From Zero to an IoT Influencer and finally become an IoT Entrepreneur.
Dr. Mazlan Abbas
BIODATA
Biodata (Short Version)
Dr. Mazlan is the CEO and co-founder of FAVORIOT Sdn Bhd, an IoT company. He is a recognized thought leader in the IoT industry, having been listed as a top 50 influencer by several organizations.
He has extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, including as CEO of REDtone IOT, senior director at MIMOS Berhad, and various senior management positions at CELCOM. Dr. Mazlan has also worked as an adjunct professor at several universities in Malaysia.
He holds a BEE from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, an MSc in Telematics from the University of Essex, and a PhD in Telecommunications from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
He is a frequent speaker at IoT, IR 4.0, Smart Cities, and telco conferences and serves on the Industry Advisory Panel for several universities. He is also a TEDx Speaker and has received an Honorary Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from UTHM.
He is currently serving as the Deputy Chairman of the Malaysia IoT Association for the 2024–2026 term.
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Biodata (Expanded Version)
Dr. Mazlan is the co-founder and CEO of FAVORIOT Sdn Bhd. He is listed by Thinkers360 as “Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Smart Cities 2025”, “Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Internet of Things 2025”, “Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on GovTech 2025”, “Top 100 B2B Thought Leaders, Analysts & Influencers You Should Work With In 2025 (APAC)”. He is also listed in Onalytica’s Report “Who’s Who in IoT” (May 2022). He is ranked among the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders on the Internet of Things (February 2019). Digital Disruption (October 2019) by Thinkers360, Top 50 Most Impactful Smart Cities Leaders by World CSR Congress 2017, ranked Top 10 in IoT Top 100 Influencers by Postscapes 2017 & 2018, ranked No. 20th Thought Leader in IOT by 2014 Onalytica Report – “The Internet of Things – Top 100 Thought Leaders” and UTM Alumni Industry Personality 2016.
Before FAVORIOT, he spent 2.5 years as CEO of REDtone IOT and eight years as Senior Director of the Wireless Communications Cluster at MIMOS Berhad. He also spent 13 years in CELCOM (mobile operator), handling many senior management positions.
Before Celcom, he spent ten years as an Assoc. Professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He was the Adjunct Professor for UTM from 2008 to 2013, UTHM (2004-2005, 2013-2016), Universiti Teknologi Petronas (2018-2019), and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) (2017-2018), Universiti Malaysia (UniMY) (2017-2019) and MJIIT, UTM (2020-2022), MMU (2022-2024).
Dr.Mazlan frequently speaks at many major and established IOT, IR 4.0, Smart Cities, and telco conferences locally and globally. He sits on the Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) of several local universities.
He graduated from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia with a BEE (1984), University of Essex (UK) with an MSc. in Telematics (1986), and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia with a Ph.D. in Telecommunications (1993). He also received an Honorary Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from UTHM (2017).
He is currently serving as the Deputy Chairman of the Malaysia IoT Association for the 2024–2026 term.
He is also a TEDx Speaker.
You can reach him on LinkedIn | Twitter | Jom Pakai IoT YouTube Channel |Jom Pakai IoT Podcast| Startup IoT YouTube Channel|Startup IoT Podcast
Dr. Mazlan Abbas
Co-Founder and CEO of FAVORIOT Sdn Bhd, Malaysian IoT and smart cities thought leader, academic advisor, speaker, researcher, and builder of technology ecosystems.
From university labs to telecom boardrooms, from national R&D to startup trenches, Dr. Mazlan’s career is a long bridge between technology, people, and real deployment.
Career by the Numbers
A quick factual snapshot based on the CV, highlighting scale, continuity, and contribution across academia, telecom, R&D, startups, and national technology ecosystem building.
Professional Identity
- Co-Founder, Director and CEO of FAVORIOT Sdn Bhd since April 2017.
- Former CEO, Co-Founder and Director of REDtone IOT from October 2014 to March 2017.
- Former Senior Director, Wireless Communications Cluster at MIMOS Berhad from 2006 to 2014.
- Held multiple Vice President roles at Celcom Axiata in mobility, enterprise solutions, network management, technical operations, billing, and R&D.
- Started as an academic at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, later serving as lecturer and associate professor.
Academic Foundation
- PhD in Telecommunications, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 1993.
- MSc in Telematics, University of Essex, United Kingdom, 1986.
- Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, First Class Honours, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 1984.
- Honorary Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from UTHM, 2017.
- Adjunct Professor appointments across UTM, UTHM, UTP, UniMY, UniSZA, MJIIT, MMU, UC TATI, and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan.
Selected Career Timeline
Global Recognition
- Thinkers360 Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Smart Cities 2025.
- Thinkers360 Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Internet of Things 2025.
- Thinkers360 Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on GovTech 2025.
- Thinkers360 Top 100 B2B Thought Leaders, Analysts and Influencers You Should Work With In 2025, APAC.
- Onalytica’s Who’s Who in IoT, May 2022.
- World CSR Congress, Top 50 Most Impactful Smart Cities Leaders, 2017.
- UTM Alumni Industry Personality, 2016.
Awards and Company Milestones
- Best IoT Startups Category, Malaysia, ASEAN Rice Bowl Startup Awards 2019.
- FAVORIOT IoT Middleware, Merit Award, APICTA 2018.
- RAQIB, Merit Award, APICTA 2018.
- Best IoT Start-Up 2018 by APAC Insider Magazine.
- The 10 Most Innovative Startups to Watch by Insights Success Magazine, 2018.
- Frost & Sullivan Malaysia Most Innovative Smart City Solutions Provider Award, 2016.
- MaGIC Amplify Accelerator 2018 and Cyberview Living Lab Accelerator 2023.
Not just ideas on slides. Real prototypes, patents, platforms, and field exposure.
During his MIMOS years, Dr. Mazlan led work across IPv6, WSN, WiMAX, IMS, 6LoWPAN, IoT, HetNet, Cognitive Radio, and Mobile Cloud. The CV records 39 research prototypes, 130 IP disclosures, 27 patents, and the setup of a WiMAX Forum Designated Certification Lab at MIMOS, described as the 7th in the world.
Industry and National Contribution
- Panel Pakar Dana R&D MOSTI for 2021 to 2023 and 2024 to 2026.
- Member of technical and evaluation committees involving MOSTI, MDEC, CREST, MIDA, MCMC, and other national technology bodies.
- Alternate member of Communications Industry Standardization Committee under MCMC.
- Represented Malaysia as delegate to ITU-T World Radiocommunications Conference 2007 in Geneva.
- Served as mentor for MTDC Symbiosis and Maxis IoT Challenge 2020.
Education Ecosystem Builder
- Served on many Industry Advisory Panels, Boards of Studies, curriculum committees, and faculty advisory boards.
- Contributed to universities including UTM, UTHM, MMU, UTP, UTeM, IIUM, UPM, UiTM, UNITEN, APU, UniKL, and others.
- Actively connects academic programmes with industry needs in IoT, telecommunications, computer engineering, smart systems, and IR 4.0.
- Regular speaker for students, lecturers, researchers, entrepreneurs, public sector leaders, and industry professionals.
Three Inspiring Quotes
Quote-style lines crafted from Dr. Mazlan’s recurring themes in IoT, leadership, and ecosystem building.
“The real value of IoT is not in the sensor. It is in the decision we dare to make from the data.”
“A smart city should not only collect signals from the ground. It must listen to the people living on that ground.”
“Technology only becomes meaningful when it leaves the lab, enters real life, and quietly helps someone.”
Signature Strengths
- Deep technical background in telecommunications, wireless systems, IoT, and smart city architecture.
- Rare cross-sector experience across university, corporate telco, national R&D agency, and startup company.
- Strong public communication track record through keynotes, panel sessions, media interviews, podcasts, YouTube, and blogs.
- Ability to connect research, commercialisation, policy, education, and market needs.
Positioning Statement
Dr. Mazlan Abbas stands out as a Malaysian technology leader who has moved through the full arc of the digital ecosystem: teaching, researching, building, managing, commercialising, speaking, advising, and mentoring. His CV tells a story of someone who did not stay in one box. He kept crossing bridges, from campus to company, from lab to market, from local deployment to global recognition.
Presentations
Check all his presentation slides HERE.
Dr. Mazlan’s PUBLICATIONS, TALKS, KEYNOTES etc.
Contact
If you would like to contact me, please click here.
Photos
DR. MAZLAN ABBAS
Global IoT Leader | Smart City Strategist | CEO & Co-Founder, FAVORIOT
Email: mazlan@favoriot.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mazlan
Location: Selangor, Malaysia
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY (as of December 2025)
A technology leader with more than 40 years of experience across telecommunications, IoT, research, and academia. Built and led multi-disciplinary teams in both corporate and startup environments. Recognised globally with 8 Top-50 rankings in IoT, Smart Cities, GovTech, Emerging Tech, and Digital Thought Leadership.
Delivered 200+ keynotes worldwide on IoT, smart cities, 4IR and digital talent development. Previously held 6 Vice President roles in Celcom, led R&D teams at MIMOS to produce 39 prototypes, 130 IP disclosures, and 6 patents, and currently drives FAVORIOT’s growth across Malaysia and international partner markets.
Actively contributes to education with 13 Adjunct Professorships and involvement in 50+ Industry Advisory Panels, shaping national-level talent pipelines and technology curricula.
CORE LEADERSHIP STRENGTHS
- IoT & Smart City Strategy
- Telecom Network Leadership
- Digital Transformation
- R&D Management
- Innovation Commercialisation
- Government & Policy Advisory
- Talent Development & Curriculum Design
- Ecosystem Building & Partner Networks
CAREER EXPERIENCE
FAVORIOT SDN BHD
CEO & Co-Founder (2017–Present)
Built Malaysia’s homegrown IoT platform used by universities, enterprises, and government agencies.
Key Achievements
- Grew FAVORIOT into a national IoT talent and solution hub with adoption across education, SME and smart city sectors.
- Developed a partner network across multiple countries.
- Presented FAVORIOT vision to more than 100 organisations through talks, workshops and strategic sessions.
- Led platform expansion from early prototype to a full commercial-grade cloud IoT system.
REDtone IoT SDN BHD
CEO & Co-Founder (2014–2017)
Launched REDtone’s IoT business unit and scaled early smart city and connected solutions.
Key Achievements
- Opened REDtone’s entry into IoT markets with solutions used in public services and smart communities.
- Built internal teams for solution development, deployment, and commercial rollout.
MIMOS BERHAD
Senior Director, Wireless Communications Cluster (2006–2014)
Impact by the Numbers
- 39 R&D prototypes developed under your leadership.
- 130 IP disclosures and 6 patents granted.
- Directed multi-million ringgit budgets under national plans (9MP, 10MP, 11MP).
- Set up the WiMAX Certification Lab (7th in the world at the time).
- Built collaborations with Fraunhofer FOKUS, NICT Japan, and global IoT platform providers.
CELCOM AXIATA
Held six Vice President roles across key divisions:
- VP, Mobility Solutions
- VP, Integrated Business Solutions
- VP, Network Management & Administration
- VP, Technology & Technical Management
- VP, Billing Operations
- VP, R&D
LATEST – Dr. Mazlan Abbas – CV
Career Impact
- Oversaw nationwide network operations and service quality.
- Led large-scale network integration efforts.
- Introduced Celcom Developer Circle to spark mobile innovation.
- Managed enterprise mobility products used by 80+ companies.
- Led migration to a new convergent billing system in two weeks—one of the largest telco migrations in Malaysia.
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
Lecturer → Associate Professor (1984–1994)
Focus Areas
- Data communications
- Network systems
- Early research groups in Telematics and DSP
SELECTED GLOBAL RECOGNITIONS
- Top 50 Global Thought Leaders in IoT, Smart Cities, GovTech and Emerging Technology (multiple years).
- Top 100 B2B Thought Leaders APAC (2024, 2025).
- Top 10 IoT Influencers (Postscapes, 2017–2018).
- Top 50 Most Impactful Smart Cities Leaders (World CSR Congress).
- Honorary Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, UTHM (2017).
RESEARCH, IP & TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
R&D Output
- 39 prototypes across IPv6, WSN, WiMAX, IMS, 6LoWPAN, Smart City tech.
- 130 IP disclosures, contributing to Malaysia’s technology repository.
- 6 patents in wireless communications and mobility.
Technical Influence
- Involved in 25+ national-level committees (MOSTI, MDEC, CREST, MTSFB).
- Represented Malaysia at ITU-T World Radiocommunications Conference.
- Reviewer, advisor, and technical evaluator for government research grants.
ACADEMIC & TALENT DEVELOPMENT IMPACT
Adjunct Professor Roles
Appointed in 13 universities, including UTM, UTHM, UTP, UniSZA, UNIMY, MMU, and UC TATI.
LATEST – Dr. Mazlan Abbas – CV
Industry Advisory Panels
Contributed to curriculum development in 50+ academic programmes across engineering, computing and emerging technologies.
Education Outreach
Delivered lectures, workshops, and training to thousands of students nationwide.
MEDIA & PUBLIC SPEAKING
Speaking Footprint
- 200+ keynotes and panel sessions across Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa.
- Frequent commentator on IoT, smart cities and digital transformation.
Media Presence
- Featured on Astro Awani, RTM, BERNAMA Radio, SelangorFM, MARii podcasts.
PATENTS (SELECTED)
- Method and System of Handover for Mobile Node Mobility
- Wireless Network System
- Self-Organized Communication Method
- Mobility Hand-Off Mechanism
LATEST – Dr. Mazlan Abbas – CV
EDUCATION
- PhD (Telecommunications) – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
- MSc (Telematics) – University of Essex, UK
- Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (1st Class Honours) – UTM
SUMMARY VIEW OF IMPACT
- 40+ years shaping Malaysia’s tech sector
- 6 VP roles in a major telco
- 2 CEO roles in IoT and digital solutions
- 39 prototypes produced
- 130 IPs disclosed
- 200+ global talks delivered
- 13 Adjunct Professorships
- 50+ academic advisory roles
- 8 global Top-50 recognitions
A career that spans research, industry, academia, entrepreneurship and national strategy.
Disclaimer
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