Maxis Expands Fibre Network to Connect 100,000 Homes in Penang by 2027

Kuala Lumpur, May 2, 2025 — Malaysia's leading telco, Maxis, unveiled a bold fibre expansion plan designed to deliver high-speed broadband to more than 100,000 homes throughout Penang by 2027. Covering all districts of the state, the rollout prioritizes urban hotspots like Jelutong, George Town, Batu Maung, Bayan Lepas, and Bayan Baru, as well as key regions in Mainland Penang.

This infrastructure push is a cornerstone of Penang's broader Penang2030 vision—a roadmap aimed at creating a smart, green, and inclusive state. At the launch event in Batu Kawan, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow highlighted the transformation's strategic importance: "High-quality internet access is essential for education, workforce development, and economic innovation. This rollout helps position Penang as a regional tech hub."

Also speaking at the ceremony, Maxis CEO Goh Seow Eng emphasized the value of building proprietary fibre infrastructure: "Constructing our own fibre network ensures superior quality, dependable delivery, and ready scalability to future speeds up to 10 Gbps."

Key to the initiative is the state's Last Mile Connectivity Guidelines, a landmark regulation enabling multiple providers to deploy fibre infrastructure efficiently. This first-of-its-kind policy in Malaysia incentivizes rapid deployment and strengthens digital readiness.

Maxis already operates a national fiber footprint exceeding 23,000 km, servicing more than 500,000 premises through a combination of owned and partnered infrastructure. This new Penang-focused buildout marks a pivotal expansion into underserved regions.

As the fibre rollout progresses, both residents and businesses across Penang stand to benefit—not only from faster internet but also enhanced opportunities for digital learning, remote work, and economic participation. The project exemplifies how public-private collaboration can meaningfully accelerate digital inclusion and smart state development.