.
Multi-tasking is a given in this fast-paced working life of ours and we are getting reminders all the time.
Which is why I find the 555 notebook to be so useful.
In the front half, I write down the things I have to do and cancel them out once they get done. In the back half, I scribble down the more long-term issues, like changing the TV if my better half approves.
Somewhere in the middle, I have a section which I call “unexpected”. Here I list down unexpected events, like people in hospitals I plan to visit, or people I need to call or write to.
What is interesting, in these few weeks since I started using the notebook, is that I can immediately see how productive I have been and also the urgency I attach to the items that get written into this notebook.
Unlike annoying electronic reminders which, like alarm clocks, often get turned off and ignored, I find that I simply cannot ignore what I have written in the 555 notebook as I flip and check the handwritten pages each day. For me, it is key to managing information in a more personal, human, albeit archaic, way.
Deputy executive editor Soo Ewe Jin still dreams of getting an iPad but he will also make sure that he never leaves home without his 555 notebook in his pocket.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/23/columnists/mondaystarters/6878162&sec=mondaystarters
Saturday, August 21, 2010
HP to invest US$1b to transform business
Published: 2010/08/21
Hewlett Packard will invest US$1 billion (about RM3.1 billion) to transform its enterprise services business or end-to-end information technology services to better serve its customers, its senior vice president Pete Karolczak said.
During this multi-year transformation and investment, HP plans to consolidate Enterprise Services’ commercial data centers, management platforms, and networks tools.
It will also enhance applications to create a more scalable modernised and automated IT infrastructure that will enable clients to respond to rapidly changing business conditions, he said today.
"HP will leverage experience from its internal IT transformation, helping clients modernise and migrate their applications to these next generation infrastructure platforms," said Karolczak, who is also the general manager for Infrastructure Technology Outsourcing (ITO) within HP Enterprise Services.
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He said part of the US$1 billion will also go towards retiring legacy assets and building new, modernized facilities.
"The goal is to move customers from spending investment on maintenance into state-of-the-art, highly-secure, highly-dense, green, sustainable infrastructure built on HP's converged infrastructure suite of products and services."
This applies to all regions, including Asia Pacific & Japan, he said.
HP also plans to reinvest for further growth in private cloud infrastructures, application transformation services, and desktop technology delivered as a service, said Karolczak.
The investment will also strengthen HP's trusted Best Shore delivery model by establishing a core number of global delivery hubs that form a highly scalable backbone for Best Shore, providing the first best-in-class, balanced global delivery model in the industry.
"Our Malaysia center will serve as one of these Best Shore hubs, leveraging HP hardware, software and technology expertise to lower costs, improve quality and enable growth," he said.
Malaysia, he said offers the expert workforce, languages, skills, capabilities and industry expertise to meet our clients’ business requirements and quality expectations in Asia as well as across the globe. -- Bernama
Read more: HP to invest US$1b to transform business http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100821132401/Article/index_html#ixzz0xHUGg7fX
Celcom sukuk placement yield to be market-driven
Saturday August 21, 2010
By DANNY YAP
danny@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Celcom Axiata Bhd expects the yield of its RM4.2bil unrated sukuk placement to three institutional subscribers to be market driven.
Celcom Axiata is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Axiata Group Bhd.
The three institutional subscribers are the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd and Malayan Banking Bhd.
A Celcom Axiata official said the returns or yield from the sukuk was negotiated and agreed upon with the subscribers on an “arm’s length basis”.
“The yields were based on the overall credit strength of the Celcom group as well as prevailing market yields,” she told StarBizWeek.
The official said as with market convention, the returns on the sukuk differ based on the tenure of the notes (and not based on subscribers).
The sukuk issuance with tenures ranging from five to 10 years would be issued by Celcom’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Celcom Transmission (M) Sdn Bhd (CTX).
“The sukuk is like any other debt obligation and hence, CTX will be legally required to meet the cashflow obligations (interest and principal) based on the agreed terms,” she noted.
The official said the entire RM4.2bil sukuk would be issued upfront and shall comprise of notes of different tenures ranging from five to 10 years.
On the use of taxpayers’ money via EPF to fund the sukuk, the official said the sukuk was a debt obligation and its certainty of repayment was underpinned by the Celcom group’s strong credit profile and financial performance.
“As the subscribers comprise EPF and financial institutions, all of whom are regarded as third-party investors, the terms of the sukuk have been negotiated and agreed on a commercial and arm’s length basis,” she said.
“We believe the subscribers’ collective participation in the sukuk programme is a testament of the Celcom group’s robust credit standing and future prospects.”
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/21/business/6895519&sec=business
Syed Yusof buys into Vasseti, which is launching its broadband service today
Saturday August 21, 2010
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman Tan Sri Syed Yusof Syed Nasir has bought a 30% stake in Vasseti Bhd, which is expected to launch its 1Gbps (gigabit per second) fixed line broadband service offering for residential users in select areas today.
“Telecommunications is a growing business. It has a lot of potential and I believe it is not too late for me to be part of a growing segment of the market,” Yusof told StarBizWeek in an interview yesterday.
Yusof has various business concerns and is well known for his interests in Hard Rock Cafe and Hotels and the Concorde Hotel chain. He is a partner alongside the Sultan of Selangor and Ipoh-born tycoon Ong Beng Seng in the RM2.5bil Four Seasons Place Kuala Lumpur which is being developed next to the Petronas Twin Towers.
Syed Yusof at Vasseti’s network operations centre in Kuala Lumpur.“I came on board early this year,” said Yusof, who is Vasseti chairman.
Vasseti’s journey into telecoms began early this year when it undertook a corporate exercise to buy 80% equity stake in V Telecoms Bhd, which has a paid-up capital of RM502mil. V Telecoms holds network facilities provider and NSP network services provider licences.
Yusof said V Telecoms had thus far invested RM500mil to build a fibre optic network that spanned the length of Peninsular Malaysia. As it does not have enough fibre in the ground, the company also buys capacity from other telecoms providers to cater to the needs of its clients which are mostly multinational corporations and some telcos. “It is a 50:50 combination between our own fibre and what we lease from others now. We need to expand our network and our target is to invest RM1bil by the year-end for this purpose,” Yusof said.
V Telecoms’ investment far had been sourced via private equity and internal funding. The company has also just completed a fund-raising exercise for an additional RM100mil by issuing redeemable convertible cumulative preference shares.
“We will need to raise more funding in the market for our expansion and we intend to source funding via private equity funds and high net worth individuals,” said Yusof.
According to V Telecoms executive director Anthony Suppiah, wholesale makes up 70% of the company’s business and retail the remaining 30%. With the 1Gbps community broadband product, the company expects to reach out to more residential users to grow its retail business.
“With 1Gbps, the network is capable of delivering very high speed broadband and can even cater for video streaming and IPTV (Internet protocol TV) besides voice connectivity. The residential offering will be available in Capital Square in Kuala Lumpur, The Loft in Bangsar and KL Sentral. We are charging RM199 per month for the 1Gpbs,” he said.
Asked how the company could stand alongside bigger players with deep pockets and a much wider reach, Anthony said “we are not in competition with other fibre optic players, we see ourselves as complementing them. Our challenge is how we can brand ourselves to be a provider and expand at the speed the market demands. That, to us, is more crucial.”
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/21/business/6896284&sec=business
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Formal Measat Global offer document unveiled
Friday August 20, 2010
By TEE LIN SAY
linsay@thestar.com.my
Private ownership expected to develop satellite company
KUALA LUMPUR: Insights into the satellite industry and more explanation on the rationale and financial aspects of the proposed takeover of Measat Global Bhd were revealed in the formal offer document released yesterday.
The satellite industry is dominated by a small number of large global operators with the scale to support the needs of global customers.
These operators are able to leverage on their strong capital structures and large satellite fleets to continue to develop new markets, the document stated.
It added that Measat, with a unique portfolio of global orbital slots, is well-positioned to develop a global footprint, serving customers across different continents.
But to take advantage of this, Measat needs to implement an appropriate capital structure which would facilitate rapid expansion of its satellite fleet, the document said, adding that Measat’s loan covenants currently restrict its ability to raise further substantial capital funding.
Hence the party making the take-over offer to shareholders, namely Measat Global Network Systems Sdn Bhd (MGNS) reckons that private ownership at this stage of Measat’s development will faciliate this.
To recap, tycoon Ananda Krishnan, via MGNS, has offered to buy all the shares in Measat that it does not own at RM4.20 per share. The offer values the company at RM1.64bil.
As of Aug 11, which was the last practicable date before the posting of the offer document, MGNS owned 59.56% of Measat.
It is understood that the independent advise for shareholder will be issued next week.
Meanwhile analysts are generally positive on the deal and are advising shareholders to take up the offer.
“Previously the stock had such a thin shareholding spread. It was illiquid and there was hardly any interest. That was why, it was always trading below its book value,” said one analyst who used to track Measat.
As at March 31, Measat’s book value was RM5.08.
“Measat’s fortunes may be turning with its new satellites. Still, without this deal, the share price would continue to be underwater,” added another fund manager who was involved in the original placement of Measat shares during its reverse takeover in 2002.
For investors who had picked up Measat shares that were hovering around RM1.80 to RM2 from late 2007 to February this year, they stand to at least double their returns from this takeover offer.
The offer document reveals that the offer price of RM4.20 represents a price earnings multiple of 9.22 times based on the audited earnings per share of 45.53 sen for Measat for its year ended Dec 31, 2009.
Measat has an enterprise value over ebitda (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amotisation) multiple of 15.54 times, based on 2009 figures.
On a price to book ratio, Measat was trading at 3.82 times based on its 2009 figures. Over the last five years, no dividends have been paid.
Measat operates a network of four satellites with footprints over Asia and Africa serving customers in the broadcasting and telecommunications sector.
Based on its 2009 annual report, 63% of its revenue was derived from the broadcasting sector while the remainder from telecommunications.
Approximately 60% of Measat’s revenue came from Malaysia.
The history of Measat traces back to 1992 when Binariang Sdn Bhd – now Maxis Communications Bhd – brought together a team of experts to develop and launch Malaysia’s first communications satellite system.
Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Binariang, was granted a licence in 1993 to develop the Malaysia East Asia Satellite (Measat) system.
In 1996, the Measat-1 and Measat-2 communications satellites were launched, providing satellite service across Southeast Asia. The third and fourth satellites Measat3 and Measat-3a were launched in 2006 and 2009, respectively, both serving the African continent and parts of Europe and the Middle East.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/20/business/6886810&sec=business
By TEE LIN SAY
linsay@thestar.com.my
Private ownership expected to develop satellite company
KUALA LUMPUR: Insights into the satellite industry and more explanation on the rationale and financial aspects of the proposed takeover of Measat Global Bhd were revealed in the formal offer document released yesterday.
The satellite industry is dominated by a small number of large global operators with the scale to support the needs of global customers.
These operators are able to leverage on their strong capital structures and large satellite fleets to continue to develop new markets, the document stated.
It added that Measat, with a unique portfolio of global orbital slots, is well-positioned to develop a global footprint, serving customers across different continents.
But to take advantage of this, Measat needs to implement an appropriate capital structure which would facilitate rapid expansion of its satellite fleet, the document said, adding that Measat’s loan covenants currently restrict its ability to raise further substantial capital funding.
Hence the party making the take-over offer to shareholders, namely Measat Global Network Systems Sdn Bhd (MGNS) reckons that private ownership at this stage of Measat’s development will faciliate this.
To recap, tycoon Ananda Krishnan, via MGNS, has offered to buy all the shares in Measat that it does not own at RM4.20 per share. The offer values the company at RM1.64bil.
As of Aug 11, which was the last practicable date before the posting of the offer document, MGNS owned 59.56% of Measat.
It is understood that the independent advise for shareholder will be issued next week.
Meanwhile analysts are generally positive on the deal and are advising shareholders to take up the offer.
“Previously the stock had such a thin shareholding spread. It was illiquid and there was hardly any interest. That was why, it was always trading below its book value,” said one analyst who used to track Measat.
As at March 31, Measat’s book value was RM5.08.
“Measat’s fortunes may be turning with its new satellites. Still, without this deal, the share price would continue to be underwater,” added another fund manager who was involved in the original placement of Measat shares during its reverse takeover in 2002.
For investors who had picked up Measat shares that were hovering around RM1.80 to RM2 from late 2007 to February this year, they stand to at least double their returns from this takeover offer.
The offer document reveals that the offer price of RM4.20 represents a price earnings multiple of 9.22 times based on the audited earnings per share of 45.53 sen for Measat for its year ended Dec 31, 2009.
Measat has an enterprise value over ebitda (earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amotisation) multiple of 15.54 times, based on 2009 figures.
On a price to book ratio, Measat was trading at 3.82 times based on its 2009 figures. Over the last five years, no dividends have been paid.
Measat operates a network of four satellites with footprints over Asia and Africa serving customers in the broadcasting and telecommunications sector.
Based on its 2009 annual report, 63% of its revenue was derived from the broadcasting sector while the remainder from telecommunications.
Approximately 60% of Measat’s revenue came from Malaysia.
The history of Measat traces back to 1992 when Binariang Sdn Bhd – now Maxis Communications Bhd – brought together a team of experts to develop and launch Malaysia’s first communications satellite system.
Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Binariang, was granted a licence in 1993 to develop the Malaysia East Asia Satellite (Measat) system.
In 1996, the Measat-1 and Measat-2 communications satellites were launched, providing satellite service across Southeast Asia. The third and fourth satellites Measat3 and Measat-3a were launched in 2006 and 2009, respectively, both serving the African continent and parts of Europe and the Middle East.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/20/business/6886810&sec=business
Telekom's EBITDA Margin May Come Under Pressure, Says OSK Research
August 20, 2010 12:31 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, August 20 (Bernama) -- Telekom Malaysia (TM), which will announce its second-quarter results next Monday, is expected to see its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin come under pressure, according to OSK Research.
This is due to higher high speed broadband service-related operational expenditure and increase in marketing spending, it said in a research note today.
"TM will recognise the full quarter operational expenditure relating to its high-speed broadband, which was launched this year in the second quarter. As a result, we expect its core EBITDA to slide quarter-on-quarter/year-on-year in the second quarter," it said.
TM posted flat EBITDA of RM731 million in the first quarter, due to start-up costs for Unifi, while revenue fell seven per cent quarter-on-quarter following the lumpy project sales recognition in fourth quarter of financial year 2009.
"We expect the second-quarter revenue to show a slight recovery as the strong ADSL net-add momentum extended into the second quarter, albeit partially offset by the dilution in overall voice revenue as TM offered free local calls on its new bundled voice packages," OSK Research said.
The research house said it continued to see TM's Unifi service serving a niche market segment due to its premium pricing.
"The bulk of Unifi subscribers are early upgraders from its regular ADSL service. We expect contribution from Unifi to be insignificant in the context of TM's group revenue at one to two per cent over the next two financial years," it said.
OSK Research said it was maintaining its forecasts ahead of the results release, noting that its core financial year 2010 estimate was some seven per cent below consensus.
"The differential is due to consensus modelling in higher EBITDA margin of 34 per cent versus our assumption of 33 per cent for the full year," it said.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=522630
KUALA LUMPUR, August 20 (Bernama) -- Telekom Malaysia (TM), which will announce its second-quarter results next Monday, is expected to see its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin come under pressure, according to OSK Research.
This is due to higher high speed broadband service-related operational expenditure and increase in marketing spending, it said in a research note today.
"TM will recognise the full quarter operational expenditure relating to its high-speed broadband, which was launched this year in the second quarter. As a result, we expect its core EBITDA to slide quarter-on-quarter/year-on-year in the second quarter," it said.
TM posted flat EBITDA of RM731 million in the first quarter, due to start-up costs for Unifi, while revenue fell seven per cent quarter-on-quarter following the lumpy project sales recognition in fourth quarter of financial year 2009.
"We expect the second-quarter revenue to show a slight recovery as the strong ADSL net-add momentum extended into the second quarter, albeit partially offset by the dilution in overall voice revenue as TM offered free local calls on its new bundled voice packages," OSK Research said.
The research house said it continued to see TM's Unifi service serving a niche market segment due to its premium pricing.
"The bulk of Unifi subscribers are early upgraders from its regular ADSL service. We expect contribution from Unifi to be insignificant in the context of TM's group revenue at one to two per cent over the next two financial years," it said.
OSK Research said it was maintaining its forecasts ahead of the results release, noting that its core financial year 2010 estimate was some seven per cent below consensus.
"The differential is due to consensus modelling in higher EBITDA margin of 34 per cent versus our assumption of 33 per cent for the full year," it said.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=522630
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Celcom Axiata sells RM4.2b sukuk
Published: 2010/08/18
Celcom Axiata Bhd, a Malaysian unit of Axiata Group Bhd, sold RM4.2 billion (US$1.3 billion) of sukuk in a private offering to the Employees Provident Fund, CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd and Malayan Banking Bhd, it said in a stock exchange filing today. -- Bloomberg
Read more: Celcom Axiata sells RM4.2b sukuk http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100818125728/Article/index_html#ixzz0wvyobh3B
Celcom Axiata Bhd, a Malaysian unit of Axiata Group Bhd, sold RM4.2 billion (US$1.3 billion) of sukuk in a private offering to the Employees Provident Fund, CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd and Malayan Banking Bhd, it said in a stock exchange filing today. -- Bloomberg
Read more: Celcom Axiata sells RM4.2b sukuk http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100818125728/Article/index_html#ixzz0wvyobh3B
Redtone ambil alih syarikat AS
Oleh WAN NAJIB WAN DAUD
najib.daud@utusan.com.my
PUCHONG 17 Ogos - Penyedia perkhidmatan jalur lebar, REDtone International Bhd. (Redtone), mengumumkan pengambilan alih berbalik sebuah syarikat Amerika Syarikat (AS), Hotgate dalam usaha syarikat tersebut mengembangkan perniagaannya di AS.
Melalui pengambilan alih itu, REDtone akan melupuskan pegangannya di dalam operasinya syarikatnya di China, REDtone China pada harga AS$22 juta (RM69.08 juta) membabitkan 58.501 juta saham biasa.
Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan REDtone, Wei Chuan Beng berkata, cadangan pelupusan tersebut merupakan jalan terbaik kepada syarikatnya untuk melepaskan pelaburan dalam anak syarikat itu.
Bagaimanapun, pelupusan itu tidak memberi sebarang keuntungan atau kerugian kepada kumpulan kerana pihaknya masih lagi memegang kepentingan secara tidak langsung menerusi Hotgate sebanyak 91.94 peratus.
"Dengan menguasai Hotgate yang disenaraikan di Over The Counter Bulletin Board, apa-apa yang berkaitan peningkatan modal yang diperlukan oleh REDtone China pada masa depan boleh dilakukan menerusi Hotgate sama ada melalui pelaksanaan penempatan atau terbitan hak," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.
Cadangan pelupusan itu merangkumi kepentingan ekuiti REDtone dalam REDtone China yang sebelum ini dikuasai 100 peratus dan selepas selesai pelupusan itu, pegangan ke atas anak syarikatnya itu akan dikurangkan kepada 92.31 peratus.
Perjanjian itu dimeterai pada 2 Ogos lalu yang mana perjanjian pelupusan 58.501 juta saham REDtone China, mewakili 100 peratus modal saham berbayar dan terbitan subsidiari itu kepada Hotgate bagi tujuan pertimbangan pelupusan.
Menurut Chuan Beng, lanjutan daripada persetujuan itu, Hotgate perlu melupuskan terbitan 244. 44 juta saham baru Hotgate pada harga AS$0.09 (RM0.28) sesaham.
Pelaksanaan cadangan itu akan menyaksikan REDtone International memiliki 247.47 juta saham Hotgate.
Beliau berkata, menerusi pegangan itu pihaknya akan menguasai 91.94 peratus terbitan yang diperbesarkan dan modal saham berbayar Hotgate sebanyak 269.16 juta saham Hotgate.
"Dengan penguasaan itu, Hotgate akan menjadi anak syarikat REDtone China," katanya.
Hotgate diperbadankan di Nevada AS, di bawah undang-undang Nevada pada 6 Januari 2005 sebagai syarikat awam berhad di bawah nama File4ward Software Inc.
Ia disenaraikan menerusi Over The Counter Bulletin Board pada 18 September 2006.
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0818&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Korporat&pg=ko_01.htm
najib.daud@utusan.com.my
PUCHONG 17 Ogos - Penyedia perkhidmatan jalur lebar, REDtone International Bhd. (Redtone), mengumumkan pengambilan alih berbalik sebuah syarikat Amerika Syarikat (AS), Hotgate dalam usaha syarikat tersebut mengembangkan perniagaannya di AS.
Melalui pengambilan alih itu, REDtone akan melupuskan pegangannya di dalam operasinya syarikatnya di China, REDtone China pada harga AS$22 juta (RM69.08 juta) membabitkan 58.501 juta saham biasa.
Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan REDtone, Wei Chuan Beng berkata, cadangan pelupusan tersebut merupakan jalan terbaik kepada syarikatnya untuk melepaskan pelaburan dalam anak syarikat itu.
Bagaimanapun, pelupusan itu tidak memberi sebarang keuntungan atau kerugian kepada kumpulan kerana pihaknya masih lagi memegang kepentingan secara tidak langsung menerusi Hotgate sebanyak 91.94 peratus.
"Dengan menguasai Hotgate yang disenaraikan di Over The Counter Bulletin Board, apa-apa yang berkaitan peningkatan modal yang diperlukan oleh REDtone China pada masa depan boleh dilakukan menerusi Hotgate sama ada melalui pelaksanaan penempatan atau terbitan hak," katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.
Cadangan pelupusan itu merangkumi kepentingan ekuiti REDtone dalam REDtone China yang sebelum ini dikuasai 100 peratus dan selepas selesai pelupusan itu, pegangan ke atas anak syarikatnya itu akan dikurangkan kepada 92.31 peratus.
Perjanjian itu dimeterai pada 2 Ogos lalu yang mana perjanjian pelupusan 58.501 juta saham REDtone China, mewakili 100 peratus modal saham berbayar dan terbitan subsidiari itu kepada Hotgate bagi tujuan pertimbangan pelupusan.
Menurut Chuan Beng, lanjutan daripada persetujuan itu, Hotgate perlu melupuskan terbitan 244. 44 juta saham baru Hotgate pada harga AS$0.09 (RM0.28) sesaham.
Pelaksanaan cadangan itu akan menyaksikan REDtone International memiliki 247.47 juta saham Hotgate.
Beliau berkata, menerusi pegangan itu pihaknya akan menguasai 91.94 peratus terbitan yang diperbesarkan dan modal saham berbayar Hotgate sebanyak 269.16 juta saham Hotgate.
"Dengan penguasaan itu, Hotgate akan menjadi anak syarikat REDtone China," katanya.
Hotgate diperbadankan di Nevada AS, di bawah undang-undang Nevada pada 6 Januari 2005 sebagai syarikat awam berhad di bawah nama File4ward Software Inc.
Ia disenaraikan menerusi Over The Counter Bulletin Board pada 18 September 2006.
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0818&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Korporat&pg=ko_01.htm
Monday, August 16, 2010
Dell to buy 3Par for US$1.13bil cash
Published: Tuesday August 17, 2010 MYT 7:49:00 AM
NEW YORK: Dell Inc. said Monday it is buying 3Par Inc., a maker of enterprise data storage equipment, for about US$1.13 billion cash.
Dell is offering $18 per share for 3Par, an 87 percent premium over Friday's closing price for the company of $9.65. In premarket trading, 3Par shares surged to $17.88.
Dell, based in Round Rock, Texas, expects the deal to add to its adjusted profit in fiscal 2012. It says it also plans to invest in added engineering and sales resources at 3Par.
The deal has been approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close this year.
3Par, of Fremont, California, make systems designed to make efficient use of available storage space through so-called "thin provisioning," which makes it easier to add capacity when needed. 3Par had an early lead in this technology, but competitors like NetApp Inc., EMC Corp., IBM Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. are starting to catch up.
Dell already resells EMC's products under the Dell/EMC brand.
Dell said 3Par's technology is particularly suited to "cloud computing," where many customers may share the capacity of a data center.
In its latest fiscal quarter, which ended March 31, the company posted a loss of $3.2 million, or 5 cents per share on $194.3 million in revenue.
3Par was founded in 1999 and went public in November 2007 at $14 per share. - AP
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/17/business/20100817075556&sec=business
NEW YORK: Dell Inc. said Monday it is buying 3Par Inc., a maker of enterprise data storage equipment, for about US$1.13 billion cash.
Dell is offering $18 per share for 3Par, an 87 percent premium over Friday's closing price for the company of $9.65. In premarket trading, 3Par shares surged to $17.88.
Dell, based in Round Rock, Texas, expects the deal to add to its adjusted profit in fiscal 2012. It says it also plans to invest in added engineering and sales resources at 3Par.
The deal has been approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to close this year.
3Par, of Fremont, California, make systems designed to make efficient use of available storage space through so-called "thin provisioning," which makes it easier to add capacity when needed. 3Par had an early lead in this technology, but competitors like NetApp Inc., EMC Corp., IBM Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. are starting to catch up.
Dell already resells EMC's products under the Dell/EMC brand.
Dell said 3Par's technology is particularly suited to "cloud computing," where many customers may share the capacity of a data center.
In its latest fiscal quarter, which ended March 31, the company posted a loss of $3.2 million, or 5 cents per share on $194.3 million in revenue.
3Par was founded in 1999 and went public in November 2007 at $14 per share. - AP
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/17/business/20100817075556&sec=business
Samart, Axiata in talks on 3G bid
Tuesday August 17, 2010
BANGKOK: Thai telecoms group Samart Corp Pcl yesterday said it had entered into talks with Axiata Group Bhd on plans to take part in Thailand’s upcoming auction of third-generation mobile licences.
“We are in talks with two foreign potential partners on 3G plans, in which we will use Samart I-Mobile (SIM) to join the bid,” chief executive Watchai Vilailuck told reporters.
“One of these two partners is Axiata, which already holds 24% in SIM,” he said, adding that his company planned to conclude talks over the foreign partner early next week. — Reuters
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/17/business/6866960&sec=business
BANGKOK: Thai telecoms group Samart Corp Pcl yesterday said it had entered into talks with Axiata Group Bhd on plans to take part in Thailand’s upcoming auction of third-generation mobile licences.
“We are in talks with two foreign potential partners on 3G plans, in which we will use Samart I-Mobile (SIM) to join the bid,” chief executive Watchai Vilailuck told reporters.
“One of these two partners is Axiata, which already holds 24% in SIM,” he said, adding that his company planned to conclude talks over the foreign partner early next week. — Reuters
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/17/business/6866960&sec=business
Celcom Axiata to double BlackBerry prepaid users
Tuesday August 17, 2010
By DANNY YAP
danny@thestar.com.my
It expects its new BlackBerry Messenger Plan to be a hit
KUALA LUMPUR: Celcom Axiata Bhd (formerly Celcom Malaysia Bhd) expects to double its Blackberry Xpax prepaid subscribers by year-end with its new BlackBerry Messenger Plan (BMP).
Xpac is Celcom’s main prepaid brand accounting for over half of the telco’s eight million prepaid subcribers so far.
Marketing director Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin said the telco operator was confident of doubling its BlackBerry prepaid subscribers this year with its latest BlackBerry Messenger service offering.
Zalman declined to give figures, but expects BMP to be a big hit with Celcom BlackBerry prepaid subscribers.
From left: Celcom Axiata head of mobile broadband Harcharan Singh, Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin and product manager Effendi Rodzi at the launch
He said currently there were over 20 million active BlackBerry Messenger users globally and the figure was growing rapidly every year.
The new service provided by Celcom enabled its BlackBerry subscribers to have unlimited chat via BlackBerry messenger for a mere 50 sen per day.
“We are the first telco operator in Malaysia and in Asia-Pacific to roll-out such a service,” he said after the BMP launch yesterday.
Zalman said at 50 sen per day, BMP was very affordable to the masses of Celcom prepaid BlackBerry subscribers.
“We believe BMP will help boost Celcom’s market share in the BlackBerry prepaid subscriber market segment significantly in the near future,” he said.
“It’s inevitable that other telco operators will come out with a similar service,” Zalman said.
He said Celcom also provided other services under its BMP service such as shared pictures, voice notes and large media data transfer (up to 6 megabytes), via BlackBerry Advance and BlackBerry Social, but the additional services come at a premium of RM2.50 and RM1 per day respectively.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/17/business/6867093&sec=business
By DANNY YAP
danny@thestar.com.my
It expects its new BlackBerry Messenger Plan to be a hit
KUALA LUMPUR: Celcom Axiata Bhd (formerly Celcom Malaysia Bhd) expects to double its Blackberry Xpax prepaid subscribers by year-end with its new BlackBerry Messenger Plan (BMP).
Xpac is Celcom’s main prepaid brand accounting for over half of the telco’s eight million prepaid subcribers so far.
Marketing director Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin said the telco operator was confident of doubling its BlackBerry prepaid subscribers this year with its latest BlackBerry Messenger service offering.
Zalman declined to give figures, but expects BMP to be a big hit with Celcom BlackBerry prepaid subscribers.
From left: Celcom Axiata head of mobile broadband Harcharan Singh, Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin and product manager Effendi Rodzi at the launch
He said currently there were over 20 million active BlackBerry Messenger users globally and the figure was growing rapidly every year.
The new service provided by Celcom enabled its BlackBerry subscribers to have unlimited chat via BlackBerry messenger for a mere 50 sen per day.
“We are the first telco operator in Malaysia and in Asia-Pacific to roll-out such a service,” he said after the BMP launch yesterday.
Zalman said at 50 sen per day, BMP was very affordable to the masses of Celcom prepaid BlackBerry subscribers.
“We believe BMP will help boost Celcom’s market share in the BlackBerry prepaid subscriber market segment significantly in the near future,” he said.
“It’s inevitable that other telco operators will come out with a similar service,” Zalman said.
He said Celcom also provided other services under its BMP service such as shared pictures, voice notes and large media data transfer (up to 6 megabytes), via BlackBerry Advance and BlackBerry Social, but the additional services come at a premium of RM2.50 and RM1 per day respectively.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/17/business/6867093&sec=business
TM says UniFi customers to double by year-end
Tuesday August 17, 2010
By ZAZALI MUSA
zaza@thestar.com.my
JOHOR BARU: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) expects the number of its UniFi customers nationwide to double or treble by the year-end.
Chief strategy officer Ahmad Azhar Yahya said since the three UniFi packages were launched on March 24, TM had signed up over 10,000 subscribers.
“We are seeing a steep increase in the number of new customers signing for the service daily and the trend is expected to continue,” he said on Saturday after the signing of an agreement between TM and Mudra Tropika Sdn Bhd, the developer of the RM330mil Nong Chik Heights here.
TM was represented by its executive vice president (SME) Shanti Jusnita Johari and Mudra Tropika by chairman Datuk Mohd Rashid Mohd Noor. The signing was witnessed by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
Datuk Mohd Rashidi Mohd Noor (left) exchanging signed documents with Shanti Jusnita Johari while Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman (centre) and TM chief strategy officer Ahmad Azhar Yahaya look on.
Under the agreement, both parties would bear the cost of putting up fibre optics offering high-speed broadband (HSBB UniFi) infrastructure and services to house owners in the 14ha housing scheme.
Nong Chik Heights is a 50:50 joint-venture project between the Johor Government’s State Secretary Inc, which owns the Malay reserve land, and Mudra Tropika.
“We are going to sign (similar agreements) with 19 more developers in Johor Baru this and next year to equip their housing projects with the HSSB (service),” said Ahmad.
He said the other 19 projects were also in greenfield areas where it would be easier to lay the HSSB infrastructure instead on brownfield areas or places that were already developed.
Ahmad said about 150,000 premises within Iskandar Malaysia would have access to HSSB UniFi within the next two years.
He said the company would continue to evaluate the needs and demand from time to time for the HSSB service for areas in Johor outside Iskandar.
Ahmad said this could include Teluk Ramunia and Pengerang areas in Johor’s South East which had been earmarked to become the region’s new oil and gas hub spanning over 5,000ha.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/17/business/6866482&sec=business
By ZAZALI MUSA
zaza@thestar.com.my
JOHOR BARU: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) expects the number of its UniFi customers nationwide to double or treble by the year-end.
Chief strategy officer Ahmad Azhar Yahya said since the three UniFi packages were launched on March 24, TM had signed up over 10,000 subscribers.
“We are seeing a steep increase in the number of new customers signing for the service daily and the trend is expected to continue,” he said on Saturday after the signing of an agreement between TM and Mudra Tropika Sdn Bhd, the developer of the RM330mil Nong Chik Heights here.
TM was represented by its executive vice president (SME) Shanti Jusnita Johari and Mudra Tropika by chairman Datuk Mohd Rashid Mohd Noor. The signing was witnessed by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
Datuk Mohd Rashidi Mohd Noor (left) exchanging signed documents with Shanti Jusnita Johari while Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman (centre) and TM chief strategy officer Ahmad Azhar Yahaya look on.
Under the agreement, both parties would bear the cost of putting up fibre optics offering high-speed broadband (HSBB UniFi) infrastructure and services to house owners in the 14ha housing scheme.
Nong Chik Heights is a 50:50 joint-venture project between the Johor Government’s State Secretary Inc, which owns the Malay reserve land, and Mudra Tropika.
“We are going to sign (similar agreements) with 19 more developers in Johor Baru this and next year to equip their housing projects with the HSSB (service),” said Ahmad.
He said the other 19 projects were also in greenfield areas where it would be easier to lay the HSSB infrastructure instead on brownfield areas or places that were already developed.
Ahmad said about 150,000 premises within Iskandar Malaysia would have access to HSSB UniFi within the next two years.
He said the company would continue to evaluate the needs and demand from time to time for the HSSB service for areas in Johor outside Iskandar.
Ahmad said this could include Teluk Ramunia and Pengerang areas in Johor’s South East which had been earmarked to become the region’s new oil and gas hub spanning over 5,000ha.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/17/business/6866482&sec=business
TM may gain RM102m from Measat deal
Published: 2010/08/16
Telekom Malaysia (TM) stands to book an extraordinary gain of RM102 million if it has written down its investment in Measat Global Bhd to RM2.50/share.
In a note here today, ECM Libra Investment Research, it was believed that TM has written down its investment in Measat to around RM2.50 per share since 2003.
"The extraordinary gain will translate to about an additional three sen for financial year 2010 earnings per share," it said.
ECM Libra said the Measat share disposal would increase TM's bulging cash pile marginally.
It said with cash and bank balances of RM3.9 billion as at Mar 31, the sale proceeds from its 15 per cent equity stake in Measat, however, were unlikely to make significance difference to TM.
"Nonetheless, as TM's cash and bank balances continue to build up, it is increasingly become a question of when, and not whether TM will return excess cash to shareholders," it said.
The research house said press reports indicated that TM was unlikely to reject the offer as the promoters would have been inclined to have approached TM before that deal was announced to get their buy-in. --
Bernama
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100816152542/Article/
Telekom Malaysia (TM) stands to book an extraordinary gain of RM102 million if it has written down its investment in Measat Global Bhd to RM2.50/share.
In a note here today, ECM Libra Investment Research, it was believed that TM has written down its investment in Measat to around RM2.50 per share since 2003.
"The extraordinary gain will translate to about an additional three sen for financial year 2010 earnings per share," it said.
ECM Libra said the Measat share disposal would increase TM's bulging cash pile marginally.
It said with cash and bank balances of RM3.9 billion as at Mar 31, the sale proceeds from its 15 per cent equity stake in Measat, however, were unlikely to make significance difference to TM.
"Nonetheless, as TM's cash and bank balances continue to build up, it is increasingly become a question of when, and not whether TM will return excess cash to shareholders," it said.
The research house said press reports indicated that TM was unlikely to reject the offer as the promoters would have been inclined to have approached TM before that deal was announced to get their buy-in. --
Bernama
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100816152542/Article/
Green Packet to spend RM150m more on network
Published: 2010/08/17
GREEN Packet Bhd (0082) will invest a further RM150 million to improve the network quality of its telecommunication services.
"Investment in our network quality ensures better customer acquisition and retention. We want to improve on coverage as well as capacity," said group chief executive officer Puan Chan Cheong.
"This year, we've allocated RM250 million in capital expenditure for network upgrade. So far, we've spent RM100 million in the first half of the year," he told reporters at a briefing in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
"We have the resources to fund these investments. Our partner SK Telecom has committed a certain amount and there is RM500 million from our vendor ZTE (Malaysia) Corp Sdn Bhd," Puan said, in response to a query if the group has enough money to carry on with its pledge to invest RM1 billion in infrastructure upgrade.
In its filing to Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Green Packet saw its second quarter net loss expand to RM35.64 million from RM27.87 million a year ago.
"The higher losses were mainly attributed to higher amortisation and depreciation cost in relation to aggressive rollout of broadband infrastructure," Puan said.
He remained hopeful of achieving an Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) break-even by the end of this year.
The group now has 196,000 broadband customers as it added 21,000 new clients in the second quarter. It expects a significant increase in the latter half of the year as it has recently introduced laptops that have built-in WiMAX chips.
"We're on track to achieve 280,000 subscribers and 45 per cent national coverage by the end of the year," he said.
In two years, Green Packet harbours coverage ambition of 65 per cent of Malaysia's population.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/gp16/Article/
GREEN Packet Bhd (0082) will invest a further RM150 million to improve the network quality of its telecommunication services.
"Investment in our network quality ensures better customer acquisition and retention. We want to improve on coverage as well as capacity," said group chief executive officer Puan Chan Cheong.
"This year, we've allocated RM250 million in capital expenditure for network upgrade. So far, we've spent RM100 million in the first half of the year," he told reporters at a briefing in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
"We have the resources to fund these investments. Our partner SK Telecom has committed a certain amount and there is RM500 million from our vendor ZTE (Malaysia) Corp Sdn Bhd," Puan said, in response to a query if the group has enough money to carry on with its pledge to invest RM1 billion in infrastructure upgrade.
In its filing to Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Green Packet saw its second quarter net loss expand to RM35.64 million from RM27.87 million a year ago.
"The higher losses were mainly attributed to higher amortisation and depreciation cost in relation to aggressive rollout of broadband infrastructure," Puan said.
He remained hopeful of achieving an Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) break-even by the end of this year.
The group now has 196,000 broadband customers as it added 21,000 new clients in the second quarter. It expects a significant increase in the latter half of the year as it has recently introduced laptops that have built-in WiMAX chips.
"We're on track to achieve 280,000 subscribers and 45 per cent national coverage by the end of the year," he said.
In two years, Green Packet harbours coverage ambition of 65 per cent of Malaysia's population.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/gp16/Article/
EPF on a selling spree in August? -TM & IOI
Written by Isabelle Francis
Friday, 13 August 2010 11:49
KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has been selling down its stakes in several companies in the first week of the month, with the more notable ones being the disposal of large blocks in IOI Corporation Bhd and Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM).
It is unclear as to whether the transactions at more than 10 counters resulted in gains or losses, but it certainly was a sensible action by the provident fund to limit losses given the recent slump in equity markets.
“It (sell down) is seen as a prudent move as the provident fund is selling just as the markets start sliding,” said an analyst.
US stocks slumped on Wednesday as negative data from the US and China offered a bleak outlook on the global economic recovery. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 265.42 points or 2.49% to end at 10,378.83, making it the worst drop in nearly a month.
On Wednesday, most Asian markets slumped as data showed Japan’s machinery orders were weaker-than-expected while the growth in Chinese investment slowed down.
The FBM KLCI yesterday lost four more points to settle at 1,349.3. Elsewhere in the region, the Straits Times Index shed 22 points to close at 2,927, The Shanghai SE Composite fell 32 points to settle at 2,575.5, the Hang Seng Index was down 188 points to 21,105.7 and the Nikkei 225 index declined 80 points to 9,212.6.
The EPF’s most notable disposal is the 25.5 million IOI Corp shares it sold between Aug 2 and Aug 5, 2010, bringing its current shareholding in the planter to 12.77%.
In fact, over the past seven trading days, since July 27, 2010, EPF has disposed of a total of 32.72 million shares, or a 0.5% stake, in the plantation heavyweight.
IOI Corp shares were trading between RM5.10 and RM5.13 during the seven-day period.
Yesterday, IOI Corp shares closed three sen lower at RM5.09, ahead of its 4Q FY June 30, 2010 results announcement, which are tentatively due to be released next Tuesday.
The provident fund’s move to shave off its interest in the company is understandable given its high valuations and the challenging outlook for plantation players, although crude palm oil prices have rallied recently on weather concerns.
OSK in a recent note maintained its neutral call on the sector given the crosswinds and threat of overwhelming supply from Indonesia.
It continues to believe the sector will not see a broad-based rally for some time. The house has a neutral call on Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) and sell recommendations on Sime Darby Bhd and IOI Corp.
Notably also is that on Aug 2 and Aug 3, 2010, EPF had also sold 1.2 million shares of KLK and 5.06 million shares in the country’s largest listed planter Sime Darby Bhd. The provident fund’s current shareholding in KLK stands at 14.9%, and 15.3% at Sime.
The EPF had also disposed of almost 10 million shares or about 0.3% stake in TM between Aug 2 and Aug 6, 2010.
TM shares were trading between RM3.38 and RM3.39 during the five-day period.
Additionally, the provident fund has decreased its shareholding in national utility firm Tenaga Nasional Bhd via the disposal of almost nine million shares on Aug 2 and Aug 3, 2010. Tenaga shares were trading between RM8.59 and RM8.68 during the two-day period.
The EPF had also disposed of some of its interest in the nation’s two largest lenders in terms of asset. Between Aug 2 and Aug 5, 2010, the provident fund sold almost 10 million shares in CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and more than 14 million shares in Malayan Banking Bhd.
But the disposals are negligible given the large base of more than seven billion shares for the two banks respectively. The EPF’s selling spree appears to be across sectors as it had disposed of more than five million shares in builder IJM Corp Bhd and developer UEM Land Holdings Bhd.
Also worth noting is that the EPF had sold less than five million shares each of Gamuda Bhd, MISC Bhd, AMMB Holdings Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, and DRB-Hicom Bhd between Aug 2 and Aug 5, 2010.
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/171763-epf-on-a-selling-spree-in-august.html
Friday, 13 August 2010 11:49
KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has been selling down its stakes in several companies in the first week of the month, with the more notable ones being the disposal of large blocks in IOI Corporation Bhd and Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM).
It is unclear as to whether the transactions at more than 10 counters resulted in gains or losses, but it certainly was a sensible action by the provident fund to limit losses given the recent slump in equity markets.
“It (sell down) is seen as a prudent move as the provident fund is selling just as the markets start sliding,” said an analyst.
US stocks slumped on Wednesday as negative data from the US and China offered a bleak outlook on the global economic recovery. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 265.42 points or 2.49% to end at 10,378.83, making it the worst drop in nearly a month.
On Wednesday, most Asian markets slumped as data showed Japan’s machinery orders were weaker-than-expected while the growth in Chinese investment slowed down.
The FBM KLCI yesterday lost four more points to settle at 1,349.3. Elsewhere in the region, the Straits Times Index shed 22 points to close at 2,927, The Shanghai SE Composite fell 32 points to settle at 2,575.5, the Hang Seng Index was down 188 points to 21,105.7 and the Nikkei 225 index declined 80 points to 9,212.6.
The EPF’s most notable disposal is the 25.5 million IOI Corp shares it sold between Aug 2 and Aug 5, 2010, bringing its current shareholding in the planter to 12.77%.
In fact, over the past seven trading days, since July 27, 2010, EPF has disposed of a total of 32.72 million shares, or a 0.5% stake, in the plantation heavyweight.
IOI Corp shares were trading between RM5.10 and RM5.13 during the seven-day period.
Yesterday, IOI Corp shares closed three sen lower at RM5.09, ahead of its 4Q FY June 30, 2010 results announcement, which are tentatively due to be released next Tuesday.
The provident fund’s move to shave off its interest in the company is understandable given its high valuations and the challenging outlook for plantation players, although crude palm oil prices have rallied recently on weather concerns.
OSK in a recent note maintained its neutral call on the sector given the crosswinds and threat of overwhelming supply from Indonesia.
It continues to believe the sector will not see a broad-based rally for some time. The house has a neutral call on Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) and sell recommendations on Sime Darby Bhd and IOI Corp.
Notably also is that on Aug 2 and Aug 3, 2010, EPF had also sold 1.2 million shares of KLK and 5.06 million shares in the country’s largest listed planter Sime Darby Bhd. The provident fund’s current shareholding in KLK stands at 14.9%, and 15.3% at Sime.
The EPF had also disposed of almost 10 million shares or about 0.3% stake in TM between Aug 2 and Aug 6, 2010.
TM shares were trading between RM3.38 and RM3.39 during the five-day period.
Additionally, the provident fund has decreased its shareholding in national utility firm Tenaga Nasional Bhd via the disposal of almost nine million shares on Aug 2 and Aug 3, 2010. Tenaga shares were trading between RM8.59 and RM8.68 during the two-day period.
The EPF had also disposed of some of its interest in the nation’s two largest lenders in terms of asset. Between Aug 2 and Aug 5, 2010, the provident fund sold almost 10 million shares in CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and more than 14 million shares in Malayan Banking Bhd.
But the disposals are negligible given the large base of more than seven billion shares for the two banks respectively. The EPF’s selling spree appears to be across sectors as it had disposed of more than five million shares in builder IJM Corp Bhd and developer UEM Land Holdings Bhd.
Also worth noting is that the EPF had sold less than five million shares each of Gamuda Bhd, MISC Bhd, AMMB Holdings Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, and DRB-Hicom Bhd between Aug 2 and Aug 5, 2010.
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/171763-epf-on-a-selling-spree-in-august.html
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Window for TM to exit Measat
Wednesday August 11, 2010
By ANDREW LEE
andrewlee@thestar.com.my
Telco stands to gain RM100mil from 15% stake sale
KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) stands to book a one-off profit of around RM100mil if it chooses to part with its 15% stake in satellite service provider Measat Global Bhd, analysts said.
This was based on estimates that TM had written down its investment in Measat to around RM2.50 per share since 2003. TM owns about 60 million shares in Measat.
Measat’s major shareholders have announced plans to take the company private at a price of RM4.20 per share. If TM sells its Measat stake, it would gain a gross figure of RM252mil. Compared with the written-down price of RM2.50 per share, or RM150mil, this gives a gain of over RM100mil.
TM declined to comment on how much it had written down the value of its Measat shares. The offer price is close to TM’s original entry cost.
TM says it is waiting for the offer document before announcing its decision(Pic shows TM HQ off the Federal Highway in Kuala Lumpur)Ananda had injected Measat into Malayan Tobacco Co via a reverse takeover in December 2003.
An AmResearch analyst reckoned that the profit and cashflow from the Measat share sale could enhance TM’s dividend payments. “The sale of TM’s Measat shares to Ananda would free up more cashflow for the company to use elsewhere,” he said.
However, he said the profit TM stood to gain from the sale of its Measat stake would not be substantial in relation to its earnings. “Otherwise, TM would have made an announcement to Bursa Malaysia to this effect,” he said.
Another analyst said: “If you add up the opportunity and holding costs, then it is a negative for TM. This could be their way of getting out of Measat, which has not given dividends thus far, nor does TM have control in the company.”
The analyst said there was little upside for TM to retain its Measat stake, and that it was a mistake for TM to have bought into Measat in the first place.
TM still has the choice of not accepting Ananda-linked Measat Global Network Systems Sdn Bhd’s general offer. TM could scupper the plan to take Measat private by not subscribing for the general offer. A 15% block is substantial enough to prevent Measat Global from delisting Measat.
However, insiders said that TM was unlikely to reject the offer as the promoters were inclined to have approached the company before the deal was announced to get their buy-in due to the 90% acceptance condition.
“It would be rather inappropriate for us to comment on our intention as we have yet to receive the offer document from the offerer stating their rationale as well as the finalised terms and conditions of the proposed takeover offer,” TM said in an email reply to StarBiz.
It said that subsequent to receiving the offer document of Measat shares, it would await the independent adviser’s circular advising all minority shareholders of Measat.
“It is currently premature to comment. The interests of all shareholders of Measat are best served if we were to await for these documents first before making a decision on the proposed takeover offer,” TM said.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/11/business/6827451&sec=business
TM application dismissed
| |
“TM and TM Net are presently seeking legal advice on whether to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision of the High Court,” TM said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia Bhd.
A year ago, TM and TM Net were served with a writ of summons and statement of claim by Network Guidance in connection with a purported joint venture regarding a project described in the statement as Fine TV Services.
Read more: TM application dismissed http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100810001806/Article/#ixzz0wcYV4G85
Axiata may delay Islamic bond sale by a week
Saturday August 14, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: Axiata Group Bhd, owner of the country’s second-biggest mobile phone operator, has deferred an Islamic bond sale to the week beginning Aug 16 to complete documentation, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The company planned to sell RM4.2bil of five, seven and 10-year sukuk to refinance debt, and Employees Provident Fund would buy most of the notes, the person said, asking not to be identified as the agreement is private.
Axiata chief financial officer Datuk Yusof Annuar Yaacob said on Aug 4 that the sale was scheduled for the week beginning Aug 9.
Axiata, Malaysia’s best-performing index stock this year, has RM6.7bil of group bonds and loans due to mature through 2020, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The company raised US$300mil in April from its first sale of dollar notes. — Bloomberg
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/14/business/6855405&sec=business
Sunday, August 8, 2010
TM: Low-cost broadband will spur demand for Streamyx
By Rupinder SinghPublished: 2010/08/09
TELEKOM Malaysia Bhd (TM) (4863) anticipates demand for its Streamyx broadband packages to rise as it offers cheaper services to lower income households.
"With the availability of low-cost broadband by TM, I am confident that ICT can be spread and absorbed by each and every Kuala Lumpur citizen," TM Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa told pressmen in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday.
The event in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, marked the Klang Valley launch of TM's Komputer 1Malaysia netbook and Streamyx broadband from just RM38 per month for 24 months.
The new and affordable broadband and netbook package is aimed at increasing the personal computer and broadband penetration rates. Malaysia wants half of its households to have broadband services by the end of this hear.
So far, TM has 1.75 million Streamyx customers.
"With the affordable PC bundle, TM has made broadband an affordable option that can now be available in more Malaysian households," he said.
The programme, he hopes, will help everyone gain access to the Internet with better content, application and speed.
"With the increase in the scale of Internet usage it would help in reducing cost and increase the spread which would in turn help us gain more customers," he said.
Apart from this package, TM has also dedicated itself to setting up ICT infrastructure to fulfil the needs of residents and businesses in Kuala Lumpur.
TM has 17 exchanges around Kuala Lumpur that supplies fixed line services to more than 240,00 subscribers.
To be eligible for the broadband with netbook package, the potential subscriber must be from a household with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below for rural residents throughout the country, or a monthly income of RM5,000 and below for those living in urban areas.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/telkom07/Article/
TELEKOM Malaysia Bhd (TM) (4863) anticipates demand for its Streamyx broadband packages to rise as it offers cheaper services to lower income households.
"With the availability of low-cost broadband by TM, I am confident that ICT can be spread and absorbed by each and every Kuala Lumpur citizen," TM Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa told pressmen in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday.
The event in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, marked the Klang Valley launch of TM's Komputer 1Malaysia netbook and Streamyx broadband from just RM38 per month for 24 months.
The new and affordable broadband and netbook package is aimed at increasing the personal computer and broadband penetration rates. Malaysia wants half of its households to have broadband services by the end of this hear.
So far, TM has 1.75 million Streamyx customers.
"With the affordable PC bundle, TM has made broadband an affordable option that can now be available in more Malaysian households," he said.
The programme, he hopes, will help everyone gain access to the Internet with better content, application and speed.
"With the increase in the scale of Internet usage it would help in reducing cost and increase the spread which would in turn help us gain more customers," he said.
Apart from this package, TM has also dedicated itself to setting up ICT infrastructure to fulfil the needs of residents and businesses in Kuala Lumpur.
TM has 17 exchanges around Kuala Lumpur that supplies fixed line services to more than 240,00 subscribers.
To be eligible for the broadband with netbook package, the potential subscriber must be from a household with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below for rural residents throughout the country, or a monthly income of RM5,000 and below for those living in urban areas.
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/telkom07/Article/
Friday, August 6, 2010
TM to review broadband rates periodically
Published: 2010/08/06
Telekom Malaysia (TM) will review broadband rates from time to time to keep the Internet service cheap to enable more people to subscribe to the service, says chairman Datuk Dr Halim Shafie.
He said TM was giving this commitment in tandem with the government's goal to ensure Internet penetration in the country, especially in rural areas, isincreased to 75 per cent by the end of 2015.
TM however has no plans to reduce the broadband subscription rate in the near future owing to service cost and the service provided by other companies in the market place was still at competitive level, he said.
"Actually, Telekom Malaysia's Streamyx broadband service is cheap. There is a package for only RM38 a month. The people can subscribe to this affordable rate with a speed of 384 kilobit per second," he told reporters after the launch of TM's smart school adoption programme by Kedah Education Director Shahidan AbdulRahman at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tembak in Kuala Ketil.
Dr Halim said the people can subscribe to a faster broadband service by paying a bit more or sign up for the High Speed Broad Band (HSBB) at RM149 a month. - Bernama
Read more: TM to review broadband rates periodically http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100806180303/Article/index_html#ixzz0vpBmupo4
Telekom Malaysia (TM) will review broadband rates from time to time to keep the Internet service cheap to enable more people to subscribe to the service, says chairman Datuk Dr Halim Shafie.
He said TM was giving this commitment in tandem with the government's goal to ensure Internet penetration in the country, especially in rural areas, isincreased to 75 per cent by the end of 2015.
TM however has no plans to reduce the broadband subscription rate in the near future owing to service cost and the service provided by other companies in the market place was still at competitive level, he said.
"Actually, Telekom Malaysia's Streamyx broadband service is cheap. There is a package for only RM38 a month. The people can subscribe to this affordable rate with a speed of 384 kilobit per second," he told reporters after the launch of TM's smart school adoption programme by Kedah Education Director Shahidan AbdulRahman at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tembak in Kuala Ketil.
Dr Halim said the people can subscribe to a faster broadband service by paying a bit more or sign up for the High Speed Broad Band (HSBB) at RM149 a month. - Bernama
Read more: TM to review broadband rates periodically http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100806180303/Article/index_html#ixzz0vpBmupo4
P1 introduces its latest 4G modem
Published: Friday August 6, 2010 MYT 4:00:00 PM
Updated: Friday August 6, 2010 MYT 4:01:31 PM
PETALING JAYA: Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd (P1) today introduced the DX-230, its latest and most advanced 3-in-1 WiMAX modem with built-in WiFi, voice ports, and local area network ports for enhanced wireless 4G broadband experience.
In a statement, the company said the new DX-230 WiMAX modem had greatly enhanced features to deliver even better 4G broadband performance to home and small office users.
P1 chief executive officer Michael Lai said: “With the new DX-230 3-in-1 4G modem, we’ve made home and small office networking simple and affordable. With everything built into the DX-230, users no longer need to purchase modems and routers separately. Everything is contained in one sleek and modern design.”
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/6/business/20100806160550&sec=business
Updated: Friday August 6, 2010 MYT 4:01:31 PM
PETALING JAYA: Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd (P1) today introduced the DX-230, its latest and most advanced 3-in-1 WiMAX modem with built-in WiFi, voice ports, and local area network ports for enhanced wireless 4G broadband experience.
In a statement, the company said the new DX-230 WiMAX modem had greatly enhanced features to deliver even better 4G broadband performance to home and small office users.
P1 chief executive officer Michael Lai said: “With the new DX-230 3-in-1 4G modem, we’ve made home and small office networking simple and affordable. With everything built into the DX-230, users no longer need to purchase modems and routers separately. Everything is contained in one sleek and modern design.”
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/6/business/20100806160550&sec=business
Monday, August 2, 2010
UAE, Saudi to ban BlackBerry services
Published: Monday August 2, 2010 MYT 8:27:00 AM
Updated: Monday August 2, 2010 MYT 8:36:45 AM
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates outlined plans Sunday to block BlackBerry e-mail, messaging and Web browsing services in a crackdown that could jeopardize efforts to establish the country as an international business hub.
The government cited a potential security threat because encrypted data sent on the devices is moved abroad, where it cannot be monitored for illegal activity.
But the decision — quickly followed by a similar move in Saudi Arabia — raises questions about whether the conservative Gulf nations are trying to further control content they deem politically or morally objectionable.
BlackBerry phones have a strong following in the region, not only among foreign professionals in commercial centers such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but also among youth who see their relatively secure communication channels as a way to avoid unwanted government attention.
FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2009 file photo, a man talks on his smart phone at the Dubai Financial Market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The UAE said Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010 it will block key features on BlackBerry smart phones, citing national security concerns because the devices operate beyond the government's ability to monitor their use. Officials in neighboring Saudi Arabia indicated it planned to follow suit. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File) "Yes that's true, but it can also be used by civil society campaigners and activists."
The UAE's decision will prevent hundreds of thousands of BlackBerry users from accessing e-mail and the Web on their handsets starting in October.
It's unclear whether the ban will extend to foreign visitors with roaming services, including the roughly 100,000 passengers who pass through the region's busiest airport in Dubai each day.
The ban risks further damaging the UAE's reputation as a relatively easy place to do business.
Dubai, one of seven hereditary sheikdoms in the federation, in particular has sought to turn itself into a global finance, trade and tourism hub.
FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2010 file photo, a BlackBerry smart phone is displayed at the Mobile World congress in Barcelona, Spain. The UAE said Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010 it will block key features on BlackBerry smart phones, citing national security concerns because the devices operate beyond the government's ability to monitor their use. Neighboring Saudi Arabia quickly indicated it planned to follow suit. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File) Residents say the BlackBerry crackdown will only do more harm, making foreign businesses think twice before setting up shop in the country.
"They'll think now they've banned the BlackBerry, maybe next time it'll be the Internet," said Shakir Mahmood, a Dubai-based debt collector and Blackberry user originally from Iraq.
This isn't the first time BlackBerry and Emirati officials have had run-ins over security and the popular handsets, a fixture in professionals' pockets and purses the world over.
Last year, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd. criticized a directive by the UAE state-owned mobile operator Etisalat telling the company's BlackBerry users to install software described as an "upgrade" required for "service enhancements."
RIM said tests showed it was in fact spy software that could allow outsiders to access private information stored on the phones. It strongly distanced itself from Etisalat's decision and told users how to remove the software.
Within hours of Sunday's UAE decision to block BlackBerry services, a telecommunications official in neighboring Saudi Arabia said the desert kingdom would do the same, starting later this month. The Saudi official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said the country's telecommunications regulator would issue a statement soon.
Ali Mohammed of Saudi Telecom, however, said the company had "not received any instructions about BlackBerry from the ministry."
Government censors in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE routinely block access to websites and other media deemed to carry content that runs contrary to the nations' conservative Islamic values or that could stoke political unrest.
Regulators in the UAE say BlackBerry devices operate outside a set of national security and safety laws enacted in 2007, the year after the BlackBerry debuted in the UAE. They say they are concerned some BlackBerry services "allow users to act without any legal accountability, causing judicial, social and national security concerns."
The government said it is singling out the BlackBerry, and not other smart phones such as Apple Inc.'s iPhone and Nokia Corp. handsets, because the Blackberry is the only one that automatically sends users' data to servers overseas.
Unlike other smart phones, BlackBerry devices use a system that updates a user's inbox by sending encrypted messages through company servers abroad, including RIM's home country of Canada.
Users like the system because it is seen as more secure, but it also makes BlackBerry messages far harder to monitor than ones sent through domestic servers that authorities can more easily tap into, analysts say.
"This is the irony, that it's the device with the highest security features. These same security features that corporations like have become an issue of national security for the government," said Simon Simonian, an analyst at Dubai-based investment bank Shuaa Capital. "The UAE doesn't want to take any chances and they want to monitor what is going on in the country."
The dispute highlights an ongoing tug-of-war between autocratic governments determined to control what information citizens consume online and share with others, and technology providers whose loyalties lie with their customers and shareholders.
Similar tensions erupted earlier this year between China and Google Inc. after the Internet company said it would stop censoring its search results in the country. After China warned it might not renew its license, Google agreed to obey local laws and stop automatically switching mainland users to its unfiltered Hong Kong site.
Emirati authorities are eager to portray an image of a safe and stable society free from the extremism found elsewhere in the region. They have taken steps to crack down on terror financing and efforts by neighboring Iran to sidestep international sanctions over its nuclear program.
Davidson cited alarm in the UAE and other Gulf nations over the role online organization played in helping to drive anti-government protests in Iran during the 2009 elections as a factor in their moves to tighten Internet controls.
Emirati regulators said in a statement they sought to reach a compromise with RIM on their concerns, but failed to come to an agreement.
"With no solution available and in the public interest ... BlackBerry Messenger, BlackBerry E-mail and BlackBerry Web-browsing services will be suspended until an acceptable solution can be developed and applied," said the director-general of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Mohamed al-Ghanim.
"BlackBerry appears to be compliant in similar regulatory environments of other countries, which makes noncompliance in the UAE both disappointing and of great concern," he added in a statement carried on state news agency WAM.
A spokeswoman for RIM said the Canadian company had no immediate comment.
Other countries, including India and the Gulf state of Bahrain, have also raised concerns about BlackBerry messaging features, but have not blocked them outright.
RIM said in a statement last week it "respects both the regulatory requirements of government and the security and privacy needs of corporations and consumers."
The company declined to disclose details of talks it has had with regulators in the more than 175 countries where it operates, but defended its phones' security features as "widely accepted" by customers and governments.
Etisalat and Du, the UAE's two state-run telephone companies, said they are working on alternative services for their BlackBerry customers.
RIM does not disclose the number of BlackBerry users in the UAE. However, analyst Simonian estimated there are "hundreds of thousands" of BlackBerry users in the country.
None contacted by The Associated Press on Sunday said they supported the pending ban.
"I find it irritating, actually. It's a service everyone is using, and all of a sudden, they're just going to disconnect it?" said a 30-year-old manager at a Dubai mall who would give only his first name, Khalid, because he did not want to attract attention from the authorities. - AP
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/2/business/20100802083238&sec=business
YTL Communications, Intel sign pact
Published: 2010/08/02
In a statement here today, YTL Comms said working with Intel to offer WiMAX-ready devices was an integral part of the strategy to unveil the company's 4G network, which was expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of this year.
Its chief executive officer, Wing Lee, said the collaboration would include interoperability test on its 4G network by Intel to enable compatibility with its WiMAX/WiFi wireless chipset.
"Intel will also provide WiMAX-embedded laptops which will be certified and ready for use on our 4G network," he said.
Meanwhile, Intel Malaysia''s country manager, Ryaz Perez, said the collaboration would boost WiMAX subscription and help Malaysia''s National Broadband Plan achieve 50 per cent penetration rate by the end-2010. -- Bernama
Read more: YTL Communications, Intel sign pact http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20100802180011/Article/index_html#ixzz0vSO8yfdT
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Jalenas hires foreign professionals to resolve snag
Monday August 2, 2010
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Jalenas Sdn Bhd has hired three foreigners to lead the company to help it deliver its promises of a open access high-speed broadband network to the nation after over a year’s delay.
The company appointed James Angelone as its CEO, Niclas Sonesson as the chief technology officer/chief operating office and Boyan Krosnov, the director for network operations recently.
Angelone has spent nearly 30 years in the telecoms industry of which 22 were in the Asia-Pacific region. He has worked in various positions with different companies.
James Angelone ... ‘We are only looking at US$10mil funding.’
He started with AT&T in the United States, moved to Lucent Technologies Inc and later to PacketFront, Jazz International Marketing and BroadSoft Korea.
His latest post before Jalenas was vice-president, global sales and marketing with Samsung SDS in South Korea. He holds an MBA in Business Management from the Almeda College & University in Idaho, United States.
Angelone is confident that with his expertise and that of his other colleagues, Jalenas will be able to roll out services for consumers in the country.
“With proper network planning and the right partners, we would be able to roll out fibre to 300 homes in Kuantan by end-October,” Angelone said in an interview.
Sonesson, the CTO/COO, was co-founder of PacketFront AB (a open-access solution provider). He had connected and serviced the first 130,000 homes in less than one year for a national deployment of fibre to the home (FTTH) project in Sweden. He is a telecommunications and home electronics engineer.
Krosnov, the man who will be involved in network operation is a network engineer by profession and was involved in the fibre network deployment in Iceland.
PacketFront is one of two partners Jalenas has teamed up for an open access solution. The other is Maipu (Sichuan) Communications of China for equipment supplies. It is also in talks with several other parties such as Cisco to roll out its network. It may use Tenaga Nasional Bhd poles for FTTH.
“We want to work with partners that are willing to be committed with the project. We believe in what we are doing. We will only work with professionals as we cannot afford to make mistakes since this is a privately-funded project,” Angelone said.
On how Jalenas would fund its network build-up, he said: “Funding will always be challenging, but once we have (part of) the network up, we would get there. We are only looking at US$10mil funding for the initial stages, so the outlay is small and we are also working with partners,” he said.
Despite such optimism that it can source funding and deliver FTTH to 300 homes by end of October, the sceptics are not convinced as this is a capital-intensive business that comes with long gestation period and having the financial muscle in this game will be critical.
“Let me put my team in and we will turn everything upside down for the network roll-out. But we have to grow from small to big. We have to grow through the phases and we will source for funding at the same time,” he said.
Jalenas is a joint venture between High Speed Broadband Technology Sdn Bhd (HSBT) and Pahang Government subsidiary Pahang Technology Resources Sdn Bhd. It has a paid-up capital of RM10mil.
Jalenas and its parent company HSBT have an ambitious plan to invest RM10bil to wire up 2.5 million premises in Malaysia.
HSBT pitched to the Government in 2008 for a privately-funded second network but was turned down with the rationale that Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) was the only company capable of rolling out such a capital-intensive project.
In February, Jalenas said it would wire up Kuantan with high-speed broadband, but only a km of fibre had been laid around the city thus far.
On having to work alongside incumbent TM, Angelone said “it will be an uphill battle but the company wants to prove the sceptics wrong”.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/2/business/6770922&sec=business
By B.K. SIDHU
bksidhu@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: Jalenas Sdn Bhd has hired three foreigners to lead the company to help it deliver its promises of a open access high-speed broadband network to the nation after over a year’s delay.
The company appointed James Angelone as its CEO, Niclas Sonesson as the chief technology officer/chief operating office and Boyan Krosnov, the director for network operations recently.
Angelone has spent nearly 30 years in the telecoms industry of which 22 were in the Asia-Pacific region. He has worked in various positions with different companies.
James Angelone ... ‘We are only looking at US$10mil funding.’
He started with AT&T in the United States, moved to Lucent Technologies Inc and later to PacketFront, Jazz International Marketing and BroadSoft Korea.
His latest post before Jalenas was vice-president, global sales and marketing with Samsung SDS in South Korea. He holds an MBA in Business Management from the Almeda College & University in Idaho, United States.
Angelone is confident that with his expertise and that of his other colleagues, Jalenas will be able to roll out services for consumers in the country.
“With proper network planning and the right partners, we would be able to roll out fibre to 300 homes in Kuantan by end-October,” Angelone said in an interview.
Sonesson, the CTO/COO, was co-founder of PacketFront AB (a open-access solution provider). He had connected and serviced the first 130,000 homes in less than one year for a national deployment of fibre to the home (FTTH) project in Sweden. He is a telecommunications and home electronics engineer.
Krosnov, the man who will be involved in network operation is a network engineer by profession and was involved in the fibre network deployment in Iceland.
PacketFront is one of two partners Jalenas has teamed up for an open access solution. The other is Maipu (Sichuan) Communications of China for equipment supplies. It is also in talks with several other parties such as Cisco to roll out its network. It may use Tenaga Nasional Bhd poles for FTTH.
“We want to work with partners that are willing to be committed with the project. We believe in what we are doing. We will only work with professionals as we cannot afford to make mistakes since this is a privately-funded project,” Angelone said.
On how Jalenas would fund its network build-up, he said: “Funding will always be challenging, but once we have (part of) the network up, we would get there. We are only looking at US$10mil funding for the initial stages, so the outlay is small and we are also working with partners,” he said.
Despite such optimism that it can source funding and deliver FTTH to 300 homes by end of October, the sceptics are not convinced as this is a capital-intensive business that comes with long gestation period and having the financial muscle in this game will be critical.
“Let me put my team in and we will turn everything upside down for the network roll-out. But we have to grow from small to big. We have to grow through the phases and we will source for funding at the same time,” he said.
Jalenas is a joint venture between High Speed Broadband Technology Sdn Bhd (HSBT) and Pahang Government subsidiary Pahang Technology Resources Sdn Bhd. It has a paid-up capital of RM10mil.
Jalenas and its parent company HSBT have an ambitious plan to invest RM10bil to wire up 2.5 million premises in Malaysia.
HSBT pitched to the Government in 2008 for a privately-funded second network but was turned down with the rationale that Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) was the only company capable of rolling out such a capital-intensive project.
In February, Jalenas said it would wire up Kuantan with high-speed broadband, but only a km of fibre had been laid around the city thus far.
On having to work alongside incumbent TM, Angelone said “it will be an uphill battle but the company wants to prove the sceptics wrong”.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/2/business/6770922&sec=business
Lega guna jalur lebar dengan kadar bayaran rendah
MELAKA 1 Ogos - Orang ramai menyambut baik pakej kos rendah netbook dan jalur lebar yang diperkenalkan oleh Telekom Malaysia Bhd. (TM) di negeri ini yang dinamakan Pakej Jalur Lebar TM dengan Komputer 1Malaysia.
Mereka menyifatkan pakej tersebut membolehkan golongan berpendapatan rendah mendapatkan maklumat yang berguna dan mengakses perkhidmatan dengan mudah di hujung jari.
Seorang pesara, Mohd. Tamim Mohd. Said, 70, yang juga salah seorang penerima pakej tersebut berkata, dia memperoleh pakej tersebut untuk kegunaan cucunya.
''Saya dah tua untuk menggunakan netbook tapi saya memohonnya bagi kegunaan cucu kerana mereka wajar didedahkan dengan kemudahan jalur lebar," katanya.
Dia ditemui pada majlis pelancaran Pakej Jalur Lebar TM dengan Komputer 1Malaysia sempena Hari Jawatankuasa Penyelaras Pembangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri (Japerun) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Pantai Kundur di Pantai Puteri di sini, hari ini.
Majlis tersebut telah disempurnakan oleh Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam.
Turut hadir Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Pantai Kundur, Datuk Abdul Rahman Abdul Karim dan Pengurus Besar Negeri TM Melaka, Zaini Maatan.
Seorang kerani di sebuah syarikat swasta, Tan Hui Kwan, 30, berkata, pakej yang ditawarkan oleh TM adalah jauh lebih murah berbanding pakej lain.
''Kerana mudah selain kemudahan yang disediakan telah membolehkan saya memiliki netbook untuk memudahkan tugas dan urusan harian," katanya.
Katanya, pakej dengan bayaran hanya RM38 sebulan untuk tempoh 24 bulan dilihat amat sesuai untuk golongan berpendapatan rendah.
Bagi Saifulizam Mohd. Noor, 26, pula berkata, pakej yang ditawarkan oleh TM itu telah membolehkan komuniti berpendapatan rendah dapat menggunakan jalur lebar.
Katanya, ia juga dapat merapatkan jurang digital antara masyarakat di negara ini kerana jalur lebar kini dianggap satu keperluan dalam kehidupan.
''Dulu kalau golongan berpendapatan rendah susah untuk memiliki netbook dan kemudahan jalur lebar tetapi kini saya yang berpendapatan tidak seberapa sudah boleh memiliki semua itu," katanya.
Sehubungan itu, Mohd. Noor mahu pakej tersebut terus diperluaskan terutama di kawasan kampung yang jauh dari bandar.
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0802&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_12.htm
Mereka menyifatkan pakej tersebut membolehkan golongan berpendapatan rendah mendapatkan maklumat yang berguna dan mengakses perkhidmatan dengan mudah di hujung jari.
Seorang pesara, Mohd. Tamim Mohd. Said, 70, yang juga salah seorang penerima pakej tersebut berkata, dia memperoleh pakej tersebut untuk kegunaan cucunya.
''Saya dah tua untuk menggunakan netbook tapi saya memohonnya bagi kegunaan cucu kerana mereka wajar didedahkan dengan kemudahan jalur lebar," katanya.
Dia ditemui pada majlis pelancaran Pakej Jalur Lebar TM dengan Komputer 1Malaysia sempena Hari Jawatankuasa Penyelaras Pembangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri (Japerun) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Pantai Kundur di Pantai Puteri di sini, hari ini.
Majlis tersebut telah disempurnakan oleh Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam.
Turut hadir Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Pantai Kundur, Datuk Abdul Rahman Abdul Karim dan Pengurus Besar Negeri TM Melaka, Zaini Maatan.
Seorang kerani di sebuah syarikat swasta, Tan Hui Kwan, 30, berkata, pakej yang ditawarkan oleh TM adalah jauh lebih murah berbanding pakej lain.
''Kerana mudah selain kemudahan yang disediakan telah membolehkan saya memiliki netbook untuk memudahkan tugas dan urusan harian," katanya.
Katanya, pakej dengan bayaran hanya RM38 sebulan untuk tempoh 24 bulan dilihat amat sesuai untuk golongan berpendapatan rendah.
Bagi Saifulizam Mohd. Noor, 26, pula berkata, pakej yang ditawarkan oleh TM itu telah membolehkan komuniti berpendapatan rendah dapat menggunakan jalur lebar.
Katanya, ia juga dapat merapatkan jurang digital antara masyarakat di negara ini kerana jalur lebar kini dianggap satu keperluan dalam kehidupan.
''Dulu kalau golongan berpendapatan rendah susah untuk memiliki netbook dan kemudahan jalur lebar tetapi kini saya yang berpendapatan tidak seberapa sudah boleh memiliki semua itu," katanya.
Sehubungan itu, Mohd. Noor mahu pakej tersebut terus diperluaskan terutama di kawasan kampung yang jauh dari bandar.
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0802&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_12.htm
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