DiGi to launch 3G services by end March 2009
According to a news report which we have picked up, DiGi’s CEO Mr. Johan Dennelind had announced that DiGi would be launching its highly anticipated 3G service before end of next month. This is an exciting piece of news as it has been quite a while since we heard any updates on their 3G roll out.
It is also mentioned that DiGi will be strenghtening ahead and vows not to cut jobs in its 3,000+ head count operation. Despite looming economic downturn, DiGi would be investing close to RM900 million this year.
Let’s hope to see something interesting from DiGi in the next few months to come.
[SOURCE]
DiGi Appoints New Chief Technology Officer
More humbrum corporate news…again from DiGi
Ole Martin Gunhildsbu has been appointed by Malaysian mobile network, DiGi Telecommunications as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with immediate effect. He has been acting CTO since November 2008 when his predecessor left to take up a new role within the Telenor Group.
On his appointment, DiGi Chief Executive Officer Johan Dennelind said: “We are happy with Ole’s steady leadership, and his accomplishments in improving network coverage and quality over the past year. I am confident that he will manage this core business aspect of ours effectively as we move forward to take DiGi to the next level.”
A telecommunications and IT veteran, Gunhildsbu joined DiGi as Head of Service Operations, Technology Division in January 2008. Prior to his current appointment, he has almost 15 years of extensive experience in various Technology Management positions within both fixed and mobile business in Telenor.
Before joining DiGi, Gunhildsbu was responsible for planning and rolling out fixed and mobile infrastructure, including 3G and HSDPA, in Norway and Denmark from 2005-2007. This includes in-depth experience in delivering cost optimal and high performance Broadband networks and services in markets, where mobile broadband demands have truly rocketed. He was also holding the CTO post in Tele2 Norway from 1999-2004.
It appears that DiGi’s gearing up for 3G deployment. Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.
[SOURCE]
DiGi Bleeding RM15mil from Roaming Fraud!
Earlier, DiGi reported lower Q4, 2008 earnings due to higher traffic cost and lower ARPU.
DiGi now reveals that a major bulk of this is caused by a whopping RM15mil in roaming fraud. Excluding the fraud, EBITDA margins would have expanded quarter-on-quarter by 45 per cent in the Q408. The losses accumulated from roaming fraud were however mitigated by cost optimisation initiatives, a pullback in staff bonuses and lower advertising and promotion expenditure.
OSK Research said this after its analyst had a conference call with DiGi management. “The fraud creates a loophole where users can roam for free,” says the analyst. “Therefore DiGi sees it as a cost item. But they are trying to address it.”
DiGi also says that the syndicate perpetrating the fraud also affects other telcos.
On that token, OSK has downgraded DiGi to neutral from a buy rating previously as earnings are expected to decline 7-8% in the next two years as margin pressure from starting up its 3G business starts to build up and it also faces the possibility of a tariff skirmish with other telcos.
Looks like there’s a price war afoot…interesting!
[SOURCE]
Next time some stranger comes knocking on your door for money…DON’T give it to them!
The Star reports that there have been cases in Penang where unscrupulous individuals masquerading as debt collectors for TM have been collecting cash from subscribers who have failed to clear their bills. The dead giveaway for these bogus collectors is that they use fake appointment letters that bear TM’s old logo NOT the new one.
According to the company, it is standard procedure for TM appointed debt collection agents to present their appointment letter, valid identification tag and the outstanding bill reminder letter when they visit a customer’s premises to collect debts.
As a precautionary measure, TM says you should get all the details of the person claiming to be authorised by TM to collect debt on the company’s behalf. Get their name, mobile telephone number and the name of their company.