In recognition of its transformative approach to software and technology that can lead to the creation of new approaches and prospects
Telekom Research & Development Sdn Bhd (TM R&D), the innovation arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), recently won the Innovative Tech Companies of the Year Award at the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards (ACES) 2022, organised by MORS Group. The award was conferred to TM R&D in recognition of its transformative approach to software and technology, demonstrating that its tech innovations can lead to the creation of new approaches and prospects.
Dr Sharlene Thiagarajah, Chief Executive Officer, TM R&D accepted the award from Shanggari B., Chief Executive Officer of MORS Group and Luis Nieto, one of the juries for the ACES Awards 2022.
“This is a proud moment for the TM R&D team. Winning this award illustrates that we are on the right track. The transformative approach in our work will help propel Malaysia to be a nation of producers, instead of consumers. Our ability to produce will lead to greater sustainability of our country,” Dr Sharlene expressed her gratitude on receiving the award. “Our achievements are shaped by the discipline, focus and determination we have instilled, and I would like to thank our team for their commitment towards excellence.”
TM R&D is a world-class R&D company that helps businesses solve operational issues and co-create solutions for the global market. It focuses on intelligent platforms, IR4.0 technologies and connectivity to create smarter business ecosystems. The company strives to stay relevant with new innovative solutions that the market cannot do without and takes on projects that provide multifold benefits to organisations.
Among its strengths is the local in-house talents that can make, create and innovate as well as provide thought leadership on infrastructure for the future. Acknowledging that nurturing talent is crucial to the business, TM R&D also offers emerging skills learning and development programmes such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Data Science & Analytics and Data Engineering for its employees.
Because its products and solutions are developed in-house, TM R&D is able to customise its innovations based on customers’ needs, addressing their specific pain points and meeting their customers demand (B2B2C) – embracing the Group’s aspiration of becoming a human-centred TechCo. Every product and solution that is developed contains embedded security, analytics and AI hence expanding its functionalities and delivering maximum benefits to the users.
TM R&D’s main aspiration is to create and deliver the next Unicorn for TM and ultimately for Malaysia. To support this, it holds fast to the three (3) pillars of its business, which are exploratory research, co-creation with industry, and commercialisation thus making life and business easier with smarter ecosystems to enrich humanity and bring progress to nations.
The ACES awards is among the most prestigious accolades that recognise inspiring leaders and sustainability advocates cross-industry across Asia. The awards value services and achievements of businesses of any nature respected for their contributions to their communities and the world. For more info about ACES Awards, visit https://www.acesawards.com/.
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TM Demonstrates Commitment to Long-term Value Creation and Nation-Building at its 40th AGM
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For example, TM is expanding its digitalisation efforts and community-building in Pulau Tioman, starting with Kampung Mukut. Similar programmes are being considered for other islands already connected through TM’s submarine cable infrastructure. TM is also committed to develop schools on these islands, with a focus on nurturing youth through STEM education and digital exposure. “Our goal is to build digital ecosystems that empower local communities, helping them shift from traditional livelihoods to sustainable, future-ready opportunities,” said Amar. These efforts are further supported by the TM Future Skills (TMFS) School Programme, where TM has created three ‘nucleus’ schools designed as regional hubs for innovation via the TMFS Digital Hub. TM also plans to onboard 25 new schools in 2025. Meanwhile, Yayasan TM has launched the Yayasan TM TVET Madani initiative to enhance the skill sets and employability of TVET graduates, while its education arm, Multimedia University (MMU) collaborates with schools nationwide to provide early exposure to STEM subjects through workshops and career guidance. At the same time, TM continues to provide tailored digital solutions to more than 400,000 MSMEs nationwide, helping them grow and thrive in the digital economy. Under its talent development agenda, TM has contributed RM641 million to date to nurture close to 19,000 talents, many of whom now contribute to the broader digital economy and are part of the leadership in corporate organisations and national institutions. “This is how we demonstrate that success and achieving higher purpose can go hand in hand,” said Amar. Championing Sustainability and Responsible Growth Sustainability remains core to TM’s long-term strategy. The Group’s Sustainability Framework, introduced in 2024, is built on two key objectives: enabling sustainable growth for customers and communities, and ensuring resilience across the business and value chain. In its data centre operation, TM sources 50% of its data centre energy from renewable resources and implements water harvesting and recycling systems for water conservation. TM is also targeting global benchmarks with a planned Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.4 for its expansion projects, with the upcoming Johor facility, developed in collaboration with Singtel’s Nxera, targeting even lower PUE. Technologies such as intelligent cooling systems, solar panels and energy-efficient servers further reduce environmental impact and operational costs, ensuring TM’s growth aligns with global sustainability objectives. 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Strategic Execution for Long-term Value Creation 2024 marked the first full year of implementation of its PWR 2030 strategy, which is the Group’s roadmap to becoming a Digital Powerhouse by 2030 and positioning Malaysia as the digital hub for ASEAN. “This phase is about solidifying our foundation to protect the existing core business to better position us in capitalising emerging opportunities such as hyperconnected data centres, AI and GPU-as-a-Service which are among the new growth areas for TM,” said Amar. During the year, TM made significant progress in strengthening its core businesses across B2B, B2C and C2C amidst intensified market competition. Key milestones include strengthening the convergence proposition, advancing digital solutions such as smart services, cloud, cybersecurity, as well as enhancing digital infrastructure such as domestic fibre network, mobile backhaul to support 5G, submarine cable systems and data centres. These strategic developments reinforce TM’s commitment to advancing Malaysia’s digital future while uplifting the broader ecosystem, with Warga TM continuing to be the driving force behind the Group’s growth and success. As TM continues its journey, the Group remains focused on delivering long-term value creation while creating meaningful impact for the nation. “TM is not merely a provider of technological infrastructure, but as an essential enabler and catalyst for a vibrant digital ecosystem, connecting Malaysia to the world and the world to Malaysia. As we move forward into the next phase of our journey, every initiative we undertake moves us closer to becoming a Digital Powerhouse by 2030, one that drives national progress, fosters innovation and ensures Malaysia remains at the forefront of the global digital economy,” said Amar, concluding his presentation at the TM’s 40th AGM.
ENJOY 30 DAYS FREE WITH THE NEW UNIFI TV APP
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