KUALA LUMPUR: As part of its Airports 4.0 digitisation initiatives, Malaysia Airports has entered into a strategic partnership with Maxis to co-develop a digital transformation roadmap for Smart Airport operations.
The group-wide digitisation initiatives transformation journey by Malaysia Airports had started in 2018. Since then, 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 Malaysia Airports to enhance their connectivity experience and services to its visitors and passengers," said Maxis' chief executive officer, Gokhan Ogut.
Malaysia Airports' aim is 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).
"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 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," said Malaysia Airports' group chief executive officer, Datuk Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh.
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.
"There is no doubt that 5G will unlock immense potential and possibilities for an elevated customer experience, and we are committed to play our part to offer the best 5G innovation to benefit the people and businesses in the country with our expertise and resources," said Ogut.
With Maxis' established and leading edge network connectivity, the Wi-Fi coverage across both terminals at KLIA will be enhanced to deliver a better airport experience.
The 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 an unmatched personalised experience for passengers. This includes building a "Tourist Hub" platform for passengers to have centralised access to travel guides, promotions and offers.
In the future, Maxis will also be developing 5G-enabled digital solutions for Malaysia Airports' airport tenants and passengers.
The long-term goal is to create a converged digital ecosystem of Malaysia Airports' existing solutions and new ones developed by Maxis to truly transform the airports with a "passenger first" experience.