- Towerco , expands local footprints with 15k , locations across ASEAN
- Region’s youth-driven mobile-first society energy 5G and 4G development
” ASEAN is very mobile-centric. Even in nations like Malaysia, where broadband penetration is over 50 %, mobile devices account for 30 % of web traffic, according to Suresh Sidhu ( pic ), CEO and founder of EdgePoint Infrastructure Sdn Bhd, in his keynote address at the TowerXchange Meetup Asia 2024 in Kuala Lumpur last week. ” Our fresh, tech-savvy people pulls this. With 25 % of ASEAN’s people under the age of 18, smart is the private wifi of every individual”.
Suresh used these insights to frame the critical role of tower companies ( towercos ) in enabling Southeast Asia’s connectivity revolution. His presentation, Positioning to Win: Towercos Place in Digital ASEAN, outlined the possibilities and difficulties that the business faces as it transitions to 5G and above.
ASEAN’s communication progress through cooperation
He remarked that” shared networks are fundamental to everything that is happening today,” citing collaboration between mobile network operators ( MNOs ) and infrastructure providers. He praised Malaysia’s long history of network discussing, that began in the early 2000s, as a model for different countries in the region.
EdgePoint System has been at the frontline of this move, operating over 15, 000 buildings in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and supporting 25, 000 residents. The business has delivered 500 build-to-suit buildings for Indonesia’s IOH besides running 10, 800 buildings it, and manages 2, 900 places in the Philippines, with 450 fresh requests for build-to-suit and coworking received this year alone.
In its home business of Malaysia, the business operates 1, 500 buildings serving 3, 400 landlords, with potential opportunities planned to tackle urban and suburban communication needs.
Sandy emphasized that sharing shared infrastructure shortens the time to roll out, especially in underserved areas, and reduces duplication. Collaboration is essential to unlocking efficiency and fostering green growth in the area.
4G’s enduring part in a 5G time
While 5G is a key focus for institutions and users, the continued necessity of 4G system cannot be overlooked. ” You can’t manage a great 5G network without wonderful 4G”, Sandy explained. ” In truth, 4G will be the 2G of tomorrow, especially in areas like Indonesia where covering large, complex regions takes moment”.
Strong 4G sites are a necessity because ASEAN relies on portable devices for both personal and professional communication. ” When a man drops from 5G to 4G, the experience must be seamless”, he said, pointing to the position of demographic changes in shaping system desire, noting that young populations across ASEAN are natural adopters of mobile-first technologies.
The opportunities and challenges for Towercos
Suresh outlined the importance of reliability, speed, and innovation in meeting MNO demands. Towercos must focus on providing holistic solutions that are tailored to the needs of the operator rather than just providing infrastructure. ” Scale is necessary, but skill sets you apart”.
He also cited potential opportunities for towercos in nearby industries. ” Adjoining sectors like micro-edge data centres, fibre integration, and IoT offer immense potential”, he said, though this is over the longer term where many more sites will be needed.
” It’s about the expansion of the network and AI to the edge as well as machine and private networks, such as for municipal parking, infra monitoring, etc..”
Towercos managing power for sites is also becoming more popular, which could make things easier for MNOs while lowering costs.
Suresh noted that the demands on networks will increase as data consumption increases and artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in daily life. He contends that towercos must make plans to support the growth of data traffic while maintaining effectiveness.
” You must have indomitable will. Be persistent, consistent, and committed”, he stressed, urging the industry to remain resilient in the face of rapid technological advancements and evolving market conditions.
As AI adoption, data consumption, and 5G rollouts accelerate, towercos like EdgePoint Infrastructure are positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping ASEAN’s digital future. The challenges remain, but the opportunities to drive connectivity and innovation are greater than ever, and EdgePoint intends to be a key player with Sesh’s call to action.