TELECOMMUNICATION IN MALAYSIA

The history of telecommunications in Malaysia is a journey from early colonial telegraph lines to a high-speed, 5G-enabled digital landscape. It is marked by rapid privatization in the 1980s and a period of intense competition in the 1990s.

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1. Early Beginnings (1874–1980s)

• 1874: The first telegraph line was established between Kuala Kangsar and Taiping.

• 1891: The first telephone exchange was installed in Kuala Lumpur.

• Post-Independence: The Department of Telecommunications (Jabatan Telekom) was the sole provider.

• 1985: The first wireless mobile system, ATUR 450 (Automatic Telephone Using Radio), was launched by Jabatan Telekom, using the 011 prefix.

2. Privatization and The "Analog Era" (1987–1994)

In the late 80s, the government began privatizing the industry to boost efficiency.

• 1987: Jabatan Telekom was corporatized into Syarikat Telekom Malaysia (now TM).

• 1988/89: The second player, Celcom, was founded. They launched the ART 900 system (prefix 010), which was more advanced than the ATUR system.

• 1993/94: Several new licenses were issued to increase competition. Notable names from this era include:

  • Mobikom (018): A joint venture between TM, Sapura, and others.

  • Binariang (012): Later rebranded as Maxis.

  • Mutiara Telecom (016): Later rebranded as DiGi.

3. The Digital Revolution & Consolidation (1995–2010s)

• 1995: The industry shifted from analog to GSM (2G) digital technology. This allowed for SMS and better call quality.

• The Merger Phase: Following the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the industry consolidated. TM acquired Mobikom, and Celcom eventually became part of Axiata Group.

• 2003: Malaysia entered the 3G era, with Maxis and Celcom leading the rollout of video calls and mobile data.

• 2008: U Mobile entered the market (prefix 018), and Mobile Number Portability (MNP) was introduced, allowing users to switch telcos while keeping their numbers.

4. The 4G/5G Era & Giant Mergers (2013–Present)

• 2013: 4G LTE was launched, drastically increasing mobile internet speeds and giving rise to the app economy (Grab, Shopee, etc.).

• 2021/2022: The industry saw its biggest shift in decades when Celcom and Digi merged to form CelcomDigi, creating the largest telco in the country.

• 5G Rollout: Unlike previous generations, the 5G network is managed through a Single Wholesale Network (SWN) under Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), with all major telcos (Maxis, CelcomDigi, U Mobile, Unifi, Yes) providing services on this infrastructure.

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Summary of Historical Mobile Prefixes

Prefix	Original Operator	Current Status
011	ATUR 450 (TM)	Now used for 11-digit mobile numbers across all telcos
012 / 017	Binariang / Adam	Now Maxis
013 / 019	Celcom / TM Touch	Now CelcomDigi
016	Mutiara Telecom	Now CelcomDigi
018	Mobikom / MiTV	Now U Mobile (also used by Yes 5G)

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Google AI Gemini
10 January 2026Z: 9.33 a.m

THE TANJUNG PAGAR RAILWAY STATION

The images you’ve shared capture two very different eras of the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, a site that stands as one of Singapore's most significant historical and architectural landmarks.

The 1980 image shows the station in its operational prime, while the 2011 image marks its final year of service before it was gazetted as a National Monument.

🏛️ Architecture and Symbolism

Completed in 1932, the station was designed by the firm Swan & Maclaren. It is famous for its Art Deco and Neoclassical influences, famously inspired by the Helsinki Central Station in Finland.

• The Four Statues: The figures on the facade represent the "Four Pillars of the Malayan Economy": Agriculture, Commerce, Transport, and Industry. They sit under the letters FMSR, which stand for Federated Malay States Railway.

• The Interior Murals: Inside the high-vaulted main hall are six large murals made of rubber tiles. These depict scenes of Malayan life and industry, such as tin mining and rubber tapping.

• The Station Hotel: The upper floors once housed a 34-room hotel (often called the Lim Eng Peng Station Hotel) that, in its heyday, was considered a rival to the Raffles Hotel in terms of prestige.

Historical Significance

For 79 years, this station was the southernmost terminus of the railway line connecting Singapore to the rest of the Malay Peninsula.

• Sovereign Land: Until 2011, the land the station sat on was actually owned by Malaysia. This created a unique situation where passengers underwent Malaysian customs and immigration in the heart of Singapore before boarding.

• The Final Send-off: On June 30, 2011, the final train departed the station, driven by the Sultan of Johor, marking the end of an era.

Current Status (2026)

As of 2026, the station is undergoing a massive transformation:

• Cantonment MRT Station: A new station on the Circle Line Stage 6 is being built directly underneath the old railway platforms. To facilitate this, the historic platform canopies were carefully dismantled and are being reinstated.

• Restoration: The main building is being restored to serve as a multi-functional community and commercial space. It is expected to fully reopen to the public this year (2026), integrated with the new MRT station and the Rail Corridor (the "Green Corridor" walking path).

Would you like me to find more details about the specific restoration plans for 2026 or more history on the "Green Corridor" walking trail?

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Google Overview
9 January 2026: 9 January 2026