This collaboration is part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration programme and aligns with MYDIGITAL to accelerate Malaysia towards becoming a regional digital leader
Malaysia’s national connectivity and digital infrastructure provider, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) and worldwide leader in technology, Cisco International Limited, today announced a new strategic partnership as part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) programme to supercharge Malaysia’s ambitions to become a technology-driven nation and regional digital leader.
Both parties signed two collaboration agreements to pave the way for key projects focused on helping the country develop its 5G innovation platform as well as accelerate technology adoption and transformation for Malaysia’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
These initiatives were introduced at a signing ceremony presided over by YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima TPr Annuar Haji Musa, Minister of Communications and Multimedia; and attended by YBhg. Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Mentek, Chief Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia; YBhg. Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din, Interim President, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission; Imri Mokhtar, Group Chief Executive Officer, TM; Dave West, President, Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China (APJC); and Hana Raja, Managing Director, Cisco Malaysia.
Cisco’s CDA programme is a strategic partnership with governments worldwide to accelerate their national digitalisation agendas and create new value for the country, its businesses, and citizens. The programme taps on the power of private and public partnerships across a variety of sectors, including national infrastructure, education, and smart businesses and communities, to bring digital solutions to national challenges. Digitalisation initiatives that are rolled out are made into replicable solutions to cross-pollinate and contribute to Cisco’s wider CDA ecosystem which is currently present across 44 countries globally.
The CDA programme in Malaysia was unveiled as a collaboration framework between Cisco and MyDigital Corporation in May 2022. It is aligned with MyDIGITAL, the government’s Digital Economy Blueprint, aimed at accelerating the growth of Malaysia’s digital economy, with a focus on driving digital transformation in the public sector, building digital infrastructure, and cultivating agile and competent digital talent.
TM’s partnership with Cisco focuses on three key pillars: digital transformation in the public sector, specifically education – which will be launched at a later date; digital transformation for service providers, focusing on 5G innovation, and digital transformation for SMEs.
The two (2) collaboration agreements signed today were:
• 5GaaS Innovation Platform
Cisco and TM will build a 5G-as-a-service Centre of Excellence to springboard 5G adoption and develop proof of concepts for enterprises and vertical industries. Supported by Cisco’s full stack of Private 5G Core technologies complete with services and support, the innovation platform will demonstrate 5G enterprise use cases realized on the reference architecture to allow businesses to visualize and implement 5G frameworks and solutions that address unique business challenges.
• Accelerating Digital Transformation of SMEs
Cisco and TM will drive a joint digital solution seeding programme through a proof of concept for selected SME customers. These solutions will range from the Internet of Things (IoT) to business analytics solutions for SMEs in the retail, education, and manufacturing sectors. Successful deployments will be showcased to broaden adoption within the SME ecosystem. Cisco will also launch a digital talent development initiative focused on introducing digital talent to Application Programming Interfaces (APIS) and training on how to navigate its cloud-based network, Cisco Meraki, as well as other mentoring opportunities and hackathon events.
“TM is honoured to be the first company to partner with Cisco in bringing the CDA programme to Malaysia, which has the potential to benefit enterprises, consumers and over 400,000 SMEs. This collaboration builds on TM and Cisco’s 17-year partnership and will be the first of many “Innovation Sandbox” collaborations TM will drive, in our efforts to realise the Digital Malaysia aspiration and 5G objectives for the nation,” said Imri Mokhtar, TM’s Group Chief Executive Officer.
"Technology plays a critical role in powering an inclusive future for all. Our CDA programme in Malaysia is focused on turning the country's digital economy blueprint into reality by leading the development of core 5G technologies and infrastructure, accelerating the digital transformation of SMEs, and nurturing a pipeline of next-generation IT talent that will continue to support its national ambitions," said Dave West, President, Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China. "We are thrilled to embark on a new chapter of our collaboration with TM and the Malaysian government through our CDA programme and we're excited about the opportunities ahead."
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TM and Cybersecurity Malaysia join forces to strengthen national cyberspace resilience
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The event was also graced by the presence of YB Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah, Minister of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia. Commenting on key aspects of the memorandum, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Bakke Salleh noted: "We are honoured to collaborate with CyberSecurity Malaysia in this strategic initiative, which is aimed at elevating the nation's cybersecurity network and ecosystem and strengthening Malaysia's self-reliance in cyberspace. It is vital for the adoption of cybersecurity to be in tandem with the pace of transformation in order to secure our digital economy. Being a strategic partner, it is our pleasure to lend our expertise not just for this initiative but in Malaysia's mission to enhance its cybersecurity capabilities. This collaboration will enable both parties to enhance the ability of the public and business sectors to fend off cyberattacks that can come from all corners of the world and make cybersecurity a key thrust towards a sustainable digital economy, digital government and digital society. TM as the enabler of Digital Malaysia, is here to bridge the need for cybersecurity in order to successfully use cloud services; and to enable organisations to focus on their transformation journey, securely and comfortably." Meanwhile, General Tan Sri Dato' Seri Panglima Mohd Azumi Mohamed (Retired) said, "As a cybersecurity specialist and technical agency, CyberSecurity Malaysia is strongly committed to ensure the e-Security aspects of the country and will continue to identify areas that could endanger national security and the well-being of the people. The main focus is to strengthen capacity through monitoring and providing effective response towards cyber threats and attacks to avoid major impact. With the signing of this strategic partnership, the principles and mechanisms of collaboration will enable both entities to merge and benefit from each other's technology and expertise, thus enabling both organisations to act as commercial strategic partners locally and internationally." The initiative between both parties includes the sharing of global best practices, leveraging each other's technical capabilities and is set to deliver optimal cybersecurity technology solutions to local enterprises and public sectors. TM's role encompasses offering end-to-end comprehensive cybersecurity solutions to both Malaysia and the world. This is delivered principally through CYDEC, which is a portfolio of active cyber defense capabilities, managed security products and services, powered by TM's Global Security Operations Center (GSOC). CYDEC is indeed paving the way for greater digital trust and cyber resilience in the digital era. These managed security services ensure access to real-time, continuous, predictive cybersecurity, quickly and without complexity, for added assurance and is well-positioned to secure and protect our nation's strategic Critical Network & Information Infrastructure (CNII). Another key aspect of this strategic collaboration is to explore the development of advanced security monitoring capabilities by tapping on TM ONE's extensive cloud infrastructure. Both parties will also endeavour to advance digital forensic capabilities and enhance incident response services. This will eventually feature cyber-outreach, a capability and capacity development programme, which will help to upscale the skillset and digital intelligence potential of Malaysia's public and private sector workforce. This MoC also signals the continued urgency of addressing the relentless surge of cyber threats impacting both the public and business sectors as a fundamental step to enabling a sustainable, safe and successful digital society. TM ONE CYDEC cybersecurity solution comprises four (4) key elements: Managed Security Service Provider – an end-to-end security solution and management in real-time through predictive protection on private or public networks Cybersecurity Subscription Service – a self-service Digital Risk Protection portal powered by a renowned global telecommunications player, Telefonica Digital Identity Services – provide authority certificates and digital signatures that comply with Malaysia's regulatory and legal systems Professional Services – offers holistic security consulting and assessment services on an organisation's cybersecurity strategy and landscape For further information on TM ONE CYDEC cybersecurity solution, visit www.tmone.com.my/solutions/cybersecurity-services and for more info on CyberSecurity Malaysia, visit www.cybersecurity.my.

UNIFI MOBILE OFFERS 30K FREE SIM CARDS FOR MALAYSIAN PILGRIMS FULFILLING THEIR HAJJ
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TM R&D collaborates with Maldives’ leading digital services provider, Dhiraagu to bring ewar to businesses in Maldives
EWAR, A.I. driven contactless temperature screening solution made in Malaysia has now entered the international market Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), through its innovation arm, TM Research & Development (TM R&D), is expanding the delivery of its Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) driven contactless temperature screening solution – Early Warning, Alert & Response or "EWAR" – to Maldives. For the expansion, TM R&D is working alongside Dhiraagu, the leading and largest provider of telecommunications and digital services in Maldives, to assist local businesses in resuming full operations while maintaining a safe environment by installing EWAR at their premises. This initiative is set to provide businesses in Maldives and their stakeholders with the confidence for business continuity through the provisioning of the complete solution. Commenting on the collaboration, Dr. Sharlene Thiagarajah, Chief Executive Officer, TM R&D said, "We are excited to collaborate with Dhiraagu to introduce EWAR, a reliable and accurate contactless thermal screening solution to businesses in Maldives. As we are facing an unprecedented period, health procedures to curb the Covid-19 pandemic are universal which is why we believe EWAR serves two main purposes – to provide early warning alerts of high temperature efficiently and to minimise human contacts. We believe other countries can also reap the benefits of EWAR to better face this pandemic. We see this as our first step into showcasing how innovative digital solutions developed by Malaysian talents such as EWAR can assist in the fight against COVID-19 at the global front." "As we are navigating through a new normal, we will continue to introduce smart digital solutions that focus on safety and to help fulfil the digital requirements of businesses. This is befitting of our aim to serve a more digital lifestyle and in line with our support for TM's unique role of enabling a more Digital Malaysia," she added. Harnessing their expertise in digital platforms and digital solutions, TM R&D introduced two (2) main products under EWAR, namely EWAR Crowds and EWAR Compact in April. EWAR Crowds is designed to conduct a rapid body temperature screening of approximately 10-15 individuals per second simultaneously at high traffic areas. The solution is non-intrusive and 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 one-on-one contactless thermal screening. This helps to eliminate the need for hand-held temperature taking devices which can subsequently minimise long queues and increase efficiency. Both EWAR products also come with cloud-based software and real-time monitoring app which makes this innovative solution unique. If any visitor entering the premises records a higher temperature, an alert will be triggered and a notification will be sent to the mobile device of the designated person in charge. The system also allows storing of individual temperature reports over a cloud system where it can be accessed remotely for tracking or analysis. "As we all are collectively working towards the same goal, health, and safety of our employees, customers, and communities are given the utmost priority. The EWAR solution has been developed with the highest accuracy for thermal screening. We are delighted to be collaborating with TM R&D to bring this complete solution to local businesses towards ensuring business continuity," said Mahmoud Dasser, Chief Marketing Officer of Dhiraagu. Currently, EWAR has been deployed at more than 150 sites across several industry verticals to provide accurate, hassle-free screening of employees and visitors. The sites include the quarantine and treatment centre for COVID-19 cases at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS) in Serdang, large and mid-size office lobbies, 12 schools, hotels, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) payment counters, various sales galleries, 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. With more than 2,800 IPRs and 1,400 digital assets generated to-date, TM R&D's innovations, all developed in-house cut across multiple verticals such as Telco, Retail, Logistics, Agriculture, Healthcare and Education with safety and productivity as the top priority. 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.