20 Dec 2021
TM’s response to the national crisis and assurance to customers, communities and businesses affected
As a result of the extreme and continuous heavy rainfall since Friday (17 December 2021), some telecommunication services provided by Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) have been impacted. A number of telecommunication equipment particularly in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang were damaged resulting in service disruption in several areas.
At the time of reporting, TM’s National Crisis Command Centre is up and running, and we are closely monitoring our network sites. The flash floods and landslides have caused several of our nodes in the three (3) states to be inaccessible due to high water and unsafe conditions.
In the meantime, we have had to shut down power supply and network equipment in some areas as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of those in the vicinity and minimise any potential risks.
We have mobilised our front-liners and as conditions permit, we are actively pursuing network restoration in the flood-stricken zones to minimise any service interruption, ensuring customers remain connected.
Our immediate concern is of 50,000 of our valued customers on unifi, streamyx, fixed line and unifi mobile who are affected, and we are working hard to ensure communication services are being safely re-established.
Concurrently, the GLC/GLIC Disaster Recovery Network (GDRN) has been activated to provide welfare aid and support to those affected by this disaster. As a start, a total of RM50 million has been allocated for relief initiatives comprising of a matching grant of RM25 million by the Government, while the GLCs/GLICs will jointly contribute another RM25 million.
As part of GDRN, which TM co-leads as the Secretariat together with Yayasan Hasanah from Khazanah Nasional Berhad, we are collaborating with the National Security Council (NSC) through NADMA (“Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara”) and other agencies to assist in furthering other disaster relief assistance.
Together with the members of GDRN, we will mobilise rescue and aid efforts to ensure that basic necessities and healthcare can be provided to those in need. The 56th Royal Signals Telekom Army Reserve Regiment (56 Rejimen Semboyan Pakar Telekom Askar Wataniah) which comprises of volunteers from TM has been deployed on the ground to provide assistance and emergency services involving internet and telephone lines nationwide.
“Though the situation remains uncertain, I am grateful for the quick action especially on the part of the TM engineering and customer care team for keeping our customers updated and working towards restoring the much-needed connectivity services. As we brace ourselves in anticipation of worsening conditions, we remain hopeful that Malaysians in need will receive the help they require. Our front-liners will be on the ground around the clock to restore services and bring the impacted States back on its feet,” said Imri Mokhtar, Group Chief Executive Officer of TM.
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TM One Appointed Digital Infrastructure Strategic Partner For Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation
KUCHING, 27 October 2023 – TM One has been appointed as the preferred converged digital infrastructure strategic partner for the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC). Through this partnership, SDEC and TM One will collaborate to identify and implement digital solutions that will enable the aspirations tabled in the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy and Post Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, spurring the growth of Sarawak’s digital economy, digital society and digital government. This joint initiative aims to increase access and adoption of digital services in Sarawak, bridging the digital divide and empowering greater digital inclusivity among all Sarawakians. Leveraging its managed networking services, TM One will power the Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunication (SMART) project for rural and underserved communities. Shazurawati Abd Karim, TM One’s Executive Vice President said, “TM One is honoured to work with SDEC and serve as its strategic partner to empower Sarawak’s digital aspirations. As the largest and most geographically diverse region in Malaysia, the opportunities and challenges to digitally transform its various populations are truly unique. We are confident in serving the needs of the region not only through our solutions, but also with our proven local and international technology leaders to deliver cutting-edge solutions to various sectors. “We look forward to partnering SDEC in co-creating innovations and growth opportunities that will power digital societies, businesses and Government, and propel Sarawak towards its next phase of digital progress and economic development,” she shared. “SDEC is proud to announce this strategic partnership with TM One as we continue our effort and pursuit in digitalising Sarawak. This collaboration enables the parties to leverage on each other’s skillset and work in tandem to unlock new and potential opportunities for the benefit of our people, particularly the state’s infrastructure, and subsequently increase access to digital services and information as well as enhance online experiences and improve livelihoods for Sarawak’s citizens in the digital economy,” said Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman, Chief Executive Officer of SDEC. With Sarawak’s digital economy expected to contribute RM56.4 billion to Sarawak’s GDP by 2030, TM One and SDEC also aim to raise awareness and enable the digital transformation of private corporations and enterprises through emerging IR 4.0 technologies. This includes insights and access to TM One’s suite of next generation networking solutions, data centre and cloud services, smart services, 5G, cybersecurity and other digital solutions, which will enable better operational efficiency and innovation among industries. TM One is committed to grow Sarawak’s digital business ecosystem and will render its expertise and services to support SDEC’s role in six digital growth areas, namely: consultancy, innovation and entrepreneurship, digital infrastructure, technology services, digital economy projects, and research and product development. TM One will further drive digital innovation tailored to the needs of Sarawakians by providing connectivity to nine digital innovation hubs across Sarawak.
TM leverages Maxis’ Infra to Drive Enhanced Mobile Connectivity Nationwide
To strengthen the nation’s digital ecosystem through industry collaboration, TM will access Maxis’ 4G Multi Operator Core Network (MOCN), as well as 4G and 2G Domestic Roaming Services to enhance mobile connectivity nationwide. MOCN is a radio access network (RAN) sharing mechanism that allows different core networks to share the same RAN. Through this, TM will extend its 4G coverage across the country by leveraging Maxis’ RAN infrastructure and improve Unifi Mobile's population coverage to above 95%. Maxis will provide approximately 6,800 sites for 4G MOCN and domestic roaming (DR) services, and 10,000 sites for 2G DR, greatly benefiting all subscribers in rural and urban areas nationwide. In a ceremony today at TM HQ in Cyberjaya, Maxis was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Goh Seow Eng, while Datuk Imri Mokhtar, Group Chief Executive Officer represented TM. Through this strategic partnership, TM and Maxis demonstrate a shared commitment to driving innovation, improving customer experiences, and contributing to the advancement of Malaysia's digital landscape. “This is a significant milestone for Maxis which represents our capabilities and track record in providing high quality mobile networks. We look forward to progressing ahead with TM on this initiative. Industry collaboration is the right way forward as it will ultimately benefit consumers with wider coverage through better cost efficiency and more efficient use of our resources,” said Goh Seow Eng. “We are witnessing an important step in the industry's collaborative efforts towards infrastructure sharing. Our partnership will elevate TM’s 4G mobile proposition to deliver exceptional customer experience for home, SME, and enterprise customers. It will complement our 5G offering, and pave the way for greater innovation and collaboration, to deliver solutions and services for all Malaysians," said Datuk Imri.
Orbix International School takes safety seriously by adopting TM R&D’s EWAR
TM R&D assists Orbix International School in adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with deployment of EWAR towards curbing the spread of COVID-19 virus. Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), through its innovation arm, TM Research & Development (TM R&D), further promotes the adoption of digital solutions in the education sector by deploying its Early Warning, Alert & Response or "EWAR" at Orbix International School (Orbix), a private school in Muar, Johor. EWAR is an Artificial Intelligence (A.I) driven contactless temperature screening solution internally-developed by TM R&D. In an effort to digitalise the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) outlined for schools, Orbix has installed EWAR Compact, one (1) of EWAR's product categories, within their premise to better facilitate the temperature screenings of their students, teachers and visitors towards curbing the spread of COVID-19 virus. Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Sharlene Thiagarajah, Chief Executive Officer, TM R&D said, "We are honoured to be working with an educational institution such as Orbix to deploy our cost-effective and innovative solution in response to the required safety protocols. This illustrates the flexibility and readiness of education vertical in adapting to the new normal. At TM R&D, we are ever ready to assist businesses and organisations to get back on their feet safely." "We truly believe that deploying the EWAR Compact at schools or any educational institutions can provide students and teachers with a near-normal return to school experience as possible. We hope that this effort can encourage other schools and educational institutions to install EWAR Compact and simplify the adoption of the new SOPs in our battle against COVID-19." EWAR Compact is an AI-driven, one-on-one contactless thermal screening solution with a high accuracy of +/- 0.3℃, fast (~1sec) detection and voice prompt. In addition, AI-based facial recognition capabilities can also be applied with the solution. With EWAR Compact, students and teachers can go to schools with peace of mind, knowing that their schools are using the most effective technology available to safeguard their health. "Besides that, we are delighted to see more schools adopting digital solutions as this will expose teachers and students on how technology can help improve lives through safety. The exposure to EWAR Compact will also help students to experience digitalisation in action first-hand, and witness the benefits of digital adoption even before they enter the workforce. We hope this will help groom an industry-forward talent pool which will subsequently drive the nation's digital aspiration, befitting TM Group's role of the enabler of Digital Malaysia," she added. "Deploying EWAR Compact was a vital step for us as we were looking for the most effective technology available in safeguarding the health of our students and teachers. So far, we have received positive feedback on how EWAR Compact has enhanced the efficiency of temperature taking while simultaneously improving social distancing," said Govindan Nair, Chief Marketing Officer of Orbix Education. "The students especially have shared that they like how interactive the solution is. As we are firmly committed to ensuring the health and safety of our students, it is also important for us to expose our students to how innovation results in real-world solutions," he added. Back in July, TM R&D has successfully installed EWAR Compact at 12 selected schools under the purview of Bangsar / Pudu District Education Office (PPDBP) namely Victoria Institution, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Dato' Lokman, SMK Seri Saujana, SMK Desa Petaling, SMK Cochrane, SMK Taman Maluri, SMK Alam Damai, SMK Bukit Jalil, SMK Dato' Onn, SMK (P) Bandaraya, SMK Convent Jalan Peel and SMK Seri Permaisuri. During the early stages of the Movement Control Order (MCO), TM R&D has introduced two (2) main product categories under EWAR, namely EWAR Crowd and EWAR Compact as part of its contribution in the fight against COVID-19. The solution comes with four (4) main capabilities that close the critical loop from detection to containment. It is non-intrusive and has use-cases for both crowd and one-on-one scanning, respectively. EWAR Crowd comes with a dual-camera (thermal and optical) and is designed to conduct a rapid body temperature screening of approximately 10-15 individuals per second simultaneously at high traffic areas. It can easily be deployed in locations with mass traffic flow such as offices, shopping complexes, transportation hubs, universities, schools, tourist attractions, airports, immigration centres, and hospitals. EWAR Compact on the other hand is more suitable for a one-on-one contactless thermal screening. This can eliminate the need of the hand-held temperature taking, which can subsequently improve social distancing and minimise long queues. Both EWAR models have been installed at more than 150 sites across several industry verticals and have gone regional to help keep businesses safe beyond Malaysian shores. The solutions have been installed at the quarantine and treatment centre for COVID-19 cases at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS) in Serdang, large and mid-size office lobbies, hotels, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) payment counters, various sales galleries and Gamuda Land construction sites, just to name a few. TM R&D has been growing from strength to strength since 2016, winning seven (7) globally recognised awards over the last two (2) years. Our innovations cut across multiple verticals such as the Smart Retail Analytics and Smart Safety Helmet, all developed internally by local talents in TM R&D. As the organisation continues to expand beyond connectivity and into new value-added digital and smarter platforms, its role in TM has become more prominent and exciting. For more information about TM R&D and its products and services, please log on to www.tmrnd.com.my. Follow us on LinkedIn (TM Research & Development) for more news and updates.
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