Kota Kinabalu: Sedco Communications Sdn Bhd (SComm), a subsidiary of the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco), has embarked on a major corporate rebranding as part of its transformation and renewed vision to expand its business.
Sedco Group chairman Datuk Masiung Banah said the rebranding aims to raise public awareness of SComm's capabilities and potential while strengthening the company's competitiveness and contribution to the State's economy.
He said SComm will expand beyond its traditional telecommunications business into artificial intelligence (AI), smart infrastructure, green technology and digital transformation solutions to meet evolving public and industry needs.
Masiung said many people were unaware that Sedco owned a telecommunications-focused subsidiary, as the public was more familiar with brands such as Sabah Net.
"Hence, I instructed SComm to undergo a comprehensive rebranding so that the public will recognise it as one of Sedco's key subsidiaries and as a company that will play a greater role in the future.
"The rebranding is backed by a new management and administrative team, as well as a new vision, initiatives and goals to drive the company's transformation.
"Ultimately, I want SComm to emerge as Sabah's leading technology company and contribute significantly to the State's economy," he said.
Masiung told reporters this after officiating the launch of SComm's corporate transformation and rebranding at its office in KK Times Square on Friday.
Also present were Sedco Group General Manager Datuk James Wong Kein Peng, SComm Vice-Chairman Ts Ismail Awang, Executive Director Subha Maraiah and International Director Dato Sri Mossco Woo.
Masiung said the rebranding exercise is intended to give SComm greater visibility while showcasing the services it offers to government agencies, businesses and the wider community.
He said SComm would continue exploring emerging technologies in line with industry developments while ensuring innovations translate into lower costs for consumers.
"Technology is evolving rapidly, and everyone is competing to provide better solutions.
"Our goal is not only to introduce new technology but also to ensure that the cost of using these services becomes more affordable for the public," he said.
Meanwhile, Subha said SComm is repositioning itself to keep pace with rapid technological advancements while creating new revenue streams and strengthening Sabah's digital ecosystem.
"SComm is also building strategic partnerships with technology firms in China to facilitate knowledge transfer rather than relying solely on imported expertise.
"We are not asking them to come here and take over. Instead, they are sharing their knowledge and technology with us so that our people can develop the necessary skills.
"This creates long-term value and new revenue opportunities for Sabah," he said.
As part of its innovation drive, Subha said SComm has developed a smart metering solution that combines fibre-optic connectivity with SIM card technology, offering a more cost-effective alternative to conventional wireless smart meter systems.
He said Cosmos, a shareholder company of SComm, has secured its first contract from Sabah Electricity (SE) through a collaboration with Celcom Timur Sabah to deploy the smart metering system.
Unlike conventional manual meter readings, he said the new system enables electricity consumption data to be transmitted automatically to a centralised monitoring platform, improving operational efficiency while reducing manpower requirements.
Subha said the same technology could also be adapted for water utilities, allowing remote monitoring and data collection of water consumption.
"We are constantly looking for innovative products that reduce costs while increasing operational efficiency and creating new revenue opportunities.
"Smart metering is one example, and the same technology can easily be replicated for water services," he said.
Masiung said he hoped SComm would continue to grow and remain at the forefront of technological development by introducing innovations that keep pace with industry trends.
While Sedco and SComm are committed to developing and introducing new technologies for the community, he said they also want to ensure these innovations help reduce the financial burden on users.
In a related development, Masiung called on all chief executive officers (CEOs) of Sedco's subsidiaries to be more aggressive in promoting their businesses.
"When Sedco's subsidiaries grow and generate more income, they will be able to pay higher dividends to Sedco, which in turn contributes dividends to the Sabah government," he said.
