Ilyas leads product strategy and commercialisation at SACOFA SDN BHD, Sarawak’s leading telecommunications infrastructure provider, delivering reliable and future-ready connectivity solutions through an extensive network of fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications towers. With years of experience across Malaysia’s top-tier operators, Ilyas has a proven track record of transforming complex network configurations into scalable, high-yield digital services. Before his current role, he led strategic product portfolios spanning High-Speed Broadband Access (HSBA), voice, and wireless infrastructure, and directed nationwide fibre expansion partnerships. At SACOFA, Ilyas oversees the product, pricing, and commercial roadmap for next-generation connectivity, including enterprise solutions, smart city initiatives, and AI-ready network infrastructure, positioning SACOFA as the backbone of Sarawak’s digital ecosystem. Furthermore, he operates at the intersection of technology, network engineering, and business strategy, focusing on transforming high-performance infrastructure into practical solutions for smart cities, industrial automation, and real-time AI systems. Ilyas brings a practitioner’s perspective to the panel on Sarawak’s Real-Time AI grid, providing insights into the infrastructure, commercial models, and partnerships needed to advance real-time AI from concept to state-wide deployment.