Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) has entered into a key strategic partnership with Maxis to co-develop a digital transformation roadmap for Smart Airport operations, as part of its Airports 4.0 digitalisation initiatives, says Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh, the Group Chief Executive Officer of MAHB.
“5G will be the catalyst for connecting us to new business and economic opportunities. The deployment of 5G will strengthen the foundation for enabling new technologies and the digitalisation of our airport operations. It will also help us to create a new, smart travel experience for the passengers. With this partnership, both parties will co-create 5G use cases and solutions for Smart Travel and Tourism, as well as for Smart Retail and Smart Security. Ultimately, we hope this partnership will be able to transform our airports to become Smart Airports,” he stated.
MAHB aims to leverage Maxis as the single telco operator to manage its connectivity services. Maxis will be managing the WiFi and 5G-related network services and solutions at both terminals of the nation’s flagship airport, KL International Airport (KLIA). In the future, Maxis will also be developing 5G-enabled digital solutions for MAHB’s airport tenants and passengers,” he adds.
Since starting its digital transformation in 2018, the airport operator has ramped up efforts to put in place the technological foundation that would enable the implementation of these initiatives.
“Airports have evolved from being a transit hub into a destination for an end-to-end travel experience. While we await the skies to fully reopen, we are eager to start work with MAHB to enhance its connectivity experience and services to its visitors and passengers. There is no doubt that 5G will unlock immense potential and possibilities for an elevated customer experience, and we are committed to playing our part to offer the best 5G innovation to benefit the people and businesses in the country with our expertise and resources,” says Gokhan Ogut, CEO of Maxis.
A better travel experience
The availability of 5G-related network services and solutions at the airport by Maxis will facilitate and enhance the digital transformation of KLIA’s (including klia2) ecosystem in all aspects including connectivity and development of smart solutions.
Smart Wi-Fi infrastructure is a holistic solution with in-built capabilities such as data analytics, where airport retailers can tap into this resource to better understand customer behaviour and provide insights to capitalise on omnichannel marketing and ensure a seamless sales experience.
Malaysia Airports and Maxis will jointly be developing Smart Retail as well as Smart Travel and Tourism solutions that will provide a personalised experience for passengers. This includes building a “Tourist Hub” platform for passengers to have centralised access to travel guides, promotions and offers. The long-term goal is to create a converged digital ecosystem of MAHB’s’ existing and new solutions developed by Maxis to transform airports with a “passenger first” experience.
