1996 — 2026
30 Years of Excellence
Celebrating Three Decades of Innovation and Growth
30 Milestones That Built REDtone
Progress with Purpose. Ready for What’s Next.
As REDtone marks its 30th anniversary, we honour the milestones that shaped our journey, not as isolated achievements, but as deliberate steps forward. Each milestone reflects a moment of strategic decision-making, celebration, reinvention or investment that strengthening our foundations and expanding our impact.
These 30 milestones trace our evolution anchored to a simple purpose: to serve communities and organisations through reliable, cost-effective telecommunications and digital solutions that create lasting positive impact.
REDtone’s journey began in 1996 with the establishment of VMS Technology Sdn. Bhd. Operating out of a modest 120 square-foot room in Penang, the founders set out to develop voice solutions tailored for businesses. With limited resources but a clear vision, this small startup laid the groundwork for what would become a leading telecommunications services provider in Malaysia.
In 1997, REDtone secured its first major enterprise customer by delivering a voice mail system to Malayan Sugar. This milestone validated both technical capability and commercial credibility, marking REDtone’s entry into the enterprise communications space.
That same year, REDtone was awarded Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Status, recognising its role in Malaysia’s national digital and innovation agenda and affirming its position as a technology-driven organisation aligned with the country’s long-term digital ambitions.
1999 marked a defining turning point. REDtone received the Best of the Best Prime Minister’s Award at the APMITTA Awards, recognising excellence in innovation, quality, and value-added communications technology. In parallel, the Group secured a RM10 million investment from MSC Venture, providing the capital and confidence to scale.
REDtone made a strategic decision with conviction to build a dedicated R&D team in Malaysia, investing in local talent and home-grown innovation. This commitment became a cornerstone of the Group’s long-term resilience and differentiation, setting us apart from the competition to this day.
In 2002, REDtone entered the voice market with the launch of its Discounted Call business, delivering cost-effective long-distance and international communication services. This strategic move repositioned the company as a credible and competitive player in Malaysia’s telecommunications sector.
January 2004 marked one of the most defining milestones in REDtone’s journey when the Group was listed on the MESDAQ Market (now ACE Market) of Bursa Malaysia as REDtone International Berhad.
More than a listing, this milestone established the foundation for disciplined growth, strengthening governance, enabling long-term investment, and building enduring confidence among customers, partners, and investors. It shaped the scalable, diversified, and resilient telecommunications and digital technology solutions provider that REDtone is today.
In 2004, REDtone launched Njoy, a prepaid discounted calling service designed for the mass consumer market. Offering instant activation, no registration fees, and access via both fixed-line and mobile numbers, Njoy introduced a flexible shared-account model that enabled up to ten numbers per account, making affordable international calling accessible to families, expatriate workers, and frequent callers. This launch marked REDtone’s entry into the household and foreign worker segments, significantly expanding its reach beyond corporate and SME customers and lowering barriers to access for everyday telecommunications users in Malaysia.
In 2005, REDtone expanded internationally with operations in Pakistan, delivering licensed LDI voice and data services. Despite early promise, operational and regulatory complexities led to a strategic exit in 2016
In 2006, REDtone entered China through partnerships with incumbent operators, including Shanghai Tietong. As global voice markets evolved and digital services gained prominence, REDtone exited the China telecom business in 2016, streamlining its footprint and redirecting resources toward higher-value digital and infrastructure opportunities back home in Malaysia.
REDtone introduced Travelfon in 2006, an innovative solution enabling overseas calls without roaming charges using existing mobile numbers. While ahead of its time, the initiative reflected REDtone’s willingness to innovate boldly and explore new communication models
In 2007, REDtone acquired CNX Software Sdn. Bhd., marking a pivotal business transformation from a voice-centric operator to a data-driven solutions provider. Rebranded as REDtone CNX, the acquisition laid the foundation for diversification into broadband, data, and managed services, reshaping the Group’s long-term growth trajectory.
With the award of the 2.3GHz spectrum, the Group embarked on a bold investment in East Malaysia in 2008, partnering with Motorola to roll out its commercial WiMAX network. Despite the strategic intent, market dynamics, characterised by a limited base of large enterprise opportunities, made scaling and commercial expansion challenging.
DETV Multimedia was established in January 2008 to introduce Chinese television channels to the Malaysian market via a set-top box platform. The initiative anticipated on-demand and international content consumption years before it became mainstream. However, limited access to affordable high-speed broadband at the time constrained market readiness and commercial viability. While the venture did not scale, it demonstrated the foresight of REDtone’s leadership in recognising the convergence of content, connectivity, and digital consumption—reinforcing a lesson that continues to guide the Group: innovation must align with timing, infrastructure readiness, and ecosystem maturit
REDtone played a pivotal role in deploying Malaysia’s first large-scale public WiFi network through Wireless@Penang in 2009, rolling out 750 hotspots that later expanded to over 1,500 statewide. This landmark project strengthened Penang’s digital infrastructure and cemented REDtone’s reputation as a leading WiFi infrastructure builder.
In 2009, REDtone launched its MVNO services, operating on Celcom’s network infrastructure. This marked entry into the mobile segment, enabling flexible and competitively priced services for SMEs, consumers, and underserved markets.
In 2012, REDtone achieved a major business breakthrough by securing its first Universal Service Provision (USP) project under the Kampung Tanpa Wayar initiative. This milestone marked the Group’s entry into large-scale national connectivity programmes, delivering wireless internet to rural communities while advancing Malaysia’s digital inclusion agenda.
REDtone’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and youth development through sport reflects a long-standing dedication to creating meaningful and lasting impact for the past 14 consecutive years.. Since becoming title sponsor of the KL Squash Open in 2012, the Group has consistently championed sports excellence, and youth development, while expanding its CSR efforts across education, rural connectivity, and digital inclusion, recognised in 2019 with Social Empowerment awards at the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards and CSR Malaysia Awards. Achieving Platinum status for the seventh consecutive year, the championship is now Asia’s largest junior squash tournament and the world’s second largest.
In 2013, REDtone established REDtone MEX to spearhead expansion into digital healthcare infrastructure. This capability was validated by a RM130 million nationwide medical imaging and teleradiology network project in Sri Lanka, marking a significant diversification beyond core telecommunications.
Through MCMC’s T3 and JENDELA programmes, REDtone delivers shared mobile infrastructure nationwide, bridging the digital divide and expanding connectivity to underserved communities. Valued at approximately RM600 million, these initiatives underscore REDtone’s role as Malaysia’s largest third-party neutral MORAN/MOCN operator, enabling efficient network sharing and accelerating nationwide rollout. This Managed Telco Network Services (MTNS) segment has since become one of the Group’s core revenue and growth pillars.
In 2015, REDtone became a subsidiary of Berjaya Corporation Berhad, strengthening governance and leadership stature. This period further reinforced stability, long-term stewardship, and institutional confidence.
In March 2017, REDtone International Bhd appointed YAM Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim Ismail, daughter of the Sultan of Johor, as its Non-Independent Non-Executive Chairman. Her appointment followed the resignation of the previous chairman and signaled strong confidence in REDtone’s strategic direction as it continued to grow and evolve in Malaysia’s telecommunications and digital infrastructure landscape.
Tunku Tun Aminah’s leadership brought additional visibility and support from high-profile stakeholders, reinforcing REDtone’s position within the industry and strengthening its ties to broader corporate and community initiatives. Her role has continued to influence REDtone’s governance and long-term strategic focus since her appointment.
In 2018, REDtone launched its Smart Farming solutions, marking a strategic expansion into agricultural technology. Built on an integrated IoT and cloud platform with proprietary in-house software, the solution demonstrates REDtone’s ability to design and deploy digital technologies tailored to local agricultural needs—driving greater efficiency, sustainability, and data-driven decision-making across farming operations.
The following year, REDtone’s Smart Farming innovation received both regional and international recognition, winning the Global AgriTech Award for Best Smart Farming Technology and earning acknowledgement at the APICTA Asia Pacific ICT Awards in the Industrial: Agriculture category, affirming the Group’s contribution to advancing smart agriculture across the region.
In 2020, REDtone formally rebranded as REDtone Digital Berhad, reflecting its transformation into a full-fledged digital solutions organisation, aligned with its progressive direction and its strategic move into new frontiers of technology to support enterprise digitalisation and innovation.
REDtone received double recognition at The Edge Malaysia Centurion Club & Corporate Awards in 2022, winning “Highest Growth in Profit After Tax Over Three Years” and “Highest Return on Equity Over Three Years” in the Telecommunications, Media & Utilities sector. This momentum continued in the subsequent years, culminating in another “Highest Return on Equity Over Three Years” award at The Edge Centurion Club Awards 2025. To date, REDtone has secured seven Centurion Club Awards, underscoring the Group’s disciplined execution, resilient financial performance, and consistent ability to deliver long-term shareholder value.
REDtone Digital Berhad transferred from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia in 2023, marking a pivotal step in the Group’s corporate journey. This transition reflected REDtone’s strengthened financial performance, governance maturity, and readiness to scale as a Main Market-listed company, positioning the Group alongside Malaysia’s leading public corporations for its next phase of growth
REDtone launched NexVois in 2024, its own cloud PBX solution, reinforcing the Group’s leadership in business communications. Developed as a proprietary brand to address the evolving needs of mid-sized and enterprise customers, NexVois enables organisations to modernise voice communications through a fully managed, cloud-based platform. This launch strengthened REDtone’s owned-IP voice portfolio and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering reliable, scalable, and future-ready communication solutions.
In February 2024, REDtone secured the RM398.1 million MyGovUC 3.0 contract from the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU), marking a major breakthrough in the Group’s public sector journey. The 60-month project positions REDtone at the heart of Malaysia’s digital government transformation, delivering a nationwide unified communications platform to support secure, scalable, and efficient collaboration across the public sector.
This landmark project was recognised with the Digital Government Award at the Malaysia Digital Transformation Awards 2024 by GovInsider, affirming REDtone’s capability to deliver mission-critical digital infrastructure at national scale.
In 2024, REDtone expanded its connectivity portfolio by becoming an authorised reseller of Starlink satellite services in Malaysia. Through this partnership, REDtone is equipped to bring high‑speed satellite internet connectivity to remote industries and rural communities, enabling reliable broadband access where traditional infrastructure may be limited. This move reflects REDtone’s commitment to inclusive connectivity and future‑focused digital solutions across the country’s most challenging environments.
In January 2025, REDtone advanced its enterprise AI journey with the introduction of AI-driven solutions to the Malaysian market, strengthening the Group’s digital, automation, and intelligent services capabilities. These solutions enable enterprises to deploy intelligent agents, automate end-to-end workflows, and derive AI-powered insights to enhance operational efficiency and customer engagement.
The Journey Continues
Each milestone has laid a strong foundation for what comes next. Guided by purpose, driven by innovation, and anchored in trust built over three decades, REDtone’s next chapter is already taking shape. As we look ahead, we will continue to strengthen and grow our three core pillars – Telecommunications Services, Managed Telco Network Services, and Digital Technology Solutions, to deliver sustainable value, support our customers’ digital transformation journeys, and shape a more connected, future-ready ecosystem.
