01 Jun 2022
TM R&D’s Customer-focused innovations recognised at the Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards
In-house smart solutions for Fixed Wireless Access connectivity and customer experience platform for frontliners awarded under “Connectivity-Telecommunications” and “AI-IT Services” categories respectively
Telekom Research & Development Sdn Bhd (TM R&D), the innovation arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), recently bagged two awards at the Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards 2022, organised by the Singapore Business Review.
The Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards spotlights exceptional companies who are technology disruptors that boosts Malaysia’s economy. TM’s Fast Internet for All (FIRA) solution was bestowed the award under the “Connectivity-Telecommunications” category, while TM’s Single Platform on Intelligent Customer Experience (SPICE.ai) won the award in the “Artificial Intelligence (AI)-IT Services” category.
Commenting on these awards, Dr. Sharlene Thiagarajah, Chief Executive Officer, TM R&D said, “I couldn’t be prouder of my team as these awards reflect their commitment to meet the fast-evolving digital needs of today’s customers and strengthen our position as a research leader in these fields. This recognition also reaffirms our efforts in building smarter digital ecosystems to facilitate the ease with which Malaysians can embrace a more digital lifestyle, while also bringing progress to the nation.”
FIRA was introduced as a way to support the government in providing Malaysians with quality access to digital connectivity nationwide. Aimed at offering better internet service to underserved communities, FIRA uses Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technologies to improve connectivity in rural areas across Malaysia. Since its first deployment in Malacca back in July 2020, the solution has demonstrated promising success in improving download and upload link speeds compared to other broadband services. The solution has since been implemented at a rural school in Selangor and at Pusat Komuniti Desa sites under the Ministry of Rural Development. It has also supported an IR4.0 use case in Terengganu.
“FIRA is formulated to address two common issues: coverage and speed. The solution is capable to deliver connectivity up to 50Mbps within 5-8km range, compared to a traditional 4G cell within 1km range. Furthermore, with its quick deployment procedures, FIRA can help mitigate customers’ connectivity concerns in a cost-effective and timely manner,” shared Dr. Sharlene.
SPICE.ai, on the other hand, aims to assist frontliners in their daily task of addressing customer service enquiries and requests.
Dr Sharlene explained, “SPICE.ai consists of multiple components that cover different parts of an existing customer experience system. By integrating these components, frontliners gain a more holistic view of each customers’ profiles. The solution then implements real-time analytics to improve customer experience, giving frontliners the right information at the right time which allows them to deliver a better experience to customers.”
This analytics system has been deployed nationwide for nearly two years and becomes the primary touchpoint for more than 5,000 TM frontliners in most customer interactions across multiple channels. The performance of SPICE.ai has proven to be reliable and seamless even when integrated with more than 20 existing, standalone systems and was still able to relay the processed information through one single platform, on top of providing analytics and advisory.
Established in 2001, TM R&D is the innovation arm of TM Group focusing on creating smarter ecosystems to make business and life easier for a better Malaysia. TM R&D’s solutions are clustered around four pillars namely Intelligent Platforms, Data Brokerage, Connectivity/Tools and IR4.0/Digital Solutions. Growing from strength to strength, TM R&D has won multiple global awards and generated more than 2,800 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and 1,400 digital assets to date. TM R&D’s innovations are developed in-house and cut across multiple industries such as Utilities, Retail, Agriculture, Healthcare and Education, with safety and productivity as its top priority.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
TM inks agreement with DNB to provide fibre connectivity in accelerating rollout of 5G network services nationwide
With a total contract value of RM2 billion over 10 years, the signing of a Fibre Leasing Service agreement with DNB demonstrates TM’s commitment to enable the provision of 5G infrastructure in supporting the Government’s ambitious digital aspiration Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today announces the signing of a Fibre Leasing Service agreement with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) to speed up the deployment of the Government-owned 5G network nationwide. Taking on a leading role in enabling a Digital Malaysia, and as the national connectivity and digital infrastructure provider, TM is at the forefront of technology and innovation to support the country as it moves forward to realise a more digital society, digital business, digital industry and digital Government by 2030. The term sheet agreement with a total contract value of RM2 billion over 10 years was duly signed by Imri Mokhtar, Group Chief Executive Officer of TM and Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, Executive Vice President, TM Wholesale while DNB was represented by Augustus Ralph Marshall, Chief Executive Officer and Dushyanthan Vaithiyanathan, Chief Operating Officer. Commenting on the signing, Imri said: “Today’s signing further reinforces the Government’s aspiration of putting in place Malaysia’s digital infrastructure and network. We have always been a strong advocate of infrastructure sharing in providing connectivity services and end-to-end solutions, to enable excellent wireless solutions and services.” DNB will be able to leverage on TM’s extensive fibre and network infrastructure, and subscribe to TM’s 5G RAN-to-Edge Fronthaul and Backhaul solution for the provision of fibre connectivity, enabling DNB to provide 5G network services nationwide. Under the agreement, TM will provide DNB with 5G fibre leasing services for connectivity between DNB’s 5G mobile sites and nodes, leveraging on TM’s domestic fibre cable network spanning over 640,000 km across Malaysia. Prior to this, TM along with other fibre providers in Malaysia had participated in the 5G Fiber Leasing Request for Quotation (RFQ) exercise conducted by DNB in June 2021. “As DNB’s selected partner in implementing the Government’s 5G network rollout plan in Malaysia, the signing of this Fibre Agreement is testament to our advanced network technology and workforce capabilities in delivering fibre solutions throughout the country. Critical in executing this mission is to ensure our network is robust to support the future requirements of 5G and further fuel technological innovation in Malaysia,” Imri added. “In delivering the fibre connectivity for DNB’s 5G network, the local telecommunications vendors and suppliers’ ecosystem shall benefit too, in areas such as engineering services, supply of fibre, accessories, poles, manholes and premise equipment. Based on our current fibre implementation, we expect more than 70% of the work to involve and benefit bumiputera and local companies.” “TM is also excited to utilise DNB’s 5G network to provide 5G services and solutions to our home, SME, enterprise and public sector customers. With the launch of DNB 5G network services yesterday, we will be able to test the 5G network and offer services on a trial basis in selected areas across Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya,” Imri concluded. Today’s signing is in tandem with the implementation of Jalinan Digital Negara’s (JENDELA) action plan and cements TM’s commitment of enabling Digital Malaysia through MyDIGITAL. It is also in support of the Government’s other digital plans encompassing digital connectivity (domestic fiberisation, international connectivity), digital infrastructure (cloud, data centre and cybersecurity) and digital talents (via Multimedia University and TM Digital Academy).
TM’s commitment to combat corruption and reinforcement of integrity as organisational DNA
Organised annual TM Integrity Day 2022, in collaboration with MACC, SIRIM, PDRM, IIM, TI-M and others TM adopts the highest level of integrity and ethics that uphold the standard of its employees’ behaviour and conduct by championing high integrity and anti-corruption practices in its working environment. It reflects TM’s commitment in adhering to good corporate governance and fulfilling its responsibilities towards investors and other stakeholders. This is maintained through rigorous awareness, internalisation and enforcement efforts guided by its ethics and integrity policies. To demonstrate its commitment and continuous effort to upholding high integrity, governance, and transparency in its business operations, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), has organised its annual TM Integrity Day 2022 (TMID) on 1 November 2022, in conjunction with the National Integrity Day which is observed every November. The many highlights of TMID included MS ISO 37001:2016 certification handover by SIRIM, recitation of the corruption-free pledge followed by a forum entitled, “Uncompromising Integrity”. The TMID 2022 was launched by Datuk Seri TKPj. Norazlan Mohd Razali, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), witnessed by Tan Sri Mohammed Azlan Hashim, Chairman of TM Group and Imri Mokhtar, Group Chief Executive Officer of TM. Also present were Datuk Ir. (Dr) Khairol Anuar Tawi,Chairman SIRIM QAS International Sdn Bhd, while Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM), and Dato’ Allaudeen Abdul Majid, Deputy Director, Department of Integrity and Standard Compliance (JIPS) PDRM attended as panelists for the forum, moderated by Dr. Muhammad Mohan, President of Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M). TM’s proprietary Organisational Anti-Corruption Plan (OACP) 2021–2025 launched last year, was developed to closely align with the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023 geared towards improving transparency, and embedding the principles of integrity, good governance, compliance, and accountability in ensuring governance in the public and corporate sectors in Malaysia. TM OACP is one of the policies developed in tandem with Section 17A of the MACC Act 2009, in accordance with the standards set by IIM. “At TM, "Uncompromising Integrity" is one of the corporate values that must be embraced by every TM employee to fulfill our responsibilities to all stakeholders. We take any misconduct that involves integrity in this organisation very seriously,” said Tan Sri Mohammed Azlan. “I hope that all TM employees and Business Partners will continue to carry out the best duties and responsibilities to the company in the effort of TM to drive the aspirations of Digital Malaysia,” he added. “Our OACP is a 5-year plan to further strengthen TM’s existing ethics and integrity ecosystem among Warga TM, business partners, vendors and suppliers. The OACP clearly defines the focus areas and strategic initiatives to mitigate corruption, integrity and governance risks. It is the duty of every TM employee and business partners to act in the best interest of TM and maintaining the highest degree of integrity, transparency, and accountability,” he further commented. At the event, Imri led the citation of the corruption-free pledge together with Tan Sri Azlan, TM Board of Directors, Senior Management, Business Partners and all Warga TM nationwide in the presence of Datuk Seri TKPj. Norazlan. The pledge is an oath voluntarily taken by TM’s leadership and its employees proclaiming their commitment to carrying out their duties with transparency, responsibility and accountability. Good governance rests with the people. As TM evolves into a human centred TechCo, Warga TM must be empowered in upholding the company values. TM’s company-wide efforts to instill a high level of integrity amongst Warga TM began in 2002 by establishing various policies and guidelines such as TM OACP, certified Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) for high-risk divisions, TM Code of Conduct & Business Ethics, Whistle Blowing Policy, Anti-Corruption Guidelines, Ethics Hotline and several others to infuse transparency, accountability and responsibility amongst its employees and Business Partners.
TM Addresses Unifi Customers’ Data Breach
TM confirmed recently of a data breach involving historical Unifi customers’ personal information that includes name, national identification/passport number, and contact details. No financial information was impacted. The company confirms that the breach has been contained and proactive steps have been taken to protect the data across its platforms. It has sent out notifications to customers informing them of the data breach and to be wary of phishing tactics including online scams, suspicious links and unsolicited phone calls. TM has also reported this matter to the relevant authorities (National Cyber Coordination & Command Centre (NC4); Department of Privacy & Data Protection (JPDP); & the Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission (MCMC)). TM assures all its customers that its Unifi services remain fully operational with no impact to its users.
NEWSLETTER
Just drop your details and stay updated with the world of Telekom Malaysia. We promise – no spam!