Telekom Malaysia to offer 4K Ultra HD content via HyppTV

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 9): Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) plans to roll out 4K quality display via its internet protocol television (IPTV) service, HyppTV, with Huawei Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd as the project’s technology partner, which will make HyppTV the first TV operator in Malaysia to provide the ultra high definition (HD) broadcast quality.

HyppTV customers now get up to 1,920×1,080 pixels of full HD quality broadcast format of live TV channels and video on demand content. 4K, also known as ultra HD, is in the 3,840×2,160 resolutions (about 8.29 million pixels), which is four times that of the full HD standard.

In an event to launch TM’s collaboration with Huawei today, TM’s new media executive vice president Jeremy Kung said the 4K TV technology “will soon be gracing the public’s TV screens”, and that it will be made possible via UniFi’s bandwidth capabilities and Huawei’s technology on the IPTV service network.

“As the nation’s convergence champion, TM is indeed excited to be the first Malaysian TV operator to offer enriched premium, world class entertainment content with 4K broadcast quality to its customers, further enhancing our entertainment proposition and more importantly providing an enhanced viewing experience for our customers on HyppTV soon,” he said.

“This wholesome viewing experience is possible through the stability and flexibility of UniFi fibre optic network and Huawei’s technical support in advanced broadcast technology,” he added.

However, Kung kept mum on the actual release date of the service, only saying that TM is still in the midst of evaluating market demand for the service.

Nevertheless, TM will showcase the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in 4K quality at Sunway Pyramid, which it believes is the best way to showcase HyppTV’s capability in providing such a service, said Kung.

“As Malaysia’s official IPTV broadcaster of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games through HyppSports HD, HyppTV is Malaysia’s first TV operator capable of showcasing the Games in 4K quality. We are excited to offer this unique viewing experience to the public for the first time at Sunway Pyramid — for the whole duration of the Games — starting from Aug 9 until 23,” he said.

Kung also said the collaboration forms part of TM’s effort to offer more value to subscribers, citing some of its recent tie-ups as an example. “We have also been working with OTT (over-the-top content) players like Iflix. And a few more big ones [are] coming,” he said.

To date, HyppTV has over 1.2 million subscribers, said Kung.

“Our performing ones (content) are the general entertainment type. [In terms of content for] kids and local [content], we are doing very well. We will continue those efforts. As for sports, we will have some announcements coming soon,” he said, but declined to reveal more.

He also shared that there’s been an increase in TM’s ARPU or average revenue per user, but stressed its prices haven’t changed.

“This (rise in ARPU) is partly due to more subscription to our content. Because customers have to pay for premium channels and VOD (video on demand), so these are the ones that have been increasing [the ARPU],” he said.

Kung also commented HyppTV’s offerings are not comparable to what Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd offers.

“It’s a different service, TM’s offering is a bundled service — broadband that comes together with HyppTV — unlike our friends (Astro) from the other side,” he said.

Meanwhile Huawei Malaysia chief executive officer Abraham Liu said the collaboration sees TM bringing the next wave of revolution in home entertainment and video to the nation.

“As a long-term strategic partner to TM, Huawei will keep leveraging its innovation capabilities and global experience to provide the best broadcasting service to TM’s customers,” he said.

TM closed two sen or 0.29% lower at RM6.78 today, giving the telecommunication giant a market value of RM25.5 billion.