Yoodo, the popular digital telco known for letting users customize their plans, will sadly stop operating in a couple of months. According to a notice on their website, Yoodo will shut down on 29 August 2024. This is part of an agreement with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) after the merger of Celcom and Digi.
For now, Yoodo customers can still use their Data, Voice, and SMS services without any interruptions. More details, including options for switching plans, will be shared on 17 June 2024. There is possibility that current Yoodo customers will be offered options to switch to one of CelcomDigi’s prepaid plans.
The sale of Yoodo includes all assets, such as intellectual property rights, staff employment, contracts, leases, and all subscribers. CelcomDigi needed to find a new buyer who is not connected to Celcom, Digi, or their stakeholders. If they couldn't find a buyer, Yoodo would have to stop operations within 3 months after the divestiture period ends, which is August 2024. Last August, CelcomDigi CEO Datuk Idham Nawawi mentioned there was a lot of interest from various local and international parties to buy Yoodo. He emphasized Yoodo's strong presence in eSports and hoped that a new owner could grow the brand.
Back in June 2022, the MCMC announced that Yoodo, a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) under Celcom, had to be sold within 18 months after the merger with Digi was completed. Since the merger was finalized on 30 November 2022, the 18-month deadline is now here. This divestment was required to keep the telco industry competitive. Additionally, Celcom and Digi had to set up a separate business unit to manage their MVNO operations, ensuring a clear separation from their retail mobile business.
With this latest announcement, it seems CelcomDigi has not found a new owner for Yoodo.
In conclusion, it’s a sad farewell to Yoodo, the little telco that could. As we brace ourselves for the final curtain call on 29 August 2024, let's remember the good times — those glorious moments of 20GB for RM20, the freedom to customize, and the joy of free 5G access. It's almost like losing a quirky friend who always knew how to save us money. So, let's raise our phones for one last data-filled cheer and hope that there are other affordable plans can somehow fill the Yoodo-shaped hole in our hearts. Farewell, Yoodo, you were truly one in a gigabyte.
Now, what's next?
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