Tanah Makmur Berhad (TMB) and Maxis have announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of the KotaSAS smart township in Pahang. The two parties formalized the collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony held in Kuantan on 22 July 2026, with both companies committing to deliver integrated connectivity and digital solutions across the township.
KotaSAS Smart Township
KotaSAS is envisioned by TMB as Pahang’s premier mixed development, set to serve as Kuantan’s new Central Business District and the state’s modern administrative capital. The township is planned for multi-phase expansion over the next decade and is strategically positioned alongside the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) – expected to go online next year – positioning it as a key economic hub for the East Coast region.
Under the partnership, Maxis will lead the fiber rollout for more than 4,000 greenfield premises within KotaSAS and provide comprehensive mobile coverage across the township. Beyond basic connectivity, Maxis will implement a suite of Smart City technologies aligned with the KotaSAS blueprint – these include digital billboards, street lighting management systems, solar systems, smart energy meters, traffic lights, and smart poles.
Residents and businesses within KotaSAS will also have access to exclusive connected lifestyle packages, covering Maxis fiber connectivity, home and office Wi-Fi, and solar energy solutions to support more sustainable day-to-day operations.
The collaboration also aligns with Maxis’s existing role as the appointed telecommunications partner for the ECRL project, responsible for providing connectivity for passengers in stations, as well as in transit (including in tunnels), plus additional backbone infrastructure for the rail’s operations.
Pokdepinion: The economic opportunities will be huge along the lines of the upcoming ECRL project – about time townships outside of Klang Valley to take advantage of it.
