Celcom Berhad, (commonly referred to as Celcom), company number 198801000113 (167469-A), was the oldest mobile telecommunications provider in Malaysia. Celcom is a subsidiary of the telecommunications company Axiata group of companies. Celcom was merged with Digi to form CelcomDigi on 1 December 2022.
Being one of the very few companies in Malaysia to originally obtain a cellular phone license, it successfully introduced mobile telephony in Malaysia through its ART-900 (Automatic Radio Telephone) service, using first-generation (analogue) ETACS (Extended Total Access Communication System) specifications of the United Kingdom, a derivative of the US-AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) technology. The ETACS ART-900 was started using the prefix "010".
Celcom now uses the dialling prefix identifier of "013" and "019" and offer digital GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), an originally European standard, now largely a world standard for mobile communications. The original frequency band for GSM is 900 MHz and was soon extended to 1800 MHz to cater for much wider bandwidth requirements. The 2100 MHz band is used for their dual-channel HSPA+ network. Celcom is also licensed and has been operating FDD-LTE on 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz.
Through the Mobile Number Portability by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia, Celcom also provides Virtual Mobile Operator services. The company also provides rural communications services using CDMA Technology and Satellite Phone.
History
Celcom started its operation as Cellular Communications Network (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad on 5 January 1988 with Fleet Group Sdn. Bhd., owned by Fleet Holdings Sendirian Berhad, (now primarily known as Ikral Capital Sdn. Bhd.) the owner of Tun Dr. Daim Zainuddin (then-parent company of TV3, NSTP, and Bank of Commerce Berhad/BCB) and Telekom Malaysia as shareholders. Subsequently, Telekom Malaysia sold its 51% shareholding to the Technology Resources Industries, a company owned by Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli. Fleet group's share was transferred to the which was later sold to TRI. In the initial years, Celcom experienced tremendous growth in subscriber base and network coverage under the stewardship of Rosli Man, the President of the company. It was during his tenure that Celcom turned into the leading cellular company in Malaysia. Rosli Man left Celcom in 1996.
When the cellular phone market was opened up in 1995, Celcom upgraded to the GSM900 service and quickly grew to become the largest mobile phone company in Malaysia. Competition soon set in, and several digital mobile carriers competed for market dominance of the cellular phone industry.
During the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Celcom's owner, Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli suffered a debt crunch, and his shareholding in Celcom was seized by Danaharta, the national asset restructuring company.
Company units
Coverage, Products, and Services
Celcom operates 2G EDGE, 4G LTE, 4G LTE-A and 5G NR networks.
Celcom has broader and more extensive coverage nationwide in Malaysia, compared to other cellular operators. In 2006, Celcom claimed its dual-band GSM (900/1800 MHz) coverage had reached over 98% of Malaysia's populated area, and 100% through satellite coverage.[12]
In 2006, Celcom launched the first 3G service in Malaysia, covering most major towns where there is a Telekom Malaysia telephone exchange and either HSDPA or EDGE services within 15 mi radius (GSM UMTS maximum allowed range) with GPRS as basic data coverage.
In 2013, the 4th generation standard of FDD-LTE was deployed gradually nationwide. The initial license is only on the 2,600 MHz band. In the second quarter, its 1,800 MHz band has been redeployed to cater for both 2G and 4G.
In 2015, Celcom offers 2G, 3G, 4G LTE services on its postpaid and Xpax prepaid brands.
In April 2016, the Celcom CEO told MalaysianWireless that both Ericsson and Huawei
Current developments
Celcom is the Malaysian partner of the Vodafone mobile community. Celcom's past CEO, Dato’ Seri Mohammed Shazalli Ramly, had been with Celcom since 2005. Ramly left on 31 August 2016 to become the CEO of Telekom Malaysia on 1 May 2017.[32] Michael Kuehner was appointed as the current CEO of Celcom with effective on 1 September 2016.[33]
Demerger from Telekom Malaysia
On 28 September 2007, Telekom Malaysia announced a revamp of its mobile communication units which include Celcom. The revamp plan was to group Celcom under TM International, which houses other TM regional mobile units and defines it as a separate business entity. The restructuring exercise was completed by Q1 2008 and the new business unit listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange by Q2 2008.[34]