Kuala Lumpur – Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) is in talks with 13 potential firms for its high-speed broadband (HSBB) wholesale services. According to TM group chief executive officer, Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, the HSBB wholesale service was made available from last month and negotiations were ongoing with access-seekers on a one-to-one basis, reports The Bernama. TM’s wholesale offerings comprise three services – HSBB (transmission), HSBB (access) and HSBB (connection) services. Zamzamzairani said the companies concerned included those involved in providing WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), content providers and mobile and telecom players. Zamzamzairani said TM has commenced physical work for the laying of HSBB access infrastructure in 22 exchange areas around the country that would be covered by the initial rollout of the services. He said under the Public Private Partnership agreement with the government, signed on 16 September 2008, TM would invest RM8.9 billion of its own money over 10 years to finance the HSBB network infrastructure roll-out, while the government was co-investing RM2.4 billion, making up the total of RM11.3 billion. HSBB roll-out would be focused on Zone One, a high economic impact areas, namely, Inner Klang Valley, Iskandar Malaysia and key industrial zones throughout the country. The HSBB is expected to contribute 0.6 percent to gross domestic product and create 100,000 jobs by 2017.