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 Wholesale and radian arc collaborate to expand cloud gaming offerings to the ASEAN market
Collaboration signifies TM’s commitment to expand cloud gaming in the ASEAN region, leveraging Radian Arc’s Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Edge Point of Presence TM Wholesale, the domestic and international wholesale business arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), today announced a partnership with cloud infrastructure provider Radian Arc to expand its cloud gaming offerings in Malaysia and other ASEAN countries. The collaboration will see both parties leveraging each other's strengths to provide users with high-quality content and cloud-gaming experiences. Through this partnership, both companies will collaborate to deploy a new point of presence (PoP) in Malaysia, utilising Radian Arc's proprietary GPU Edge technology. This PoP will enhance TM Wholesale's cloud-based gaming solutions as well as other real-time applications that use similar technology. The availability of this robust platform ensures that these central processing units (CPUs) can provide relevant applications at a lower cost to serve. Following the rollout of the cloud gaming platform, TM Wholesale and Radian Arc intend to make an array of cloud-based applications, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IOT) accessible to users in order to accelerate digital transformation and adoption, which is pivotal to Malaysia's digital aspirations. Radian Arc is also partnering with cloud gaming platform Blacknut to bring their games catalogue to the region, reinforcing TM Wholesale's vision of providing better cloud gaming solutions. Through this partnership, TM Wholesale will be able to offer over 500 family-friendly premium games to service providers, with lower latency and faster start times for their customers. Commenting on the collaboration, Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, Executive Vice President of TM Wholesale said, "TM Wholesale has always been committed to promoting Malaysia's transition to an advanced digital economy, and given the meteoric rise of cloud gaming, we've shifted gears to put this into a higher drive. "Our collaboration with Radian Arc is among our efforts to fulfil the demands of the gaming industry, while exploring opportunities in other emerging technologies such as cloud and edge computing, and ensure customers enjoy high-quality digital experiences. "This is in line with our aspiration to position Malaysia as a regional digital hub and expand our reach via edge computing platforms to provide better user experience for next-generation applications and games," he added. "As we continue to expand access to cloud gaming around the world, we want to find partners who can elevate our service offerings to telcos and improve the gaming experiences we provide to players," said David Cook, CEO of Radian Arc. "The collaboration will also look into possibilities for future applications leveraging TM's extensive network coverage, allowing us and Blacknut to improve the quality of cloud gaming for customers in Malaysia and the surrounding regions." The collaboration with Radian Arc symbolizes a new era of gaming for TM, harnessing the benefits of GPU Edge technology to deliver high-quality digital experiences to end users.
Unifi TV kickstarts 2023 offerings with addition of popular beIN SPORTS 2, Moonbug Kids and one premium channels
Unifi, a leader in converged home, mobile and lifestyle services via its digital content arm, Unifi TV, today announced three new premium channels via partnerships with leading content providers – beIN Asia Pacific; Moonbug Entertainment, a subsidiary of Candle Media; and Korea’s KC Global Media. Starting February 2023, viewers will be able to enjoy these popular channels via their Unifi TV subscriptions: beIN SPORTS 2 – featuring top-tier European football, international tennis competitions and most recently, full Formula 1 coverage; Moonbug Kids – designed for families with pre-school children; and ONE – for fans of the latest Korean drama and entertainment. Two of the three new channels, Moonbug Kids and ONE will also be available for free preview throughout the whole of February for both existing and new Unifi TV subscribers. This brings Unifi TV’s channel offerings to a whopping 71 premium channels, along with 17 app partners including Disney+ Hotstar, Viu, WeTV and Lionsgate Play – the largest selection of streaming apps over a single platform. Ho Hock Doong, Head of Content, Unifi TV said, “We are excited to partner beIN Asia Pacific, Moonbug Entertainment, and KC Global Media in bringing their popular channels to Unifi TV and to provide more quality offerings to our local audiences. “At the end of 2022, Digital Market Insights projected that Malaysia’s Home Entertainment revenue was expected to reach an annual growth rate (CAGR 2022-2027) of 8.36%, with a projected market volume of US$48.57 million and 1.1 million active users by 2027. “With these prospects in mind, we are strengthening our partnerships with leading global content providers to offer an inclusive selection of digital entertainment solutions – bringing Unifi’s ‘all-in-one’ value proposition to all audiences,” he added. beIN SPORTS 2 will join the line-up of three existing beIN SPORTS channels as well as the beIN SPORTS CONNECT app already available on Unifi TV, offering the widest live sports coverage from beIN SPORTS in Malaysia. In addition to the Formula 1 broadcast rights which will be extended to Unifi TV viewers, the channel will also include the Australian Open, ATP and the upcoming Roland-Garros. Mike Kerr, Managing Director, beIN Asia Pacific, said, “As we continue to expand and strengthen our sports offering, we are excited to enter into the next phase of partnership with Unifi TV. Now with Formula 1, fans can immerse themselves in more live coverage than ever before on beIN SPORTS. We look forward to working alongside Unifi TV to grow our audiences in Malaysia.” Putting families in the forefront, Moonbug Kids on Unifi TV will feature all of Moonbug’s IPs including CoComelon, Blippi, Gecko’s Garage, Morphle, Arpo, Little Baby Bum and recent acquisitions Little Angel and Oddbods – offering wholesome and quality entertainment for preschool and early-years viewers. Unifi TV is also the first digital content platform in Malaysia to offer selected Moonbug Kids programmes on demand that are localised in Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin – bringing these edutainment programmes to more of Malaysia’s multi-lingual audiences. “We are extremely excited to launch our Moonbug Kids channel on Unifi TV via their on-air and online platforms. We have had a strong start to 2023 in maintaining our strategy of rolling out our content and channels across APAC and EMEA and are now very much looking forward to sharing our beloved characters and stories with families across Malaysia,” said Nicolas Eglau, Managing Director EMEA & APAC, Moonbug Entertainment. Leading K-entertainment channel, ONE, on the other hand, will bring the best of Korean entertainment to Malaysia. The channel will feature drama series Kokdu: Season of Deity within 24 hours of release in Korea and a line-up of romantic specials in February such as Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo and Backstreet Rookie. Fans of travel variety shows will also be treated to Dopojarak: Story of Homme the K-Wanderer, featuring personalities from K-pop, K-drama, fashion and sports. George Chien, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of KC Global Media shared, “We are excited to enhance our partnership with Unifi TV to bring the best entertainment from around the world to every household and mobile device in Malaysia! With the addition of ONE channel on Unifi TV, fans can look forward to an endless stream of freshly curated programming direct from South Korea’s biggest broadcasters and studios.” “These channels are quality additions to our platform and will strengthen our lifestyle offerings as part of Unifi’s Converged solutions for broadband, mobile and digital content. Our aim is to provide seamless customer experiences via extensive and affordable services that meet today’s digital demands, including online entertainment both at home and on-the-go,” Ho shared. “As we kick off 2023, we aim to continue expanding our digital content, providing more customisable, value-for-money selections together with Unifi’s other converged solutions to bring something for everyone,” he concluded.
TM Registers Higher Profits in FY2023, Sustaining Resilient Performance
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 February 2024 – Telekom Malaysia Berhad (“TM” or “the Group”), today announced its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2023 (FY2023), with the Group reporting higher revenue and profitability compared to FY2022. This performance reaffirms the Group’s resilience in the competitive market landscape. During the year under review, the Group registered a higher revenue of RM12.26 billion compared to RM12.1 billion in FY2022 propelled by the strong performance of Unifi and TM Global. Specifically, Unifi’s fixed broadband subscriptions experienced a 3.1% growth, reaching 3.13 million, while TM Global’s revenue grew from heightened demand for domestic and international data services. The Group’s Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) remained flat at RM2.09 billion in FY2023 due to higher operational costs. Meanwhile, the Group’s Profit After Tax and Non-Controlling Interest (PATAMI) rose 63.6% from RM1.14 billion to RM1.87 billion due to a lower net finance cost and tax impact. The Group’s capital expenditure (CAPEX) in FY2023 stood at RM1.9 billion, or 15.9% of its revenue. These investments were primarily aimed at expanding the Group’s network infrastructure nationwide and regional submarine cable system. TM declared a 2nd interim dividend and final dividend totalling 15.5 sen per share amounting to approximately RM594.9 million, demonstrating its commitment to delivering shareholder value. Reflecting on the FY2023 performance, Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group Chief Executive Officer said, “I am pleased to share that TM has sustained its performance amidst challenging regulatory landscapes, heightened competition, and evolving market dynamics. “Our convergence solutions, paired with attractive packages have continued to appeal to our customers, reinforcing our position as the only Fixed Mobile Convergence with quad-play in Malaysia. The ongoing expansion of our nationwide fibre coverage, coupled with the enhancement of our data and network infrastructure, have also contributed to our growth. We remain committed to promoting digital inclusivity and wider digital adoption while addressing the evolving needs of our customers, both domestically and internationally,” said Amar. “Furthermore, 2023 marked the completion of our initial three-year transformation phase during which we have further solidified our position in the local and global telecommunication landscape. Advancing into the next level of our transformation journey, we are now focused on evolving into a Digital Powerhouse by 2030, while positioning Malaysia as a digital hub for the region. Our commitment aligns with the nation’s aspiration of becoming a fully integrated digital society, ensuring that we continue to play a key role in the era of digital innovation,” Amar concluded. Unifi maintains leadership in converged solutions Unifi maintains its leadership in converged offerings of fixed broadband, mobile services, digital content and solutions for both consumers and MSMEs, recording RM5.66 billion in revenue. Unifi’s fixed broadband segment grew 3.1% to 3.13 million subscribers, driven by strategic convergence campaigns and aggressive customer retention efforts. Unifi’s latest offering, the #Unstoppable UNI5G Postpaid and Mobile Family Plans, is designed to enhance the 5G connectivity experience for Malaysians. The newly launched Unifi TV Originals provides a wide array of unique, diverse and locally tailored content for an enriched experience for Malaysian viewers. These further contribute to the Group’s true convergence proposition, providing better value to all customers. As a preferred partner to more than 400,000 MSMEs nationwide, Unifi Business continues to accelerate digital adoption by providing tailor-made solutions, offering them the tools and support needed to thrive in the digital economy. Looking ahead, Unifi will further cement its role as a leader in convergence to deliver unmatched converged digital services. TM One drives innovative solutions for enterprise TM One continues to navigate the market complexities while exploring new growth opportunities. Despite decreased revenue to RM3.14 billion in FY2023, its 4Q23 results showed an increase in revenue of 17.3% versus 3Q23, driven by a surge in solution-based customer projects. TM One has partnered with PLANMalaysia to equip 29 city councils with smart technologies for sustainable and connected urban environment. It was also appointed as the preferred converged digital infrastructure partner for the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) to materialise aspirations towards the growth of Sarawak’s digital economy. Moving forward, TM One is poised to remain at the forefront of supporting and enabling the digital infrastructure for both government entities and enterprises. With a focus on innovation and strategic partnerships, TM One is set to play a significant role in Malaysia’s digital transformation journey. TM Global positions Malaysia as a digital hub for the region TM Global posted a solid financial performance in FY2023. Its revenue rose 8.7% to RM3.10 billion, primarily from an increase in international data revenue, driven by managed wavelength services for hyperscalers, alongside an uptick in domestic data services. In the domestic landscape, TM Global continues to expand 5G backhaul sites and High-Speed Broadband (HSBB) Access coverage in accelerating digital inclusivity nationwide. Globally, it recorded a year-on-year 30Tbps bandwidth growth and delivered a mega requirement of more than 35Tbps long-term leased connectivity for US-based hyperscaler. TM Global will continue to broaden its digital infrastructure solutions and forge strategic alliances with global carriers to position Malaysia as a digital hub for the region, facilitating seamless digital connectivity and services across borders.
NEWSLETTER
Just drop your details and stay updated with the world of Telekom Malaysia. We promise – no spam!