CelcomDigi steps up cyber and climate safeguards

KUALA LUMPUR: CelcomDigi Bhd is strengthening its cybersecurity capabilities and climate resilience measures to mitigate growing digital threats and environmental risks as it seeks to safeguard its network operations and reputation, said CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd.

The firm said the telecommunications company had stepped up customer protection efforts by flagging 260 million suspected scam calls and blocking 22 million SMS messages monthly amid rising digital scam threats.

Analysts Choong Chen Foong and Kenny Lim said CelcomDigi's multi-layered cybersecurity strategy, which includes protection at both network and device levels, would help strengthen its ability to address emerging cyber threats.

"Overall, we view CelcomDigi's initiatives under its environmental, social and governance (ESG) roadmap and the progress made thus far positively," they said.

CelcomDigi shared its progress during its Responsible Business Day on Nov 5, 2026, themed "Responsibility in the Age of AI", marking the third year of its five-year ESG strategy.

The company has also reached 18.3 million Malaysians through its SAFE Internet programme to raise awareness of online safety.

It has introduced WebShield and MobileShield to provide additional protection against digital threats, while rolling out a Responsible AI Governance Framework in 2026 to promote transparent and accountable artificial intelligence adoption across its organisation.

Choong and Lim said these initiatives were increasingly relevant as businesses and consumers faced evolving cybersecurity risks alongside wider AI adoption.

Beyond digital protection, CelcomDigi has continued to make progress on decarbonisation, reducing its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by four per cent year-on-year in 2025.

Its carbon intensity also declined 30 per cent over the financial year 2023 to 2025 to 0.04 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per terabyte, reflecting energy efficiency improvements across its network.

These included the deployment of energy-efficient equipment across 15,000 sites, hybrid batteries and on-site solar installations.

The company reaffirmed its 2035 climate targets of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 63 per cent and Scope 3 emissions by 66.3 per cent, as it works towards its net-zero ambition by 2050.

It is also incorporating physical climate risks into network planning to protect its telecommunications infrastructure against extreme weather events.

The analysts said CelcomDigi had implemented tower plinth elevation and structural reinforcement at 200 sites to mitigate potential flood and storm damage.

The company has also undertaken climate risk assessments and introduced AI-driven weather forecasting in high-risk areas to strengthen infrastructure resilience.

Choong and Lim said such measures could help minimise service disruptions and potential financial losses arising from infrastructure damage, reputational harm and regulatory penalties.

"We believe its proactive measures to address cybersecurity threats and physical climate risks should help maintain its network resilience, minimise service disruptions and mitigate potential financial losses from reputational damage, regulatory fines and infrastructure damage repairs," they said.

CIMB Securities maintained its "Buy" call on CelcomDigi with an unchanged target price of RM3.65.

The firm also retained its financial year 2026 to 2028 core earnings per share forecasts, citing the company's progress in managing ESG-related risks.

However, it identified higher-than-expected costs and adverse regulatory developments as key downside risks to its outlook.