30 Jul 2018
TM 3Ducation Hackathon 2018 to empower digital innovation amongst Malaysia’s academic communities
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) together with Creative Minds – a company specialised in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education – recently joined hands to organise TM 3Ducation Hackathon 2018 at Malaysia Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC), Cyberjaya, continuing their commitment in promoting education excellence particularly in STEM for the academic communities from local learning institutions as part of its Corporate Responsibility (CR) initiatives.
2-day hackathon event saw the participation of 150 participants from 95 learning institutions nationwide, including schools, matriculation centres, teaching institutions as well as academicians from universities, Government agencies and local technology companies. This event, held for its 2nd year, gathered Malaysia’s prolific academicians to discuss, generate ideas and solutions to solve problems via brainstorming sessions, forums and speaking slots by invited panel from the innovation industry specifically in the areas of Environment, Education and Social, including Nurul Izzah Anwar, Chairman of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme.
Commenting on the programme, Izlyn Ramli, Vice President, Group Brand and Communication, TM said, “Befitting of our position as Malaysia’s Convergence Champion, TM’s involvement in the promotion and adoption of STEM subjects among Malaysian students is a natural extension of our role in empowering Malaysia’s education system through innovation and digitalisation. We received tremendous support from participating students in the 3Ducation programme held for the first time last year. So we are continuing the programme this year and extended its reach to the academic communities from higher learning institutions nationwide. This programme provides a platform for the participants to meet, discuss and learn from each other as well as the industry experts in innovation. We truly hope that the experience gathered will promote academic excellence in STEM subjects through innovation amongst our students.”
“As a corporate organisation that puts great emphasis on education and continuous learning, we will continue to focus on education, creating and implementing innovative programmes that will nurture and promote skills needed to create tomorrow’s innovative leaders. This 3Ducation programme is part of TM’s larger Corporate Responsibility (CR) initiatives under our three-pronged approach, namely education, community as well as nation building and the environment. TM has long been contributing and supporting the nation’s education field through scholarships and student sponsorships as well as school adoption programmes, across education levels, right from primary school to post graduate programmes.”
Our support towards this programme also fits well with our role as the strategic partner in establishing the ecosystem for the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) digital transformation programme. As the key enabler for the national communications infrastructure, and the one and only capable of providing fully integrated telecommunications, ICT and digital services, TM looks forward to work with the Ministry and its agencies to accelerate the delivery of innovative digital services and solutions for the education sector towards building a knowledge-based workforce for the country. At TM, we are committed to bringing innovative technologies for the betterment of Malaysian education, true to our vision, “Making Life and Business Easier, for a Better Malaysia”,” she added.
The TM 3Ducation Hackathon 2018 event is a continuation of last year’s TM 3Ducation programme which saw the participation of more than 300 students and 140 teachers from 78 schools where the students took part in a competition of producing innovative 3D designs using 3D modelling and printing skills to solve day-to-day challenges.
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TM inculcates creativity and interest in science among students
Science made easier with TM Nano Maker Kit Learning process: Briefing session on the usage of Nano Maker Kit where students can connect the Kit to their smart devices via Bluetooth to collect experiment results data. Thrilled: Participating students conducting an experiment on force, acceleration and momentum of a car crash. In action: An outdoor experiment on water rocket launching takes the interest of the students as they measure the rocket acceleration using Nano Maker Kit. Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) under its Corporate Responsibility (CR) initiatives, recently collaborated with its partner, Creative Minds - a company specialised in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects – to conduct a programme called TM Nano Maker Kit, involving several schools around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. This innovation-oriented programme is an initiative by TM to inculcate interests in science and technology among the students. The programme also marked its continued commitment in promoting education exc ellence and empowering the learning of STEM in the classroom. Commenting on the programme, Izad Ismail, Head of Corporate Responsibility & External Stakeholder Management, Group Brand and Communication, TM said, “This programme requires students to innovate and create activities related to science and technology. Students in all the 10 participating schools around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were indeed very creative. They have the potential and capabilities to innovate but they need proper guidance to express the innovation. We hope that the training and learning process shared with them during this programme will encourage them to be even more creative and excel in Science and Technology subjects.” TM Nano Maker Kit programme provides a platform for the students to collect and analyse experimental data conducted in Physic and Mathematics. TM Nano Maker Kit also aimed to boost the students' abilities through hands-on activities which involve the usage of a technology known as ‘Data Logging’ to collect real-time data for the students to analyse. There are many parameters and types of data that can be tested using the TM Nano Maker Kit, including temperature, altitude, speed, weather, acceleration, pressure, light intensity and magnetic fields. The TM Nano Maker Kit saw participation of more than 300 students from 10 schools around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The schools involved, which served as the pilot group were SMK Dato’ Onn, SM Sains Banting, SMK Keramat Wangsa, SMK Batu Laut, SMK Bandar Tasik Selatan, SMK Bandar Seri Putra, SMK Bukit Kucing Tengah, SMK Saujana Impian, SMK Dengkil and MRSM Sungai Besar.
TM reiterates commitment to enhance the broadband experience of Streamyx customers
Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today reiterated its support of the Government’s aspirations of improving the reach and experience of broadband services in Malaysia, and its commitment to address the issues faced by Streamyx and its loyal customers in a more comprehensive manner. In July, TM announced its upgrade plans for Streamyx (pre-unifi) customers tounifiin coverage areas or double the speed for those in non-coverage areas. The upgrade will enable its existing broadband customers to experience faster speeds at their existing package price. Following the announcement, TM has received many enquiries and much feedback from customers who are eager to know whether they are eligible for the speed upgrade. TM is grateful for the feedback given and is working hard to realise the broadband aspirations. TM has been continuously investing to enhance both its fibre and copper network over the years to deliver high speed broadband with wider nationwide coverage. The copper network is a legacy network and has always faced many challenges, mainly technological limitations. This requires a longer term and more permanent solution, which will take time to implement. Additionally, TM has continuously invested in the rollout of LTE 4G network and WiFi hotspots to complement its fixed network to provision broadband services anywhere, anytime via home@unifi, mobile@unifi and wifi@unifi. TM’s LTE 4G services coverage currently exceeds 77% of the household population in urban and rural areas and together with our partner, complimenting it with 90% 3G services coverage. To enable the convenience of mobility, the Company also enhanced its WiFi coverage and service quality with more than 12,000 hotspots nationwide to date. Through its Broadband Improvement Plan which began in 2016, TM has been working hard to enhance the experience of both unifi and Streamyx customers, concurrently. Understandably, it has been easier to execute the unifi speed upgrades, which are served by fibre. TM is now giving specific focus to Streamyx and high-rise broadband customers served through its own or the buildings’ copper networks. Imri Mokhtar, Executive Vice President of unifi, said: “Over 1 million home and business customers nationwide are today on broadband over TM’s copper network – both on landed and high-rise properties. With rising demand of a more digital lifestyle and business needs, what was before termed as a high speedinternet’, may not cut it anymore. We hear your 1 million voices. We remain committed as Malaysia’s nation building partner to invest and build the needed network that brings value to our customers, shareholders and other key stakeholders and for the country’s digital economy.” “Based on our customer and network analytics, over 340,000 customers reside in a fibre broadband area, but are somehow not yet part of the 1.26 million unifi community. To date, we have successfully upgraded nearly 50% of these customers to unifi at no extra cost to their current bill. We urge remaining customers to grab this opportunity and complete this attractive unifi upgrade exercise by March 2019,” he added. Imri explained: “Starting from 2010, TM has continuously expanded Malaysia’s fibre broadband coverage. Nonetheless, such coverage is yet to reach all of our existing broadband customers. Copper limitation is more pronounced for Streamyx customers, with 8Mbps being the best broadband speed that can be delivered today. We value your trust and sincerely appreciate your loyalty and more so for your patience and understanding. Where technically possible, we shall double the Streamyx speed at no extra cost to your current broadband bill. Close to 180,000 Streamyx customers can look forward to this free upgrade.” Streamyx customers who are eligible for the speed upgrade will be contacted via email and phone. TM urges customers to update their latest contact details i.e., telephone number and email address to facilitate this process. This can be done both via the unifi portal and unifi care app. To address the remaining Streamyx customers, TM is working towards a more definitive solution and has initiated discussions with major stakeholders to deliver better broadband experience nationwide by exploring various fit-for-purpose technologies.
TM appoints Dato’ Mohd Rais Azhar as the new CTIO
Bids farewell to Dato’ Rafaai Samsi on his retirement after 40 years of service in TM Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today announced the appointment of Dato' Mohd Rais Azhar as its new Chief Technology & Innovation Officer (CTIO) with effect from 18 February 2018, following the retirement of Dato' Rafaai Samsi as the CTIO of TM on 14 February 2018. Prior to this, Dato' Rais was the Deputy CTIO, and in addition to his role as the new CTIO, Dato' Mohd Rais remains the Chief Information Security Officer of TM - the position that he has served since 2017. Dato' Mohd Rais joined TM in 1988, and 2018 marks his 30th year with the Company. As TM's CTIO, he will be responsible for Network, IT and overall technical delivery, fulfilment and assurance for TM Group. In addition, Dato' Rais will strategise, formulate, direct and lead the implementation and operations of Information Security organisation. This covers Information Security Strategy, Architecture, Governance, Risk, Compliance, Development, Threat Intelligent and Operations in order to ensure the Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability of information assets protection for TM Group. Commenting on the new appointment, Dato' Sri Mohammed Shazalli Ramly, Group Chief Executive Officer, TM said, "We are pleased to congratulate Dato' Mohd Rais on his promotion as TM's CTIO. As a TM home grown leader, he has the experience and expertise to elevate innovation at TM in the era of digital natives." Dato' Rais has vast experience in Malaysia's telecommunications industry and he was also one of the pioneers in establishing Corporate Information Superhighway (COINS) team, providing the first TM's Frame Relay service back in 1997. In addition, Dato' Mohd Rais has been involved in and actively led numerous transformation projects in TM including both High Speed Broadband (HSBB) projects. Meanwhile, Dato' Sri Shazalli also expressed his utmost gratitude to Dato' Rafaai Samsi for his dedication, contribution and loyalty to the TM Group during his tenure, "We would like to express our highest gratitude to Dato' Rafaai for all that he has done for TM. In the 40 years that he has served TM and the nation, he has engineered not just our technical transformation, but more importantly, our transformation from being a network-oriented company, to one that is service-oriented." "As the former CTIO, Dato' Rafaai's behind-the-scenes contribution and efforts towards TM's success goes beyond Information Technology & Network Technology. The change that he pioneered at Customer Experience has been transformational. He has changed the mindset of Warga Keluarga TM to become even more customer-centric. This is certainly in line with our consistently above global telco average Customer Satisfaction Measure (TRI*M) index scores over the years - a testament to our concerted efforts in improving customer experience. This laid the foundation of TM as Malaysia's Convergence Champion and strengthens our brand promise of "Life Made Easier"," he added. "We are grateful for not just his professional and technical contributions to the Group, but also his efforts in nurturing talent. Dato' Rafaai has been a mentor and coach to many people in TM that are now among our current crop of leaders. The management and Warga Keluarga TM are immensely grateful to Dato' Rafaai for his leadership and all his contributions to the Company. We would like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best for his future endeavours," Dato' Sri Shazalli concluded. Profiles Dato' Mohd Rais Azhar Dato' Mohd Rais Azhar, aged 54, was appointed as Chief Technology & Innovation Officer (CTIO) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) effective 14 February 2018. A Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) Degree graduate from Indiana State University, USA; Dato' Mohd Rais is also the Chief Information Security Officer of TM since 1st January 2017. Prior to this, he was the Deputy Chief Technology & Innovation Officer of TM in 2017 and was appointed as Vice President of Network Architecture and Technology in 2010. Dato' Rais is the Chairman of TM Technical Security Council and a board member of Telekom Research & Development Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of TM. In 2017, Dato Rais attended Leading Digital Business Transformation programme at IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland as part of his executive education. Dato' Rafaai Samsi Dato' Rafaai holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Electronic Engineering from Brighton University, United Kingdom and a Masters in Communications Management from the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom. He started his career in telecommunications with the then Jabatan Telekom Malaysia in 1978. He was later appointed CEO of TM - NTT Communications Corporation's joint venture company in July 1997 before returning to TM in July 2001, where he was assigned as General Manager of a number of divisions including State Business Operations, Market Development and Domestic Carrier Business Division. He was then appointed Vice President, Marketing and Sales for the Wholesale segment in October 2006 and subsequently promoted to Executive Vice President to lead the Wholesale Line of Business on 1 July 2008. Dato' Rafaai was assigned as Deputy CTIO to run the day-to-day operations and turn-around initiatives of the IT and Network Technology Division since January 2013. He was assigned as Head of Customer Experience Management and Transformation reporting directly to TM Group CEO on 1 July 2014 and at the same time, remained as the Deputy CTIO. He was also the Chairman of Service Management Council (SMC) responsible for TM's overall customer service management. Before his retirement from TM, Dato' Rafaai was TM's Chief Technology & Innovation Officer (CTIO) and Chief Customer Experience Officer since 18 February 2017.
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