Kuala Lumpur, 25 October 2023 - Unifi Business is set to accelerate local MSME digitalisation through Geran Digital PMKS Madani (GDPM). Recently reinforced in Budget 2024, the government aims to incentivise local MSME through the GDPM to embrace business digitalisation for business growth.
Local MSME make up 97.4% of overall domestic businesses and provide employment to 47.8% of the population. However, a majority of them (about 77%) remain at the basic stage of digitalisation.
Through this grant, MSME entrepreneurs will be able to subscribe to Unifi Business’ packages and solutions with 50% matching grant of up to RM5,000 per customer. This includes a wide range of services such as Unifi Business’ high-speed internet, Unifi Mobile Biz high-speed 4G and 5G mobile data, as well as Unifi Air Biz’s unlimited 5G data. Unifi Business will also offer solutions that are made to fit the digital needs of MSME such as: -
- Digital Marketing Solution – Digital marketing campaign professionally managed by a certified campaign manager enabling wider reach and stronger online brand presence
- Unifi eCommerce Hub – a single integrated platform to sync online and offline stores to manage product inventories, orders, monitor sales and revenue, as well as social media enquiries. Allow users to build interactive websites with live chat and built-in online payment features
- Kaspersky Small Office Security – protect important things that matter to businesses regardless of IT skill level, providing “Always On-Security for Always-On Businesses”.
Mohamad Yusman Ammeran, Unifi’s Head of SME, said, “Beyond connectivity and business solutions, Unifi Business is committed to helping Malaysian MSME to strengthen their business and leadership capabilities. As the preferred digital partner to 400,000 MSME nationwide, TM supports their market visibility, growth and digital capabilities through our service and solutions with 600 Unifi Business Consultants nationwide, of whom, more than 100 are certified with the International Certification of Digital Literacy (ICDL).”
One of Unifi Business’ customers who benefitted from digital transformation was Tineshwara Rao of Suria Pest Control, Penang, who said, “Our sales have doubled and expanded beyond the northern states through the services and solutions provided by Unifi Business, particularly its Digital Marketing Solution. We would like to thank Unifi Business for helping us grow into a more digitally enabled business.”
Another happy customer, Athirah Abdul Rajak, owner of Mama’s Best Food from Sabah echoes, “Sales of my product increased by 50% by using Unifi’s Business’ eCommerce Hub. I am now supplying one shipping container of our product on a monthly basis to Johor. Unifi Business made this possible for me.”
In addition to the grant, MSME customers will also be able to enjoy new lower prices offered via Unifi Business’ Fibre plans. This includes a limited time promo for 100Mbps broadband for RM99 per month, which is approximately 30% lower compared to the new price.
To find out more about the Geran Digital PMKS Madani with Unifi Business, visit biz.unifi.com.my
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TM AND SINGTEL’S NXERA BREAK GROUND FOR SUSTAINABLE, HYPER-CONNECTED DATA CENTRE CAMPUS IN JOHOR
ISKANDAR PUTERI, 25 JULY 2024 – TM and Nxera, the regional data centre arm of Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, held a groundbreaking ceremony for their data centre campus in Iskandar Puteri, Johor. The groundbreaking comes one month after the announcement for a joint venture to develop data centres in Malaysia and uplift Johor’s digital hub status. This 64MW state-of-the-art, sustainable, hyper-connected, AI-ready data centre campus reinforces Malaysia’s high quality digital infrastructure. It also supports the government's efforts to drive the digital economy and transform the country into a hub for industrial growth, AI development and innovation. Malaysia's Digital Minister YB Gobind Singh Deo; YB Lee Ting Han, Chairman, Johor State Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee; and Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling graced the groundbreaking event as the Guests-of-Honour. Minister YB Gobind said, "This investment by TM and Nxera reinforces Malaysia's position as the digital hub in Southeast Asia, further advancing the nation's economic growth. Based on advance estimates, Malaysia's economy expanded 5.8% in the second quarter of 2024, and such investments are in line with projections that Malaysia's digital economy will contribute 25.5% to the nation's GDP by the end of the year. The relationship between TM and Nxera expands to Malaysia and Singapore, with both nations being a good case study of a productive working partnership between two ASEAN member states." YAB Dato Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Menteri Besar, Johor said, “TM-Nxera’s upcoming data centre campus, located right here in Iskandar Puteri, holds particular significance as one of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone’s first investment projects. We welcome the comprehensive scope of their investment with respect to high quality infrastructure, sustainability as well as employment and skilling opportunities which supports our emphasis on talent development, green technology and renewable energy. This data centre campus will serve as a catalyst for economic growth and enable businesses to harness the power of cloud computing and AI. We hope this will set the stage to shape a vibrant business ecosystem where more high-tech and high-value content companies will be attracted to locate their operations within the special economic zone and give a further boost to Johor’s digital economy.” Senior Minister of State Low said, “Data centres are important enablers of our digital economy, powering our economy’s data-driven needs. As technology advances, robust, next-generation digital infrastructure like the TM-Nxera Data Centre will be essential to support AI advancements and foster value creation. Today’s groundbreaking marks a milestone in the deepening economic relations between Singapore and Malaysia, and I look forward to the outcomes we can achieve through close collaboration.” Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group CEO, said, “Today marks a pivotal milestone in our journey to becoming a digital powerhouse as we break ground on this cutting-edge AI-ready data centre. This facility exemplifies our commitment to fostering industry growth, driving innovation, and enhancing socio-economic development. With support from the Federal Government, and Johor state agencies and authorities, we are confident that this AI-ready data centre will equip businesses with unparalleled computing power, AI capabilities, and other cutting-edge technologies. We are excited to lead the way into a future where AI and data analytics drive transformative solutions, revolutionising industries and enriching both our nation and the world.” Bill Chang, CEO of Nxera and Singtel’s Digital InfraCo unit, said, “As one of the largest investments in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, this state-of-the-art data centre campus is an integral part of our mission to empower digital economies and communities in the region while ensuring energy and water resources are deployed responsibly and efficiently. It expands our regional data centre platform’s strategic presence in this fast-growing Asia region. With Malaysia embracing AI to drive competitiveness and innovation, our campus will spur economic growth by helping companies leverage AIs and cloud computing to drive efficiencies and accelerate their business transformation. Our investment isn’t just about the campus, it is about bringing benefits to the local economy through digitalisation, developing local talent, creating employment opportunities and enhancing international connectivity. We would like to express our gratitude to the Johor State Executive Council, Invest Johor, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and Malaysian Investment Development Authority for their support.” Scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2026, this cloud-enabled Tier 3 data centre campus will use liquid cooling to handle higher power density AI workloads. The facility will be designed, built and certified to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, incorporating energy and water-efficient solutions to optimise the use of resources. This underscores the joint venture's commitment to long-term sustainability goals. To support the new data centre campus, the joint venture plans to expand submarine cable connectivity, enabling a thriving and vibrant digital ecosystem. Located just 16 km from Singapore, the data centre campus will allow customers to seamlessly expand their infrastructure from the city state and the rest of the region. Further, the data centre can be scaled up to 200MW in response to market demand. In addition, apart from creation of new employment opportunities that is important for nation building, the joint venture will invest in building talent for the data centre industry by fostering collaborations between universities in Singapore and Malaysia. It aims to design comprehensive courses with specialised curriculum to provide students with well-rounded knowledge and the requisite skills to propel Malaysia’s growth aspirations. For communities and the region, this means superior country-to-country connectivity and a smarter, more resilient digital economy. As announced in Bursa, this joint venture is conditional upon receiving approval from TM shareholders in the upcoming EGM.
TM lauds the government’s national recovery plan; stays committed to serve customers
Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) lauds the Government on the announcement of the National Recovery Plan which outlines the four-phase exit strategy and conditions for Malaysia to overcome the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. TM is fully supportive of the recovery plan that is anchored on three conditions – the number of daily cases reported, the medical healthcare capacity (ICU) and the national vaccination rate. Commenting on the announcement, Imri Mokhtar, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, TM said: "We welcome the clarity provided by the Government on the National Recovery Plan. It is indeed a necessary response to the serious economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic. We hope that through the effective implementation of this plan, the nation will be able to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic to a reasonable level of normality by year end, revive the economy and place the country on a new growth trajectory." "TM as an essential services provider continues to ensure Malaysians remain connected in the safety of their homes and that all our customer support services remain in operation throughout each phase of the recovery plan. As the enabler of Digital Malaysia, TM is committed to playing our part to support all our customer segments across homes, businesses, industry as well as the public sector with connectivity and digital infrastructure and solutions towards economic recovery. All of us at TM pray for the safety and health of all Malaysians nationwide; stay safe and ensure that we get vaccinated - together may we return stronger," he concluded. TM is taking proactive measures in its operations to ensure homes and businesses stay connected; strictly adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines set by the National Security Council (MKN). TMpoint outlets and key partner stores are open for service applications and essential transactions subject to government and local authority regulations. Service installation and restoration activities remain available for customers with SOPs in place to ensure the safety of both TM personnel and its customers. TM customer care lines remain open. Additionally, customers are encouraged to utilise our 24/7 self-serve digital platforms for service registration, service diagnostics, account-related enquiries as well as payment. TM supports the National Immunisation Programme and encourages Malaysians to register for vaccination to ensure the country can achieve herd immunity. TM also runs its own internal vaccination drive and thus far, 65% of Warga TM has registered. TM will also be running an internal campaign to rally its TM Volunteers by participating in the Malaysia Vaccine Support Volunteers (MyVAC) programme for The Special Committee On COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) to assist with the vaccination process at Vaccine Delivery Center (PPV) locations across the country. TM is also offering its suitable venues nationwide for PPV, drive through and mobile unit stations. Today, its Multimedia University Melaka campus begins its operations as a PPV facility for JKJAV. TM also connects PPVs nationwide with internet access services to enable the frontliners, medical teams, volunteers as well as members of the public to stay connected during the vaccination process. More than RM8.0 million has been channeled for nation building initiatives to date; in terms of medical and non-medical humanitarian aid for communities in need during the pandemic. Most recently, TM has also set up Tabung Solidarity COVID-19 TM as a continuation of the employee donation drive last year, which has already raised and disbursed RM800,000 to various causes. Thus far, TM Board members and Warga TM have pledged another RM600,000 for the fund through voluntary salary and allowance deduction. The contribution is matched by the company to total RM1.2 million to date. The donation will be channelled to the government's Akaun Amanah Bencana. TM also continues to support the nation and communities in need through connectivity initiatives such as Jaringan Prihatin, CERDIK and MYBAIKHATI. TM reiterates its commitment to ensure the safety and health of customers and Warga TM with special working arrangements implemented and enhanced SOPs towards business and customer service continuity. The Company will continually monitor for developments on the ongoing situation, adhere to the SOPs under the specific phases detailed out by MKN and adapt its services to help customers, whenever needed as the safety of its employees and members of the public are of paramount importance.
TM R&D Celebrates double win at the global TM Forum Excellence Awards 2020
In-house solutions SWIMS and IDEAS+ received global recognition for the Beyond Connectivity and A.I, Data & Analytics categories respectively Telekom Research & Development Sdn Bhd (TM R&D), the innovation arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), added another feather to its cap when they recently bagged not one, but two (2) awards at the prestigious TM Forum Excellence Awards 2020. The awards were conferred to TM R&D for its innovative solutions namely Smart Water Integrated Management System (SWIMS) under the Beyond Connectivity and Artificial Intelligence (A.I) category, while its Intelligent Network Diagnostic & Expert Advisory System for Service Desk (IDEAS+) solution received the recognition under Data & Analytics category. Since 2007, TM Forum Excellence Awards recognises the world's leading companies for their innovative achievements spanning digital transformation, business and IT agility, customer centricity, cultural transformation, cross-industry partnering and collaboration, and product and service innovation in AI, data analytics, autonomous networks and cloud native IT. All entries were assessed by a global panel of judges based on the extensive materials submitted. Each year, the judging panels are carefully selected from varied global organisations to ensure a balanced approach and a wholly impartial view. Commenting on the double wins, Dr. Sharlene Thiagarajah, Chief Executive Officer, TM R&D said, "This is certainly a welcomed surprise and a proud moment for us at TM R&D. We are excited that two of our very own internally-developed smart solutions, deployed in collaboration with Air Selangor and Group Customer Experience at TM have been recognised by global industry experts such as TM Forum. Both solutions are now commercially available domestically and to the global market. We believe TM R&D is on the right track to support TM's Digital Malaysia aspirations and simultaneously accelerate Malaysia to become a digital nation." SWIMS is an Internet of Water (IoW) solution, essentially doing for water what Internet of Things (IoT) does for various other industries and verticals. These include electric utilities, transportation, smart cities and factory automation, to enable in-depth, new insights into the operations and the right tools to act on those insights. "SWIMS offers end-to-end smart water management that improves non-revenue water management. It optimises the repair and replacement of ageing water infrastructure as well as improves response to weather events such as water level and quality. Based on feedback we received from Air Selangor, with SWIMS, water usage visibility improved by 3,000% and meter reading accuracy improved 10-15% through automation," shared Dr. Sharlene. The TM Forum Excellence Awards also recognises another solution from TM R&D, IDEAS+ which is a one-stop advisory platform deployed at TM's contact centre. Using machine-learning algorithm, IDEAS+ assists the call centre agents to efficiently troubleshoot and resolve various customer issues. The objectives of the project were to reduce Average Handling Time (AHT) at the contact centre when entertaining customer calls, reduce repeated truck roll, increase the accuracy of troubleshooting and escalation as well as to achieve cost-saving. IDEAS+ is an intelligent diagnostic and advisory system for TM contact centre agents to provide predictive guideline as well as troubleshooting steps with more than 95% accuracy. Established in 2001, TM R&D is the centre of innovation for TM Group focusing on innovations that enriches humanity and bring progress to nations. Growing from strength to strength since 2016, TM R&D has won 15 globally recognised awards and generated more than 2,800 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and 1,400 digital assets to-date. TM R&D's innovations all developed in-house cut across multiple verticals such as Utilities, Retail, Agriculture, Healthcare and Education with safety and productivity as the top priority. As TM R&D continues to expand beyond connectivity and into smarter digital ecosystems, its role in TM has become more prominent and exciting. For more information about TM R&D and its products and services, they can be contacted at business@tmrnd.com.my or log on to www.tmrnd.com.my or follow them on LinkedIn (TM Research & Development) for more news and updates.