DiGi kicks off its Lalang Sampai Menang campaign

Score multiple wins with great value internet deals, FREE smartphones and prizes valued at RM350,000

Shah Alam, 3 June 2014 – DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) welcomes the football season with its “Lalang Sampai Menang” campaign to thank customers for their support. From now until 13 July 2014, DiGi customers will get a chance to win 50” LED TVs, jerseys worth RM2,500 autographed by famous football stars, and enjoy amazing internet deals with free smartphones and internet giveaways, to name a few.

Christian Thrane, DiGi’s Chief Marketing Officer said that DiGi is going all out to be with its customers as they support their favourite team. “With the football season around the corner, what better way to celebrate than to give our customers an opportunity to enhance their football madness experience with relevant internet deals and irresistible prizes. This is in line with our promise to be Malaysia’s best “VALUE” service provider by continuously offering our customers products and services that are relevant to their lifestyle.”

“This is also our way of thanking customers for their support in our quest to bring internet to all Malaysians. We hope they will continue to reap the benefits of staying connected with DiGi’s internet services,” added Christian.

Score amazing prizes
DiGi’s Lalang Sampai Menang campaign allows football fans to pick their favorite football team on every match day to stand a chance to win one of 101 x 50” LED TVs, plus during the final, the prizes will be boosted with 4 sets of 5 signed jerseys by Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Andrea Pirlo, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta to be won.

This contest is open to all DiGi’s new and existing postpaid mobile internet subscribers as well as DiGi’s prepaid mobile internet subscribers when they subscribe to Internet packages starting from as low as RM3/weekly.

To participate, customers can either SMS WC to 20000 OR visit digi.my/livescore where they will be asked to pick their choice of a winning team for every match.  Three (3) customers with the correct answer will be selected randomly on a daily basis and contacted by DiGi to answer a set of questions correctly in order to win a TV each daily.

From the quarterfinals onwards, DiGi will be giving out four (4) TVs every day, and during the final, 4 DiGi customers will win a TVand a set of 5 signed jerseys each.

Great value from DiGi’s Internet For All deals
DiGi is giving customers more reasons to celebrate this football season. In addition to winning attractive prizes, customers will also enjoy a selection of irresistible Internet For All deals:
o Free Smartphones – Sign up for DG Smart Plan 78, 108 and 148 and choose from the WIDEST RANGE of FREE smartphones including the latest models Sony Xperia M2, HTC Desire 310, Xiaomi Mi3, Samsung Galaxy Trend Plus & Grand Quattro, and more, for free.
o Extra internet quota - Get extra internet quota during this football season with new postpaid signups and prepaid mobile internet packages starting from RM7/weekly.
o Special Rebates – Enjoy ONE YEAR rebate of RM5 off the monthly subscription for new DG SmartPlan and DiGi Smart Family Plan signups.

For more details on the DiGi “Lalang Sampai Menang” campaign, please visit www.digi.com.my/lalang.

DiGi in search of inspiring and everyday internet stories from all walks of life

• Latest campaign gets Malaysian netizens sharing meaningful mobile internet experiences 
• Two most interesting ideas will be produced into a TVC

SHAH ALAM, 29 May 2014 – DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi), with the support of Google Malaysia, is in search of inspiring mobile internet stories. The newly launched What’s Your Internet Story? campaign aims to reach out to the increasing number of Malaysians on the internet to uncover their experiences, how they have benefitted from being connected to the internet on the go, and the use of Google products and tools.

The two winning stories will be produced into a television commercial to be shared with other Malaysians to inspire them, with each contributor winning RM5,000 cash each. Meanwhile, all 10 finalists will each get a chance to attend an experiential learning programme hosted by DiGi and Google Malaysia to gain deeper understanding of their culture, innovation and products.

Speaking in conjunction with the launch of the campaign, Christian Thrane, DiGi’s Chief Marketing Officer said, “Every day we enable internet services for millions of customers. Access to mobile internet has empowered many individuals and helped them transform their lives through access to knowledge, financial inclusion, and affordable and accessible healthcare services, among many other things. Opportunities abound with having internet on the go, and they present meaningful moments and experiences for each user.”

“We are looking for a varied collection of mobile internet anecdotes. It could be an example of a life-changing moment or a routine activity with deep, meaningful impact to one’s daily life. There are many inspiring stories out there and we’d like to encourage all Malaysians to pitch in and share theirs,” added Thrane.

How do I share my internet story?
All you have to do to participate is to log on to www.digi.com.my/yourinternetstory, sign in with your Google+ account or personal email, and share your story in writing. Submissions are open to all Malaysians from now until 24 June 2014.

All stories must be authentic and multiple entries are encouraged. Participants are welcomed to share stories of family or friends as long as they obtain permission from the person and attribute the story to them.

For each submission, participants will need to:

• Articulate how they have benefitted from the use of the internet on the go, and elaborate how it has changed their lives and/or enhanced their lifestyles
• Within the story, clearly state Google products and tools, and describe how they were used
• Finally, participants are required to pin their location

Google products and tools include Google Search, Google Translate, YouTube, Gmail, Waze, Google+, Google Hangout, Google Drive, Google Maps and Google Earth.

Selection process and criteria
All eligible entries will be evaluated based on originality, relevance of the story, how the use of the internet and Google products have been optimised, impact to the lives of the user and the people around them, and the emotional influence of the story. Judges from DiGi and Google Malaysia will shortlist 10 finalists and select two winners after the closing date.

For more information on What’s Your Internet Story? campaign, please visit:
www.digi.com.my/yourinternetstory

Last few days for DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards 2014 submissions

Support your favourite netizens or send in your own entries

SHAH ALAM, 27 May 2014 – Time is ticking! The May 31 deadline for DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi)’s WWWOW Internet For All Awards 2014 submission and voting is fast approaching.  So, if you are planning to be part of this much talked about Awards event organised exclusively for Netizens, its time to send in your submission or cast your vote for your favourite entries now.

Chan May Ling, DiGi’s Head of Marketing Services, said DiGi received more quality entries this year, with over 712 entries submitted to date since the WWWOW Awards was launched in April. She added that 35,579 votes have been cast in the past 7 weeks since the launch.

“I am excited to see the very encouraging response from the participants that are willing to share game changing ideas to help communities using the internet. The decision to strengthen the programme by streamlining the categories while putting extra emphasis on the quality of content, and how they impact the lives of other people, was indeed the right one,” she added.

After the public voting closes on 31 May 2014, 30 shortlisted participants will pitch their entries to DiGi representatives and a panel of judges representing various marketing disciplines from across the industry on 4 June 2014. The judges will select a winning entry for each of the three categories of Commerce, Content and Community. The three category winners will be announced on 20 June 2014 during the Awards Grand Finale event whereby each winner will win a cash prize of RM 25,000 and other experiential prizes.

Endorsed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM), the DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards programme is supported by Google, Lowyat.NET, Mudah.my, Says.my, iTrain, Yahoo, AsiaWeb Direct, Mindvalley, Samsung, AIG and Astro.

For more information on the DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards 2014, please visit: www.wwwow.my

DiGi customers among the first to pre-order Xiaomi Mi 3

HAH ALAM, 19 May 2014 - DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (“DiGi”) today announced that it will be amongst the first local service providers in Malaysia to take pre-orders for Xiaomi’s flagship smartphone, Mi 3 on 27th May 2014.

The soon-to-be launched Xiaomi Mi 3 will be made available with DiGi Smart Plan for a 24-month contract duration.

Christian Thrane, DiGi’s Chief Marketing Officer said partnering with Xiaomi, is part of DiGi’s commitment to bring internet to more people by expanding its range of smartphones catering to different segment groups.

“Today, many more Malaysians are accessing the Internet through their mobile phones. We are very excited to work with Xiaomi to bring this sought-after smartphone to our customers. By combining the right device, with the right plan together with good usage experience, we are empowering more Malaysians to benefit from access to the internet,” said Thrane.

Hugo Barra, Vice President of Xiaomi Global added, “Mi 3 is our highest performing smartphone, consistently ranked at the top of industry benchmarks since we launched it. Our Android-based platform — MIUI — designed with the help of our user community, is a live operating system with weekly software updates. MIUI is incredibly intuitive while at the same time offers power users a high degree of customisation. We are pleased to partner with DiGi to give their 11 million customers easy access to the internet through the Mi 3.”

For more information, please log on to digi.my/xiaomi

Telenor Group appoints three new Executive Vice Presidents

Fornebu (Oslo), 16 May, 2014. Telenor Group today announces a change to its organizational structure through the appointment of Henrik Clausen (50), Katja Christina Nordgaard (52) and Pål Wien Espen (49) as Executive Vice Presidents and new members of Group Executive Management (GEM) in Telenor Group.

(From left:) Henrik Clausen, Katja Christina Nordgaard and Pål Wien Espen.

“Telenor Group operates in an increasingly fast-paced and complex environment.  We have decided to merge the Strategy and Digital units and establishing a new Corporate Affairs unit in order to increase our ability to meet the demands from our customers and solve business challenges in our markets.  It will provide us with the flexibility and strength needed to take a leading role in the digital future,” said Jon Fredrik Baksaas, President and CEO of Telenor Group. “I welcome Henrik, Katja and Pål to the top management team and look forward to further strengthening our company.”

Aligning Digital initiatives with Group strategy

A new Group Strategy and Digital unit will be responsible for Telenor Group’s overall strategy, drive Telenor’s digital agenda and support the company’s operations in the digital services space. The new unit will be headed by Henrik Clausen. Clausen starts in his new position on 15 June 2014.

Henrik Clausen comes from the position of CEO of Malaysian mobile operator DiGi. Since taking the helm at DiGi in 2010, the company has continuously delivered solid results and consistently captured market share in Malaysia. The company’s growth has been fueled by increased demand for mobile data, driven by the growing popularity of content services in the mature Malaysian market. DiGi is known as an innovative industry player and frontrunner in providing mobile internet services. The company has been a pioneer in delivering Internet for All, which now is one of Telenor Group’s three strategic pillars across its 13 markets. Under Clausen’s leadership, DiGi has been able to strike a successful balance between focused market execution and an open company culture that encourages participation and passion.

Establishing a new Corporate Affairs Unit

Combining Corporate Communications, Sustainability and Government Relations into one Corporate Affairs unit enables Telenor to maximize the existing capabilities of these essential areas, and to further strengthen our communication and interaction with key stakeholders, including governments and the public. This change reflects how Telenor’s business units are currently organized. The new Corporate Affairs unit will be headed by Katja Christina Nordgaard, who will start in her new role on 4 August 2014.

Nordgaard currently holds the position as Norwegian Ambassador to Thailand and Cambodia. In the years 2010 to 2013, she also served as the Norwegian Ambassador to Myanmar. She joined the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1988, and has during her career held various senior positions within the Foreign Service as well as in the private sector. Katja Nordgaard has a Master in Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).

Formalizing legal affairs position in Group Executive Management

Pål Wien Espen has already been participating in Group Executive Management meetings as Telenor Group’s General Counsel and Head of Group Legal. By appointing him as Executive Vice President, Telenor Group is emphasizing the importance of Telenor Group’s legal affairs department. The appointment is effective immediately.

Pål Wien Espen joined Telenor in 1995. Before joining Telenor, he was an associate at the Norwegian Law firm BAHR, and an assistant judge in the first instance court in Lillestrøm, Norway.

Overview of the new Group Executive Management

With these appointments, Telenor Group Executive Management will consist of:

•     Jon Fredrik Baksaas, President and CEO
•     Richard Olav Aa, EVP and Chief Financial Officer
•     Sigve Brekke, EVP and Head of Asian Operations
•     Kjell Morten Johnsen, EVP and Head of European Operations
•     Hilde Tonne, EVP and Head of Group Industrial Development
•     Henrik Clausen, EVP and Head of Strategy and Digital
•     Jon Erik Haug, EVP and Head of People Development
•     Berit Svendsen, EVP and Head of Telenor Norway
•     Katja Christina Nordgaard, EVP and Head of Corporate Affairs
•     Pål Wien Espen, EVP and Head of Legal Affairs

DiGi’s all-new Best for Internet Network Drive Test

SHAH ALAM, 15 May 2014 – Recently, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) organised a Network Drive Test, involving more than 600 of its employees nationwide over 26 cluster locations,  to experience the company’s brand new network . This is a part of a continuous effort by DiGi to mobilise its ambassadors on the ground and constantly review and provide feedback on how the network can be improved further.

DiGizens gave their full support in DiGi's Rockin' Network Drive Test.

DiGi employees also took the chance to engage with the customers and find out about their experience as a DiGi customer for the past six months. This is very much in line with the DiGi’s ambition to deliver the best Internet experience for all its customers by offering access to high quality, consistent, high-speed internet connectivity.

DiGizens engaging with customers during the network drive test​.

Lars-Ake Norling appointed new DiGi CEO

Current CEO of Telenor Sweden takes over from Henrik Clausen

Shah Alam, 15 May, 2014 – DiGi.Com Bhd today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Lars-Ake Norling as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective August 1, 2014.

Lars-Ake Norling.

Norling (age 45) joins DiGi from the role of CEO in Telenor Sweden, and will replace current CEO Henrik Clausen who will take a new senior role in Telenor Group.

“Lars-Ake has successfully led Telenor Sweden in one of the world’s most highly advanced telecom markets. I am confident that he has the market know-how to further drive DiGi’s growth and Internet For All ambitions, and the right leadership skills to develop our strong company culture and way of work,” said Sigve Brekke, Chairman of DiGi.Com Bhd and Head of Region Asia.

“At the same time, the Board of Directors wish to express our deepest thanks to Henrik for his excellent and dedicated contribution to the company. Over the past four years, Henrik has led the company through a period of consistent and solid growth, and a holistic business transformation programme that firmly establishes DiGi’s presence in the Malaysian market. He hands over a company with a clear vision, a well established strategy, and a solid foundation for future growth,” Brekke added.

Henrik Clausen.

During Norling’s tenure, Telenor Sweden has delivered robust financial results. The company has built an attractive internet proposition, with both mobile and fixed offerings, in a highly competitive marketplace. Telenor Sweden is the second largest operator in the country with 2.5 million mobile subscriptions, 0.7 million fixed broadband subscriptions, and close to 1,800 full time employees.

A seasoned telecom executive, Norling joined the broadband provider Bredbandsbolaget in 1999, were he held a number of senior positions. In 2006, he was appointed Head of Telenor Sweden’s fixed network, and a year later assumed the position of Chief Technology Officer of Telenor Sweden. Norling has served as CEO of Telenor Sweden since April 2009.

“Heading DiGi in Malaysia is an honour and an offer I couldn’t refuse,” said Norling. “DiGi has a solid market presence in Malaysia, and has been one of the most consistently successful business units in Telenor Group, in one of our most advanced markets in Asia. I am truly excited and looking forward to working with my new colleagues in DiGi to drive the next phase of the company’s growth.”

STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO SKMM’s EXTENSIVE END-POINT SERVICE AVAILABILITY TESTING (EESAT) REPORT (Q3/2013)

SHAH ALAM,   14 May 2014

“Customers are at the core of DiGi’s business, and we share the same commitment to customer excellence as our colleagues in the Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission (SKMM).

DiGi completed the modernisation of our network at the end of the third quarter of 2013. We have seen visible improvements in the quality of our voice and data services following the completion of this modernisation. We note that SKMM has also observed a significant improvement in its subsequent EESAT exercise conducted in the first quarter of 2014, where DiGi managed to reduce dropped call related complaints by 89%, compared to the same period last year.

DiGi will continue to drive a very strong focus on customer experience. For 2014, we have committed to invest up to RM900 million in capital expenditure, and a sizable proportion of this will be to strengthen the quality and reach of our network.

Furthermore, DiGi is also pro-actively and thoroughly testing our quality of service. In our recently concluded Drive Test, close to 600 employees in the Klang Valley and in various key market centers around the country evaluated the health of our network and engaged with customers, as part of a coordinated plan for continuous improvements. This and a number of other activities will continue to be a part of our commitment to customer excellence.

In conclusion, we want to assure our customers that we have in place clear processes across all our touchpoints to drive quality, understand customer feedback, and ensure remedial actions. All customer experience and network quality measures are reported monthly to the senior management team. We thank our customers for their understanding and assistance in reporting such issues to us and to SKMM. We encourage them to continue engaging with us on all issues relating to service quality, and assure them of our highest priority placed on ensuring customer satisfaction.”

DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards is back to recognise Malaysia’s most inspiring netizens

Introducing new streamlined categories with RM 25,000 cash prizes and other experiential prizes for each winner

SHAH ALAM, 15 April 2014 – DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) today launched the fourth edition of DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards, an annual programme designed to recognise inspiring Malaysian netizens in nurturing a thriving internet ecosystem.

Chan May Ling, DiGi’s Head of Marketing Services said since DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards started in 2011, it has uncovered many internet talents with inspiring social causes who had leveraged on the internet to offer access to knowledge, and make fundamental services affordable and accessible for all. Chan explained, “DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards has helped encourage netizens to create local content, giving people more reasons to use and subsequently benefit from the internet in line with our ambition of bringing Internet For All.

“This year, we have strengthened the programme by streamlining the categories, and put extra emphasis on the quality of content and the impact it has on the lives of its audiences. We are once again calling individuals who are active users of the internet to share their stories and inspire others in nurturing a progressive online community.”

A more comprehensive programme
DiGi will be hosting inspiring workshops and talks as part of the Awards programme on 30 April and 8 May, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur to help participants further refine and maximise the potential of their submissions. These workshops will feature industry pioneers who will share their experience and knowhow on building successful internet presence, and are open to all participants, previous WWWOW winners and internet communities. To participate, interested netizens can register for the workshop at wwwow.my

Submission via three simple steps
The DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards is open to all Malaysian netizens from now until 31 May 2014. All they need to do is to:
• Share their contribution in the online space by providing a summary of their work in one of three categories: Commerce, Content and Community by logging on to wwwow.my. Their entries should highlight how and why their internet endeavours have successfully inspired fellow Malaysians. Once submitted, the entry will be made available on social media for public voting.
• Once their submissions are approved, participants are able to unlock an ‘online journal’ where they are required to provide more information on their entries by answering a list of questions. The top 10 entries from each of the three categories with the most online votes will move on to the final judging phase.
• On 4 June 2014, the shortlisted 30 participants will pitch their entries to DiGi and a panel of judges representing various marketing disciplines from across the industry. The judges will select a winning entry for each of the three categories.

The three category winners will be announced on 20 June 2014 during the Awards Grand Finale event whereby each winner will win a cash prize of RM 25,000 and other experiential prizes.

DiGi WWWOW Internet for All Awards is Malaysia’s first and only recognition celebrating the achievements of ordinary Malaysians who are avid internet users. It is based on 100% user-generated entries to showcase the incredible creativity, ingenuity and entrepreneurialism of our netizens. Last year, the DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards 2013 received a record 1,932 unique entries submitted within 30 days, and over 39,000 votes. There was strong viral interest with over 8,900 tweets generated on the #DGWWWOW hashtag, creating more than 155 million impression, and the WWWOW.my microsite had 505,000 page visits with a total of 388,000 unique visitors.

Endorsed by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM), the DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards programme is supported by Google, Lowyat.NET, Mudah.my, Says.my, iTrain, Yahoo, AsiaWeb Direct, MindValley, Samsung, AIG and Astro.

For more information on the DiGi WWWOW Internet For All Awards 2014, please visit: www.wwwow.my

Samsung Malaysia Surprises 55 Selected Owners of GALAXY S5

Telco partners and Samsung Brand Stores hand goodies and perks to eager new owners
 
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – April 11, 2014 – Samsung Malaysia Electronics rewarded 55 selected fans with a special gift worth RM200 each at five selected locations in Klang Valley and Penang, in conjunction with the consumer launch of the GALAXY S5. These 55 fans were chosen from Celcom Blue Cube and DiGi Concept Store at Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, Maxis Centre at Suria KLCC, Samsung Experience Store at The Gardens Mall and Gurney Paragon Mall Penang.

Lee Dong Yong, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics said: "We are excited to be here today to thank our loyal customers for their enduring support all these years. As such, we decided to select 55 fans to represent the 5 core pillars of the GALAXY S5, which are fun, fit, life, speed and style.

Lee Dong Yong, President of Samsung Malaysia Electronics and Wilson Wee, Managing Director of Welfon Telecommunication Sdn. Bhd. at the Samsung Experience Store in The Gardens Mall.

"The GALAXY S5 is Samsung's people-inspired smartphone to complement every aspect of our consumers' lifestyles. We look forward to designing more innovative products that resonate with the needs of our consumers," Lee elaborated.

The GALAXY S5, Gear 2 and Gear Fit are available for purchase at all Samsung Experience Stores nationwide, as well as Samsung's telco partners - Celcom, DiGi and Maxis. Meanwhile, the devices will be available at all Malaysian retailers by the end of the month, joining the shelves of 125 countries including the US, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and most Asian markets. The GALAXY S5 retails at RM2,399, while the Gear 2 and Gear Fit are priced at RM899 and 599 respectively.

For more information, please visit www.samsung.com/my or visit Samsung Mobile Malaysia Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/samsungmobilemalaysia.

A Chance to Meet the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry

SHAH ALAM, 21 March 2014 – DiGi Challenge for Change Season 4 and Telenor Youth Summit Malaysia winners, got the chance to meet the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry H.E. Monica Mæland who visited the DiGi Store at Gardens Mall recently as part of her two-day visit to Malaysia to meet with Norwegian businesses present in Malaysia. She was accompanied by Norwegian Ambassador to Malaysia, H.E. Hans Ola Urstad and other senior officials.

H.E. Monica Mæland with the Wired-In team (winner of DiGi Challenge for Change Season 4) and Farah Fauzi (winner of Telenor Youth Summit Malaysia 2013)

The winner of Telenor Youth Summit Malaysia  2013, Farah Fauzi, sharing her winning idea to H.E. Monica Mæland and the delegation group.

DiGi’s brand new network delivers high quality internet experience for customers

Takes Best For Internet prepaid and postpaid plans to more Malaysians

SHAH ALAM, 6 March 2014 – As part of its new Best For Internet proposition, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) launched two new internet offerings today: a weekly prepaid mobile internet package and an enhanced choice of postpaid smartphone plans. The Company believes that these offerings, powered by the high quality internet experience on DiGi’s brand new network will drive internet usage to more customers across Malaysia. Today, DiGi is the fastest growing mobile internet service provider in the country, recording mobile internet growth of 47.5% year-on-year.

Albern Murty, DiGi’s Chief Operating Officer said the Company has in the past two years invested approximately RM1.5 billion in capital expenditure to modernise its network and expand its coverage footprint nationwide to deliver this strong network experience for customers. “We have achieved significant milestones in building a brand new, stronger, and more stable network. We have swapped every electronic part in more than 5,500 sites with brand new equipment, expanded our HSPA+ 3G network to more than 80% population coverage, and increased our own and jointly built fibre network to more than 3,200 kilometres nationwide.

(L-R) Albern Murty, Chief Operation Officer of DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd and Christian Thrane, Chief Marketing Officer of DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd.

“This resilient focus on providing a better data experience to customers means more Malaysians in more areas across the country now have access to a high quality, always-on, high-speed internet connectivity. Our customers now experience the best consistent average speeds on our network, from the smaller secondary towns to key urban market centres populated by customers with high data usage needs, where DiGi has big ambitions to address with 4G LTE services. Our brand new Best For Internet network solidly positions us to grow our mobile internet customer base further.”

Albern added that the Company has committed to invest up to RM900 million in capital expenditure this year to further strengthen its network position. This spend will be invested toward increasing its HSPA+ 3G coverage to 86% of population coverage, growing its LTE footprint up to 1,500 sites, and expanding its fibre network to ensure it continues bringing a high-speed internet experience to customers nationwide. He said DiGi will also focus on delivering relevant and affordable device and service offerings to drive internet uptake, beginning with the two new plans introduced today:

Most affordable weekly mobile internet packages for prepaid users
The new byte size weekly packages makes internet subscription more flexible and affordable, tailored for users looking flexibility and affordable alternatives to monthly subscriptions. New and existing prepaid customers can now enjoy unlimited internet surfing and social messaging by subscribing to the weekly package from as little as RM3, RM5 or RM7.

Most complete postpaid internet plans for smartphones
The newly enhanced DG SmartPlans are tailored to complement the internet-and feature-rich capabilities of smartphones in the market today, enabling customers to maximise usage of their devices. With a choice of RM50, RM78, RM108 or RM148 per month, new DG SmartPlan customers can now enjoy more value on data, calls and SMS, and access to the following digital services applications: Opera Mini for unlimited internet surfing, Whatsapp for unlimited messaging, and Deezer for on-demand access to over 30 million songs from top local and international artistes. The new offering is also bundled with free Norton Mobile Security protection as device security becomes increasingly important to customers today. Customers can also exercise the flexibility of enjoying all the above benefits using their existing device with the RM50 per month DG SmartPlan.

“Our Best for Internet proposition is about providing customers a total internet experience with DiGi. This means we take a holistic approach in innovating products that fit our customers usage patterns, enable them to enjoy a richer digital service experience on their devices and making these products easily accessible across the country - all the while delivering this on the strength and breadth of our brand new network,” said Christian Thrane, Chief Marketing Officer of DiGi.

More information on these plans and the trial pack are available at: www.digi.com.my.

DiGi Challenge for Change Hackathon draws 200 developers

• Best apps win RM25,000 each, across 5 idea categories
• One developer to represent Malaysia at Telenor Digital Winners Awards, can potentially win RM112,000 cash grant

SHAH ALAM, 3 March 2014 – DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) kicked off the App Development phase of the DiGi Challenge for Change 5 (DiGiCFC5) with a 36-hour Hackathon, which took place from 28 February to 2 March, 2014.

200 mobile developers participated in this year’s hackathon, which was aimed at helping developers fast track their mobile app development across the five winning ideas of the Ideation Phase of the challenge. Together with DiGiCFC5 partners, this year’s hackathon was packed with engaging and valuable content and activities such as:
• Insightful speakers from Google, Microsoft, Telenor Digital and Xamarin;
• Inspire sessions with popular and emerging Malaysian app developers like MyTeksi, Kehmistry and InstaB;
• A talent hunt session where partners were invited to engage with potential technical hires.

(L-R) Hack@DiGiCFC kick-off with Matthew Zaheen from Google Malaysia, Joachim Rajaram from DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, Sissel Henriette Larsen from Telenor Digital, Faris Muliz from Pemandu and Matthew Khaw  from Microsoft Malaysia.

Joachim Rajaram, Head of Communications and Corporate Responsibility said this concerted effort with both programme and event partners was aimed at driving the production of mobile applications that are mature, socially relevant and commercially viable. “We are pleased to see the high numbers of talented young developers participating in this year’s hackathon, and we have high hopes that the resulting apps will be those that enable relevant and meaningful usage of the Internet. It was also very exciting to see the high level of excitement and zest among these developers as they worked with one another to bring the winning ideas to life.”

This year, Telenor Group will select one developer/team to participate in Digital Winners Conference in Oslo, Norway. This developer/team will also represent Malaysia at Telenor’s Digital Winners Global App Developer Challenge, and be in line to potentially win a cash grant of €25,000 (RM112,000) to build their business, work closely with Telenor Digital as a commercial partner, and have access to a global customer base through Telenor Group.

Deep concentration: The participants working hard at Hack@DiGiCFC.

Other prizes that are up for grabs this year include:
• RM25,000 for each winning app in the respective categories .
• Participation in Digital Malaysia’s MSC Start-Up Accelerator Lite programme, including the Green Lane for the top developer/team, allowing them to enhance their mobile apps into a start-up complete with a mentor, funds and market opportunities.
• Participation in Google Malaysia and Microsoft Malaysia’s short ‘insight’ stints for top Android and Windows app developers/teams respectively at their organisations, enabling the sharing of experience and knowledge from experts within their organisation.

DiGi will continue to support the winning apps by actively promoting the winning applications to its own base of more than 4.2 million smartphone users, as well as on DiGi’s online app stores, retail outlets and over their social media properties.

Besides the coding marathon, HACK!@DGCFC participants also enjoyed 3 fun-filled days of activities such as movie screenings, gym sessions, and more. There were also three ‘Mini Challenge’ awards that were given out to deserving teams for their efforts over the weekend, for the best use of User Interface (UI), best use of application programming interface (API), and for the most user-friendly app.

DiGiCFC programme partners include the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), the National Digital Economy Initiative (Digital Malaysia), Google Malaysia, Microsoft Malaysia, 1Malaysia for Youth (iM4U), and the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU).

For more information on the DiGi Challenge for Change 5, please visit www.digicfc.my

New and returning participants, programme partners and speakers at HACK!@DiGiCFC were pleased to share their excitement, such as:

"We're back this year for HACK!@DiGiCFC for a repeat of the excitement we experienced last year and to make more friends. On top of that, we're here to challenge ourselves. Our team is competing by creating apps for the idea Jalan-Jalan and Running Paws in the Discovering Culture, and Health & Wellness categories respectively, on both the Android and iOS platforms."
- Muhammad Muhaimin Juhairi, Founder and CEO, WiredIn Sdn Bhd, who won the Telenor Group Award for best developer team at last year’s hackathon

"This is my first time participating in HACK@DiGiCFC, and I’m here in a team of three girls. This has been an amazing experience for us because of the fun environment and I’m really learning about the values of good teamwork. We’re gaining so much knowledge from the more experienced and successful developers and industry experts. It’s also very special for us as we had the privilege of witnessing the evolution of female app developers, with the participation of 10 female app developers in this year’s event, compared to only two last year."
- Yham Yih Jiun, 22, Student from Monash University Malaysia

"HACK@DiGiCFC has an interesting and special concept compared to other Hackathon events. This is more relaxed and fun and entertaining for the app developers. The atmosphere here is good, with the cool programme, partner representatives and participants, and definitely, the developers’ challenge of not getting enough sleep. I'm interested to see how the finished apps turn out."
- Jan Jongboom, Firefox OS Contributor and Evangelist from Telenor Digital

“I met a great group of enthusiastic participants at this year’s Hack@DiGiCFC. The talks organised were impactful and well thought out. I believe that DiGi Challenge for Change has instilled enthusiasm in participants to be their own entrepreneur. From the conversations I had with them, the mobile developers felt that the 5 winning ideas that were chosen this year were really good and will bring value to the community.”
- Efny Johan, Brand Management Group Director from iM4U

DiGi Challenge for Change 5 announces top mobile app ideas

Four winning ideas, alongside a surprise DiGizens’ Choice idea move to app development phase

SHAH ALAM, 19 February 2014 – DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) announced the four winners of the ideation phase of its fifth DiGi Challenge for Change programme (DiGiCFC5) today, with a surprise DiGizen’s Choice idea joining other top ideas in each of the four subject categories. All five ideas will now be the subject of the next phase of the challenge, where DiGi and partners will engage with mobile applications developers to turn these ideas into full-fledged mobile apps.

This year, more than 2,500 mobile app ideas were submitted online, across the four categories. A rigorous filtering process was then carried out to select the best four, including an #IdeaJam session with the top 60 ideas, and a subsequent face-to-face Judging Session to select the final four.

Henrik Clausen, Chief Executive Officer of DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (middle) with DiGi Challenge for Change 5 Ideation Winners.

The four winning ideas stood out from the rest for having real potential for commercialisation, adoption and relevance to Malaysians’ use of mobile apps.

Category	Application Idea	Category Winner
Connected Citizens	Tag A Price – enables consumers to contribute and compare grocery prices across selected shopping outlets and locations.	Alex Wong Kek Liang, 27
Learning & Edutainment	1Auto – enables the sharing of tips for easy car maintenance, allows users to identify and offer solutions to troubleshoot car problems, and track mileage and car service reminders.	Asharudin Abdul Buhari, 23
Discovering Culture	Jalan Jalan – an interactive travel app idea that enables the sharing of relevant information to simplify and enrich travel experiences in local cities across Malaysia.	Lim Fern Yit, 27
Health & Wellness	Running Paws – a gamification app idea that makes running more enjoyable with virtual running buddies, allowing users to improve their own running performance, and compete against others.	Kum Peng Han, 27

The fifth idea was a special “DiGizens’ Choice” selection: MyBanjir aims to help better prepare communities and ease the effects of floods across the country. The app will push early flood alerts to Malaysians in high risk areas, help connect stranded victims to nearby evacuation centres, and provide a collaborative platform for volunteers and relief organisations to mobilise aid speedily to affected communities.

Henrik Clausen, DiGi’s Chief Executive Officer said the winning ideas reflected the goals of the Challenge to enable new and inspiring ways of using internet. “Challenge for Change has always been a key initiative in DiGi’s mission to deliver Internet For All. More than ensuring that Malaysians in all parts of the country have access to a quality internet experience, we also aspire to enable relevant and meaningful usage of the internet. Challenge for Change plays an important role in achieving this, through the development and promotion of quality local content and applications.”

“This year, we received a broad variety of high quality ideas, coming from Malaysians between 13 to 60 years-old. Interestingly, it was the newly introduced Connected Citizen category that received the highest entries across the four categories, an indication that Malaysians want easy access to services that connect them to everyday needs, on mobile apps,” he added.

Moving into the App Development Challenge

With the Ideation phase completed, DiGiCFC officially moves into the App Development phase, where top local app developers can now begin translating these five ideas into actual mobile apps. The apps will be made available for download and review by the public before the Challenge closes on 23 April 2014. Winning apps from each idea will be selected based on the judges’ decision as well as the quantity of downloads. DiGi will further support the winning apps through active promotion to its base of 4.2 million smartphones as well as on DiGi’s online app stores, retail stores, and social media properties.

DiGi will also be hosting its flagship #HACK!@DiGiCFC, a 36-hour non-stop mobile app hackathon from 28 February to 2 March 2014, to accelerate the app development process with support and input from experts in the mobile app development industry. 

“Together with the expert support of our partners, I have no doubt that the app developers will be able to come up with apps that are mature, socially relevant with strong commercial potential,” added Clausen. 

DiGiCFC programme partners include the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), the National Digital Economy Initiative (Digital Malaysia), Google Malaysia, Microsoft Malaysia, 1Malaysia for Youth (iM4U) and the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU).

For more information on DiGi Challenge for Change and how to participate in Hackathon, please visit www.digicfc.my

DiGi Challenge for Change's first ever #IdeaJam produces stronger ideas for more impactful mobile apps

Gathers idea contributors and industry experts to strengthen potential mobile app ideas

Last Friday, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) hosted #IdeaJam, the first ever idea accelerator session for its Challenge for Change (DiGiCFC) programme. This 4-hour interactive event gathered about 150 people including the Challenge's best 60 idea contributors together with industry experts to refine the quality and potential of these ideas, in a bid to identify the season's top 20.

Today, these shortlisted 20 ideators pitched their ideas to DiGi and a panel of judges consisting of DiGiCFC partners, who then selected a winning idea for each of the four categories: namely Learning & Edutainment, Health & Wellness, Discovering Culture, and Connected Citizen. The four winners, who will each go home with RM5,000 and a smartphone, will be announced in mid-February this year.

Joachim Rajaram, Head of Communication and Corporate Responsibility together with the Top 20 ideators.

The 60 ideators for #IdeaJam were selected from close to 2,600 Malaysian-inspired mobile application ideas submitted for the Ideation Challenge, the first phase of DiGiCFC.

Stronger ideas for better social and commercial impact
#IdeaJam was a development checkpoint to help augment the quality of the top ideas submitted for Challenge for Change, and maximise the potential impact of the resulting mobile apps. It provided a conducive platform for ideators to interact with 60 specially selected mentors from the respective fields of healthcare, education, culture and citizenship. Input from the mentors helped build a social and technical context surrounding each idea, helping ideators make these ideas more compelling: having stronger commercial value, and a greater ability to address the social needs of Malaysians.

Joachim Rajaram, DiGi's Head of Communications and Corporate Responsibility said, "We were impressed with the quality of ideas submitted for season five of the Challenge. We felt these ideas clearly reflected what Malaysians want in general, using mobile internet and apps to serve their needs. It was also interesting to note that easy access to public services on mobile apps seemed to be a growing interest amongst Malaysians. This was evident from the high percentage of submissions for the newly introduced Connected Citizens category.

Ideators pitching their idea to the mentors during the #IdeaJam session.

"It would be exciting to observe how these ideas now evolve into full-fledged apps that leverage on functionalities like gaming, M2M and social networking to name a few, and to see how well-received these apps will be. We hope that the availability of new and relevant local content will give people more reasons to use and benefit from the internet, in line with DiGi's mission to deliver internet for all Malaysian mobile users," said Joachim.

"It was also fantastic to see the positive energy between the mentors and ideators as they sparred with each other with a single objective in mind, to have the best version of these ideas emerge and have the potential to be developed into mobile apps that benefit as many Malaysians as possible. And this, I believe captured the value of DiGiCFC's theme in Bringing Malaysians Together, One App At A Time," he added.

Some of the mentors who attended the event included representatives from the National Heritage Board Malaysia, KPJ HealthCare, Macrokiosk, GBG Business Group, netpreneurs, and Malaysian internet players.

Moving on to the next stage
Following this, DiGiCFC5 will proceed to the App Development phase where local app developers will be tasked to develop mobile apps based on the four winning ideas. In conjunction with this second phase, DiGi will also host #HACK!@DiGiCFC, a 36-hour non-stop mobile app hackathon to help accelerate the app development process.

DiGiCFC5 programme partners include the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU), 1Malaysia for Youth (iM4U), the National Digital Economy Initiative (Digital Malaysia), Google Malaysia and Microsoft Malaysia.

More information on this phase and DiGi Challenge for Change is available at www.digicfc.my.

CELCOM AND DIGI SEAL COLLABORATIVE DEAL WITH TM FOR TM NEXT-GEN BACKHAUL™ SERVICES

Key industry players set to work together to provide extensive robust backhaul network infrastructure for broadband rollout in Peninsular Malaysia …
 
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) together with two (2) key mobile operators Celcom Axiata Berhad (Celcom), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Celcom Networks Sdn Bhd (Celcom Networks) and DiGi Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd. (DiGi) today marked another major milestone in the nation’s telecommunications industry when the three (3) operators inked a wholesale bandwidth collaborative deal for TM Next-Gen Backhaul™ Services.

Witnessed by YB. Dato’ Jailani Johari, Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia, the principle terms of the landmark collaborative deal was documented in two (2) binding documents signed by Chief Executive Officers of TM, Celcom and DiGi; Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Group Chief Executive Officer, TM, Dato’ Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief Executive Officer, Celcom and Henrik Clausen, Chief Executive Officer, DiGi respectively. Also present at the event was Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi, Chairman, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Datuk Che Azemi Haron, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, Dato' Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief Executive Officer, Celcom Axiata Berhad (Celcom), Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, Group Chief Executive Officer, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), Dato' Jailani Johari, Deputy Minister of Communications & Multimedia, Henrik Clausen, Chief Executive Officer, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) and Dato' Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi, Chairman, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) at the recent signing ceremony for Next-Gen Backhaul Services™ between TM, Celcom and DiGi.

To keep pace with the on going demands and needs of the industry, Malaysian Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are challenged to deliver significant improvement in their network quality to offer low latency and high bandwidth to mobile devices. In order to achieve this, MNOs need to gain access to more backhaul networks providing higher degrees of flexibility and better scalability. This industry collaboration also serves as a positive move; enabling a higher quality customer experience when they access high-bandwidth digital content, or run real-time applications on their mobile devices.

In this groundbreaking collaborative deal, TM will provide wholesale bandwidth connectivity via TM Next-Gen Backhaul™ services for aggregation and access sites jointly owned by Celcom (via Celcom Networks) and DiGi, covering a span of between 3,000 and 3,500 kilometres in Peninsular Malaysia.  This forms an important part of the ongoing network collaboration initiative between Celcom and DiGi announced in early 2011, particularly with regards to the joint ambition to roll out more than 10,000 kilometres of fibre network nationwide.

TM will support Celcom and DiGi’s transmission requirements, whilst enabling both companies to optimise cost and efficiently utilise its infrastructure. In line with regulatory requirements for service providers to have a robust backhaul network for LTE rollout, this collaboration will help to avoid unnecessary duplication of network infrastructures and it is a strategic move by the operators to be more operationally efficient as the industry matures.

Commenting on the collaboration, Tan Sri Zamzamzairaini said, “We are indeed very happy with this signing with Celcom and DiGi, two (2) major players in the industry, in what is yet another landmark collaboration. As Malaysia’s leading telecommunications infrastructure provider, TM will optimise its extensive nationwide network infrastructure coverage to provide cost effective and high capacity bandwidth via resilient IP network platform for TM Next-Gen Backhaul™ Services deployment. This will support the continuous and ever-growing needs for higher mobile bandwidth demand of both Celcom and DiGi’s customers. Backhaul networks need to be able to support the main traffic types – voice, video, network signalling/management and internet data. Leveraging on TM’s strength on its nationwide fibre coverage and resilient network platform, Celcom and DiGi subscribers will be able to enjoy seamless and quality services via their mobile devices everywhere, anywhere.”

“The long term collaboration, spanning more than ten (10) years, between the three (3) parties will see two (2) phases of development. The first phase will be over a three (3) year period starting from 2014 until 2016 followed by the second phase deployment of additional sites for mobile access and aggregator sites across Peninsular Malaysia. This partnership re-iterates TM’s commitment in providing an open access for all MCMC-licensed service providers, allowing these operators to provide and deliver high quality services to their end users hence further strengthening our position as a neutral service provider”, added Tan Sri Zamzamzairani.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Henrik Clausen, DiGi’s Chief Executive Officer said; “Demand for quality internet services is growing year-by-year in Malaysia, and Malaysians all over the country today require access to always-on, high-speed data connectivity to cater to their increasing needs. By leasing wholesale bandwidth services for access and aggregation fibre network from TM, DiGi will be able to obtain quick access to fibre infrastructure to support our future network capacity demands, to deliver affordable and high-quality internet connectivity to more Malaysians.”

“Infrastructure sharing among industry players is gaining traction around the world. Our collaborative effort today marks another clear move to be more operationally efficient as an industry, and by leveraging on synergies created we will be able to build and utilise our assets more efficiently, optimise costs, and avoid duplicating network infrastructures. Ultimately, benefits derived from operational efficiencies will be channeled towards accelerating our reach and significantly improving the quality of our services to all customers across Malaysia.”

Further commenting on the collaboration, Dato’ Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief Executive Officer, Celcom mentioned, “This collaboration is a significant milestone for Celcom – not only as a showcase of industry collaborations in line with national aspirations but also as a major step towards top-notch customer experience. We are committed to improving our nationwide network for coverage and speeds in the long run and this represents one of many key investments into network quality that Celcom is currently implementing.”

This collaboration between key Malaysian telco industry players is in line with the Government’s call for greater industry partnerships and at the same time promoting healthy competition among the players as service providers will be focusing on delivering improved customer experience and better value offerings, which ultimately will benefit Malaysian consumers.

For further information on TM, visit www.tm.com.my. For more information on Celcom, visit www.celcom.com.my and for more information on DiGi, visit www.digi.com.my.

DiGi says Thank You to customers with special year-end sale

Customers to enjoy free devices, internet and calls with DiGizens Thank You Sale and new MyAndroid offerings

Shah Alam, 12 December 2013 – As a big Thank You gesture to its customers, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) today announced the DiGizens Thank You Sale, a special year-end sale with amazing deals that enable customers to enjoy free smartphones, tablets, modems, calls and internet with DiGi.

According to Loh Keh Jiat, DiGi's Head of Channels & Regions, the company was looking for a unique and sincere way to express its appreciation to loyal customers when it decided to introduce the DiGizens Thank You Sale. And for the first-time, has DiGizens personally bringing the special deals to customers. “As we physically go to the streets each year to engage our customers in person, this time you will also see DiGizens ‘coming out’ to say thank you across all our marketing channels, from broadcast, print, online advertisements, leaflets and more.

(L-R) : Praveen Rajan, Head of Products - Internet & Services, Loh Keh Jiat, Head of Channels & Regions and Cheng Weng Hong, Head of Retail & Controlled Channels.

“All of us in DiGi want to thank our customers for their support throughout the year. For believing in and being patient with us as we built a stronger network for them, which is now in place largely due to the honest feedback our customers across Malaysia have given about its performance.” Loh said that DiGi’s customers have also voiced their preference for better and more relevant internet services, and this has driven the company to develop its digital service and partnership portfolio with global internet players like Facebook, Whatsapp, Deezer and Viki, to give customers more meaningful ways to use the internet. “Our customers continuously push to make us better, and we believe they deserve only the best with DiGi this year-end.”

DiGi’s Thank You gesture will provide customers with many free Internet For All deals from now while stocks last, through the following customised offerings:

• Available with DG Smart Plans:
o Free Smartphones when customers sign-up for DG Smart Plan 88 and 148, applicable for a slew of Android smartphones including the Samsung Galaxy S4, Note II, HTC One, Sony Xperia C & Z, and more.
o Free Internet when customers purchase RM25 internet quota top-ups, and get 2GB instead of the usual 1GB.
o Free Calls equivalent to 300 minutes more when customers sign-up for DG Smart Plan 88.
o Free 1,000 Bonuslink points for sign-ups of any DG Smart Plan, applicable for the first 2,000 customers.
o Free Unlimited Skype calls to 63 countries for 30 days.
o Free 1 month Tablet Plan with any DG Postpaid plan subscription.

• Customers can also enjoy the following deals without a contract: a free Android Start tablet with the new DiGi Tablet Plan at only RM45 per month, and a free modem when signing-up for a DiGi broadband bundle.

DiGi also unveiled its second MyAndroid Hub at the Gardens Mall today, continuing to deliver its Internet For All ambition by meeting its customers Android needs. Teaming up with Google, this dedicated space within DiGi Stores offers customers an Android-specific retail and learning experience, to discover Android’s popular mobile services, devices and apps, and complementary DiGi plans in a fun and interactive way.

In conjunction with the Thank You sale, DiGi will be introducing special ‘Internet Weekends’ at its MyAndroid Hubs. Beginning 28 December, customers can walk into any MyAndroid Hub to learn about navigating their Android devices and accessories, latest Android apps from Android gurus and local developers and more for free.

The special 30-minute sessions will be hosted twice a day, every Saturday and Sunday at the MyAndroid Hubs in the Gardens Mall and Sunway Pyramid DiGi Stores, and will also be complemented by special all-day discounts on selected accessories only at these stores on these weekends.

DiGi’s first MyAndroid Hub retail space is situated at the DiGi Store in Sunway Pyramid. Customers can expect to see DiGi Stores with MyAndroid Hubs in Perak and Johor by January 2014, with a total of six Hubs nationwide by the first quarter of next year.

“We hope our customers will enjoy a greater mobile internet and retail experience this year-end with the special deals from our DiGizens Thank You Sale and new MyAndroid Hub ‘Internet Weekends’, from selecting their smart devices and plans to getting the best out of their device and internet,” Loh concluded.

To enjoy amazing deals from the DiGizens Thank You Sale, please visit http://digi.my/thankyousale or get more information on DiGi’s MyAndroid experience at: www.digi.com.my/myandroid.

Telenor Group: mobile technology reports find Malaysians among most smartphone savvy, least brand-conscious in emerging Asia

• Malaysians use mobile devices across wider range of functions than the rest of emerging Asia; prioritize function and quality over brand
• Smartphone use now at 63 percent and still soaring; 17 percent of Malaysians say that they would buy a smartphone in the next six months
• Malaysia’s mobile banking and mobile wallet continues to heat up alongside smartphone use – trial and interest on upward trend 

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 2 Dec., 2013 – Insights released by the Telenor Group in Asia today – based on TNS’s annual global Mobile Life study – reveal that Malaysia is both among the most smartphone-savvy and least brand conscious markets in emerging Asia.

It also found that Malaysia is one of the least brand conscious countries in emerging Asia. Those surveyed placed phone features and functionality, such as instant Internet access, as their key why-buys, rather than brand or model of handset or the look and feel of the device. It was also revealed that Malaysians would use their smartphones across a wider range of functions and more frequently than their counterparts in other emerging Asian markets.

Drawing on 38,000 people from 43 countries, TNS’s global Mobile Life study uncovered major mobile connectivity differences in countries across emerging Asia. Those studied included representative ratios of the population from 16-60 years of age, both mobile phone owners and non-owners. In Telenor’s Asia markets, the surveyed were asked in online and face-to-face interviews to provide information and agree to a series of questions related to the role of mobile technology in their lives. In Malaysia, the sample size was 500; in Thailand, 1,000; and in India, 2,980.

“TNS undertakes the annual Mobile Life study to put a finger on the pulse of mobile usage across the world and to determine which mobile platforms and services drive consumer engagement today and which are most likely to grow in the future,” said TNS’s Joe Webb, Head of Digital, Greater China. “For global mobile providers like Telenor, it’s going to be increasingly important to stay informed of consumers’ behaviour on mobile, how mobile finance will shape the industry and the opportunities these changes and trends present.”

Smartphones surge
“Malaysia is our most mature market in Asia, and they are ready for the most advanced mobile technology and fastest connectivity available. We have seen a strong uptrend in the adoption of the internet in recent years, however there is still a lot more we can do to enable access and bring the benefits of internet to more Malaysians,” said Sigve Brekke, Executive Vice President and Head of Asia Operations, Telenor Group, and Chairman of DiGi.

According to another study, by Ericsson ConsumerLab, smartphone penetration increased from 47% in 2012 to 63% this year as mobile data demand skyrockets in the country. The need to connect to the Internet is one of the key drivers for buying a smartphone, and seventeen percent of the respondents indicated that they would buy a smartphone within the next six months.

“These latest statistics back our ongoing focus to provide the best value mobile internet bundles, and best usage experience to spur adoption,” Brekke said.

Advancing connectivity in a fast growing market
The TNS study highlights that as the technological sophistication of Malaysia’s consumers grows, Malaysians are becoming more discerning on how their content is provided.

“This is a trend that we think both the telecommunications industry and handset makers should closely follow,” said Brekke.

The top smartphone uses include: Location-based services, entertainment and streaming content, apps and social networks. Malaysians are avid social networkers, with more than half of them logging on to their platforms of choice via mobile at least once a day.

The TNS Malaysia report found that mobile phones now form a key part of how consumers access digital services, with close to 20 percent of data used via mobile networks. Currently, most people still choose to download and stream data via household networks rather than on carrier networks.

“TNS cites that up to 80 per cent of data traffic is through WiFi, at home or in public, in Malaysia. However, we are seeing more Malaysians subscribing to data plans as they become more dependent on the internet on the go. To cater to increasing demand, service providers such as DiGi have put in a lot of effort to improve quality of service and coverage, while ensuring we continue to focus on delivering relevant and affordable services,” said Brekke.

Warming up to the “wallet” 
More than half (53 percent) of mobile users in Malaysia have conducted banking on their phones, with strong growth opportunities across all demographic segments. Only 22 percent of those Malaysians surveyed said they were not interested in mobile banking. Though most still prefer banking via PC, on-the-go tasks like receiving bank or credit card notifications, making simple fund transfers and checking balances are popular functions of mobile banking. Malaysians in their twenties are the most financially “mobile”.

In terms of usage drivers of mobile wallets, Malaysians see value in its convenience and potential. For some motivators such as convenience, speed, and not having to carry cash, Malaysians support the use of the mobile wallet by more than 10-point margins above either the developed Asia- or global averages.

The mobile wallet represents a major growth opportunity for small businesses, retailers and mobile service providers alike, says the TNS global survey. Paying for products and services via SMS, mobile phone app or by touching mobiles to in-store sensors is now common for 40 percent of Malaysians.

Purchasing mobile air time, paying bills and buying gas and fast food see the strongest growth potential.

“Particularly for young, working-aged Asians, mobile payment options show strong trial and overall interest, and we’re continuing to find new ways to serve them,” said Brekke. “Telenor has a long history of mobile finance innovation. It started in our Pakistan market with the ground-breaking Easypaisa program through our partnership with Tameer Microfinance Bank. With DiGi in Malaysia, we’ve launched mPOS (mobile Point of Sale), a new mobile credit and debit card payment system enabling fast, easy and secure payment platform leveraging on mobile connectivity.”

Additionally, mobile financial products and services will become staples for Malaysia’s large and growing community of SMEs, predicted Brekke.

In terms of mobile commerce, as consumers in Malaysia gain mobile Internet access, their engagement with mobile retail activities are increasing, announced the study. Already, Malaysia is near the top of the curve, behind only South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Norway and Sweden.

Malaysia versus Sweden
Sweden is often considered a bastion of high-tech design, progress and technology. A comparison study done by Telenor’s research arm, Telenor Research, found that compared to Sweden, Malaysians are actually more digitally communicative.

Across the range of mobile communications functions, Malaysia’s “digital frontrunners” (urban 16-35 year-olds with Internet-capable phones) out-use their Swedish counterparts in every category, with the largest difference seen in communications apps. And at least eight out of 10 Malaysians use a mobile SMS app, whereas only roughly one in 10 Swedes do, the study measured.

“Because Malaysians tend to be both price-conscious and technology adept, they choose to communicate across a range of platforms – SMS, application, social media, voice, data, 3G, WiFi, and so on,” Brekke said. “This flexibility and tendency toward leveraging the mobile Internet – even compared to their Scandinavian equivalents – is a significant development in Malaysia’s telecoms evolution. It shows us just how important a role the mobile Internet is now playing in Malaysians’ lives.”

DiGi Challenge for Change returns in search of Malaysia's top mobile app ideas

Introduces new public services category, and additional platforms for idea and app development

DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi) today announced the fifth edition of its annual DiGi Challenge for Change (DiGiCFC) programme, inviting Malaysians and local app developers to ideate and build innovative community-centric mobile apps that bring Malaysians together for positive change.

Christian Thrane, DiGi's Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs officer said that DiGi's Challenge for Change programme has expanded in scope and reach in the past few years, and continues to leverage on the power of mobile internet to bring meaningful change. "Mobile internet and mobile apps remain a relevant and effective platform to inspire and bring about change, especially in the way we experience the internet. This is very much aligned to our business and mission of enabling Internet For All. Through Challenge for Change, we believe we have created a strong foundation on how we engage the public, the local mobile developer community, and industry colleagues to help build relevant local content.

"Mobile apps remain the central premise of the Challenge, built on the theme of 'Bringing Malaysians Together, One App At A Time'. To take it further this year, we have strengthened the Challenge by putting added emphasis on generating ideas and apps that are of greater quality, depth, and relevance through new categories, focused development sessions, partnerships, and incentives for our local developers," Thrane added.

Bigger and stronger
DiGiCFC challenges Malaysians to submit ideas and apps for four categories: Learning & Edutainment, Health & Wellness, Discovering Culture, and a new category called Connected Citizens for mobile app ideas that facilitate the delivery of public services.

To help maximise the quality and potential of each idea and mobile app, DiGi has also established two development events as part of the programme, namely #IDEAJAM, an 'idea hackathon', and #HACK!@DiGiCFC, a 'mobile app hackathon'. These events will serve as checkpoints for participants to refine their ideas and apps respectively, with input and insights from industry experts and partners.

The Challenge ecosystem is also strengthened by DiGi's partnership with 1Malaysia for Youth (iM4U), to reach and encourage greater participation and tap into the innovative genius of Malaysian youths. In addition to iM4U, the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), Digital Malaysia, Google Malaysia, and Microsoft Malaysia continue to support DiGiCFC as partners.

Challenge for Change is open to all Malaysians aged 12 years and above, and will be carried out through two main phases:

Ideation Challenge (27 November 2013 to 18 January 2014)
This phase calls for the public to submit their ideas on www.digicfc.my across four Challenge categories. This phase also includes ideation workshops at universities across the country and #IDEAJAM, the 2-day 'idea hackathon' where 20 shortlisted ideators will be invited to meet and engage with various industry experts to get input and further refine their ideas. The best 4 ideas will be developed into mobile apps in the next phase.

App Development Challenge (26 January 2014 to 24 April 2014)
This phase invites Malaysian developers to build mobile apps of the 4 winning ideas from the ideation challenge, on any mobile operating platform. To accelerate the app development process, developers will be invited to participate in HACK!@DiGiCFC, a 36-hour non-stop mobile app hackathon weekend.

Each app will then be made available for download and review by the public. The most popular and feasible apps for the 4 ideas will win the challenge and DiGi will support these apps by promoting them to its customer base, including its 6.8 million mobile internet subscribers across its various customer touch points.

More than RM200,000 in cash and experiential prizes are up for grabs this year, including:
 - RM5,000 and a smartphone for each of the top 4 idea finalists
 - RM25,000 for each winning app in the respective categories
 - RM25,000 for the best overall idea winner of the DiGi Innovation Award
 - Telenor Group Award for the best developer / team
 - A host of promotions and go-to-market support from DiGi.

In last year's Challenge for Change Season 4, a total of 2,000 ideas for mobile apps were received in the ideation phase, of which seven (7) winning ideas were chosen. During the app development phase, more than 50 mobile apps were developed, from which seven (7) were selected as winners in their respective categories, with each developer or team winning RM25,000 each.

Three of the winning apps from Season 4 have made great progress since winning the Challenge For Change. Team Yo! is now a fully established mobile app start-up, building their business with their winning mobile greetings card app. The team also recently concluded their experiential trip to Digital Winners Conference in Oslo as part of their Telenor Group Award for developing the best mobile app. DiGi has also facilitated the collaboration of Redy (social blood drive app) and My Tradisi (traditional Malaysian games app) with the National Blood Bank (NBB) and National Museum respectively.

For more information on DiGi Challenge for Change and how to participate, visit: www.digicfc.my.