18 Jul 2022
unifi business’ entertainment solutions empowers hospitality industry for stronger rebound
Providing best-in-class content to support hoteliers return to normalcy
unifi Business, the preferred digital partner for close to 400,000 SMEs in Malaysia, have signed an agreement to provide innovative hospitality entertainment solutions to five high-value business customers namely, the Genesis Life Care Centre, Aturan Lagenda-Ideas Hotel, Capitol Hotel, Federal Hotel and Corus Hotel.
The agreement provides these businesses access to premium and exclusive content from unifi Business through unifi TV’s hospitality entertainment solutions. Customers will be able to choose from three attractive packs to mix and match over 50 channels in genres ranging from live sports, drama series, blockbuster movies, global news, kids/edutainment, lifestyle and many more.
Mohamad Yusman Ammeran, unifi’s Head of SME Segment shared, “Foreign tourist arrivals reportedly dipped from about 26 million in 2019 to only about 135,000 in 2021 – hitting Malaysia’s tourism industry harder than most other sectors.
“As of June 2022, however, tourist numbers have exceeded 1 million and are expected to rise to 4.5 million by the end of the year. Hoteliers are revitalising their businesses and striving to provide more rewarding, comprehensive experiences in their effort to attract more customers.”
He added, “To support the hospitality industry’s effort to create greater value for their customers, unifi is excited to offer these local businesses our new hospitality entertainment solutions. These are part of our convergence solutions that include connectivity, content, and digital solutions to empower the hospitality industry to ramp up their offerings more quickly.
“In addition to more than 50 world-class channels from which they can choose, this solution provides the best in-room guest experience with five exciting new premium channels, including beIN Sports.”
Ho Hock Doong, Head of unifi TV, explained that the new hospitality entertainment solutions were designed to allow these businesses the flexibility to customise their TV channels, elevating in-room guest experiences while saving costs at the same time. In addition to BEIN SPORTS 1 and 3 HD, the new premium channels selection will include DEGUP HD, CGTN HD and CCTV-4 HD – catering to these businesses’ diverse customers.
The signing ceremony was held at the Kuala Lumpur Tower with Dr Phang Sue Ling, Chief Operating Officer, Genesis Life Care Centre Sdn Bhd; Kharil Hafez Harith Yahya, Aturan Lagenda-Ideas Hotel General Manager; Thomas A/L Anthony of Capitol Hotel; Lim Kae Juang from Federal Hotel; and Teoh Gee Chuan from Corus Hotel representing their respective businesses. In addition to Mohamad Yusman Ammeran and Ho Hock Doong, the signing ceremony was also witnessed by Kenneth Oh, Deputy Secretary, The Malaysia Budget Hotel Association; and Maznan Deraman, Head of SME Medium Business Segment, unifi Business.
Mohamad Yusman concluded, “In supporting SMEs regain their footing post pandemic, we remain committed to helping these local industries become more sustainable and resilient through our comprehensive business solutions. Through these offerings, we strive to empower the hospitality industry to attract more customers, and revitalise both their businesses and the nation’s economy.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
TM records steady performance in 1Q2022 with revenue & PATAMI up 2.9% & 4.4%; maintains focus on its growth strategies execution
In the second year of its Transformation, the Group is on track to achieve its 2022 market guidance, focusing on strengthening its core businesses and investing in new growth areas Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) continued its growth trajectory and long-term business sustainability, recording a steady performance in its First Quarter ended 31 March 2022 as compared to the same period last year (YoY). The Group's operating revenue increased by 2.9% to RM2.89 billion, compared to RM2.81 billion in the same quarter last year, driven primarily by increased demand for voice, Internet and multimedia. Despite rising competition to offer converged solutions among telco and other technology players, TM continued to deliver strong customer growth across its operations. Capitalising on its core businesses and investing into new growth areas, TM further ramped up its transformation initiatives, delivering profit after tax and non-controlling interests (PATAMI) for the quarter at RM339.9 million or 4.4% higher than the RM325.5 million recorded in 1Q2021. The Group also recorded lower financial costs subsequent to the early redemption of its RM2.0 billion sukuk in March 2021, as well as lower foreign exchange translation losses on borrowings. The Group has applied the Cukai Makmur statutory tax rate accordingly for the current quarter. Accelerating into the second year of its Transformation, TM brought forward its manpower optimisation to enable earlier realisation of expected benefits to the Group. This, along with foreign exchange impact on trade settlement has led to a 5.0% decrease in EBIT at RM560.4 million for 1Q2022 compared to RM589.7 million in the same quarter last year. Excluding these costs, the Group's underlying EBIT is 14.0% higher at RM650.2 million compared to RM570.5 million in 1Q 2021. Free Cash Flow is lower by 15.1% at RM658.8 million compared to RM775.7 million due to higher CAPEX as the Group continues to invest in business expansion and meeting customers' demands through technology refresh and network delivery, ensuring steady growth. unifi: Double-digit revenue and subscriber growth unifi continued its growth performance, recording revenue increase of 10.6% from RM1.25 billion to RM1.38 billion in the current quarter. Sustained by increasing demand from Internet, voice and sales of devices, with cumulative fixed Internet subscribers increasing by 17.5% against the corresponding quarter last year. unifi remains the largest growth contributor for the Group. unifi will continue to maintain its leadership in fixed broadband and enhance its Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC), enriched with TV and streaming content. This reflects its commitment to improve its FMC customer experience with better and seamless service. unifi will also grow its SME digital platform as a one-stop service centre for solutions catering especially to SMEs nationwide. TM Wholesale (TMW): Higher revenue from increased demand for data services TM Wholesale (TMW) also recorded a growth performance for 1Q2022, with revenue increasing by 1.2% from RM631.9 million in 1Q2021 to RM639.5 million, mainly contributed by higher revenue from voice and data services. This was underpinned by increasing demand from High-speed Broadband Access (HSBA) and higher International Voice and Data. To date, TMW continues to enable industry broadband and 4G network via its fibre infrastructure, with the ongoing 5G rollout further strengthening that role. On the international front, it will continue to serve other OTTs and hyperscalers with connectivity and data centres, while regionally, TM Wholesale aspires to establish Malaysia as a digital hub for ASEAN via new submarine cables, enhanced data centre solutions and edge computing. TM One: Renewed focus on growing B2B digital solutions market TM One, the Group's enterprise and public sector arm, recorded a 7.4% decrease in revenue from RM925.2 million to RM856.8 million in 1Q2022 due to decline in data services revenue. Strengthening and growing its B2B digital solutions, TM One has focused its efforts on high potential industry verticals, namely healthcare, manufacturing, education, oil & gas, banking, financial services & insurance (BFSI) and public sector. It has entered a partnership with Tune Protect and Huawei Malaysia that saw Tune Protect becoming the first organisation in Malaysia to host an insurance core system on public cloud (Cloud αEdge). Commentary and Outlook from Imri Mokhtar, TM Group Chief Executive Officer "With our economy and borders reopening, TM is powering Malaysia's journey on its road towards recovery, by ensuring the vision of an inclusive and extensive Digital Malaysia becomes a reality. "Into the second year of our Transformation, we are focused on strengthening our core business while investing into new growth areas to meet customers' demands. In ensuring sustainability in the long run, we continue to grow our profitability to invest and seize opportunities arising from digital acceleration. "One of these opportunities is in the exciting space of digital solutions and services for enterprises. Building on TM One's existing capability and relationships with enterprises and the public sector, we will deliver speed and agility through our new digital arm Credence: a corporate start-up led by technology leaders. "unifi continues to better its fixed broadband and Fixed-Mobile Convergence value proposition to improve customer experience, while expanding our offerings to provide quality entertainment to customers at home or on-the-go. "We have also achieved some key milestones in our sustainability efforts. TM One has successfully secured the Green Electricity Tariff from Tenaga Nasional Berhad for its data centres in Kuala Lumpur, Cyberjaya and Johor Bahru, contributing to a lower carbon footprint as the demand for cloud storage inevitably increases. This is in addition to the existing Green Building Index (GBI) certification earlier obtained for its core data centres. TM's broader ESG commitment also remains consistent with Malaysia's initiatives towards achieving net-zero Greenhouse Gas emission for the country by 2050. "Meanwhile, TM Wholesale continues to establish Malaysia as a regional digital hub via new submarine cables, edge computing, data centres and supporting international connectivity. On the domestic front, TM Wholesale continues performing its role as the enabler for industry broadband, 4G and 5G network via fibre infrastructure that will transform the nation's connectivity capabilities."
TM takes action to curb further Covid-19 spread; continues to serve the nation with essential services
Reactivates “Work From Home” nationwide following new cases recorded Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today confirmed that since its previous announcement on 11 October 2020, ten (10) further positive cases of Covid-19 have been recorded amongst its employees; bringing a total of 13 positive cases thus far. The newly affected areas include Menara TM and TM Annexe 1 in Kuala Lumpur as well as at a network node in Rawang. This is in addition to the earlier affected areas of Menara TM ONE in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur and Kepayan office in Kota Kinabalu. From the 13 cases, the Company is pleased to announce that three (3) employees have been discharged from the hospital and quarantine centre they were admitted to, and are continuing their recovery and home-quarantine for 14 days. Meanwhile, the other ten (10) employees are currently receiving treatment. Following the new positive cases, detailed contact tracing is being carried out by the Ministry of Health (MoH), assisted by TM's COVID-19 Crisis Response Team (CRT), to identify and inform those whom had close contact with the affected employees. Identified close contacts are being contacted by MoH for further advice and action. TM immediately took the necessary actions which include immediate closure of the affected premises for seven (7) days to facilitate thorough disinfection and sanitisation in accordance to the guidelines set by MoH. The disinfection and sanitisation works at TM Annexe 1 and the network node in Rawang have been completed on 14 October 2020, Menara TM ONE on 13 October, while the work at Menara TM is ongoing and expected to be completed by 5.00 pm today. TM offices in Sabah, Kedah and other Red Zone areas had been closed much earlier as proactive precaution in correspondence to the increasing cases there recently. With immediate effect, TM is also activating "Work From Home" (WFH) arrangements for all Warga TM nationwide until 31 October 2020. On Monday, TM had implemented the same for TM employees in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, ahead of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) announced. Commenting on the latest developments, Group Chief Executive Officer of TM, Imri Mokhtar said, "The sudden rise in cases amongst our Warga TM family, and indeed throughout the nation is of worrying concern. I join the Board, management and all Warga TM in praying for the speedy recovery of the affected employees as well as for the safety, protection and health of all Malaysians during these testing times. Meanwhile, we have taken immediate action and activated safety protocols for the buildings and areas affected. Most importantly for our employees, we are announcing working from home arrangements for all Warga TM nationwide effective today till the end of October. As TM provides essential services for the nation, our frontliners involved in critical functions serving our wide base of customers shall continue to work, adhering to the SOP guidelines from the authorities." "Over 4,700 critical function employees at our TMpoints, contact centres, field teams for service installation and restoration continue to lead the front line in serving our community, businesses and Government in the Red Zones. This is even more important especially when many Malaysians are now back to working from home. To all the TM frontliners and the TM Covid-19 Response Team (CRT), our highest appreciation for stepping up in the line of duty, and our prayers for your safety and protection," he added. TM is also providing free Covid-19 swab tests in collaboration with its panel of medical service providers for employees who may have been exposed to the virus. This is yet another proactive measure taken by the Company to curb the spread of the virus amongst its employees. Identified employees can undergo the test from 15 October 2020 onwards at a temporary drive-through facility set up at Menara TM. More facilities will be set up at other locations, if required. TM would also like to remind everyone at all times to keep safe social distance, hygiene and adhere to the SOPs as advised by the Government. The Company urges everyone who has any symptoms to seek medical attention and not risk further exposure to their loved ones and anyone else. TM wishes for the safety and health of all Malaysians nationwide; together may we return stronger.
TM SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT’s DECISION FOR TWO-PHASED IMPLEMENTATION OF 5G
TM supports the Government’s decision to implement 5G over two phases, as announced by Communications and Digital Minister YB Fahmi Fadzil on 3 May 2023. TM will work closely with the Government and the industry to ensure the success of both Phase 1 (80% service coverage by DNB) and Phase 2 (shift to two networks) for Malaysia’s 5G implementation. TM looks forward to continue playing an active role in the 5G implementation, leveraging its nationwide fibre infrastructure, extensive digital platforms (data centres, edge nodes) and rollout experience. TM shall continue to deliver converged connectivity and solutions across fibre and 5G to its home, SME, enterprise and Government customers through Unifi and TM One. TM is committed to serve as the nation’s trusted partner to grow Malaysia’s overall connectivity and digital ecosystem, including 5G. It is committed to shaping a Digital Malaysia through technology that empowers communities, businesses and Government.
NEWSLETTER
Just drop your details and stay updated with the world of Telekom Malaysia. We promise – no spam!