Studio Press

Internet service provider, TM Net Sdn Bhd, plans to assist local content providers to export their products overseas, said its chief executive officer, Michael Lai, Monday. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the TM Group is currently in the midst of negotiations with several content partners for the purpose, he told reporters after announcing the nationwide Broadband Fiesta 2006 here. Lai said the effort was in line with TM Net's focus this year to be the leading content aggregator in support of the government's initiative to promote the export of Malaysian content regionally. "We are just starting on the export of the local content but we are already working with some content partners," he said. If it is good content, TM Net will help to bring it over to where it has established itself, he said adding that TM Net has made its mark in Indonesia's mobile market. Lai said TM Net has also set up in Sri Lanka, and with this it expected to help the local partners with good and relevant content in specific markets. "Hopefully, with this small initiative, we can create more Malaysian content partners or players to come on board in markets where TM has its footprint," he said. He said studies would be also made to gauge the kind of contents needed in Indonesia or Sri Lanka. "So the content providers or partners in Malaysia may need to modify or customise some of the contents to make it relevant to those markets," Lai said. Asked when TM Net would be ready to start the export of local contents, he said: "This the first time for us, so we really don't know how it is going to be shipped out. "But definitely we hope to be able to do something. This year is a foundation year to go out. At least, we will know what the regional requirements are for Malaysian contents."- BERNAMA