TM One and SME Bank sign agreement to provide technology funding to SMEs via SME Technology Transformation Fund (STTF)
TM One, the business and public sector solutions arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (SME Bank), an agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative to offer technology funding for its Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) customers to accelerate their business and digital transformation.
The MoU was signed by Ahmad Taufek Omar, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, TM One while SME Bank was represented by Aria Putera Ismail, its Group President/Chief Executive Officer.
The SME Technology Transformation Fund (STTF), is a fund set up between SME Bank and the Ministry of Finance to offer financing assistance of up to RM3.0 million to local SMEs. This is part of the Government's Pelan Jana Semula Ekonomi Negara (PENJANA) economic stimulus package to provide financial assistance to SMEs in adopting digitalisation and/or automation in their business operations.
Commenting on the collaboration, Ahmad Taufek said, "We are excited to work hand-in-hand with SME Bank to accelerate digital adoption amongst our customers particularly in the SME segment. This is in support of the Government's efforts under PENJANA to execute key initiatives to help SMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim is to assist SMEs in addressing real business challenges and issues that they are currently facing with the digital solutions available. We have put in place dedicated teams and solutions to enable our customers to realise the full potential of their digital opportunities. Our Professional Services are a consultative approach in helping SMEs to understand how to plan their digital transformation based on their unique business requirements."
Meanwhile, Aria said, "With a fund size of RM500 million, STTF is expected to directly assist SME entrepreneurs to achieve higher productivity, process efficiency, efficient cost management and greater market penetration. As at 11 November 2020, SME Bank has approved 18 applications worth RM36.55 million under the STTF fund. SME Bank's role in encouraging the SMEs to adopt digital technology was further enhanced with the introduction of ODELA, the first one-stop e-commerce platform backed by a Development Financial Institution (DFI), that enabled B2B entrepreneurs to make transactions and foster partnership across vast ecosystems. The Bank's wholesome approach in providing financing and entrepreneur development assistance further adds value and accelerate the development of digital economy thus boosting the nation's economic growth in this challenging time."
STTF is to be used for financing the purchases of IT solutions and services, technology support services, computer hardware and software, equipment and/or machinery and other intangible assets to enhance productivity and efficiency. SMEs as defined by the National Entrepreneur and SME Development Council (NESDC) are eligible to apply for STTF.
TM One's solutions are aimed at helping SMEs to achieve higher productivity, better cost management and improved efficiency for wider market penetration through the adoption of digitalisation and automation. As the digital enabler for enterprise and public sector customers with enterprise-grade connectivity and end-to-end cloud offerings, the Company is well positioned to enable the ecosystem for digital society, digital business and digital government. Leveraging on its complete digital solutions offerings across connectivity (Internet & Data), voice and collaboration tools, business outsourcing services, cloud services, cybersecurity and Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart services, TM One will fulfil the needs of businesses and the public sector in embracing digital convergence towards enabling Digital Malaysia.
This is in line with TM Group's unique role as the nation's connectivity and digital infrastructure provider. It is also in support of Jalinan Digital Negara (JENDELA) Plan to drive Malaysia's Digital Economy through business digitalisation and new ways of working.
For more information on TM One solutions and how to apply for STTF, visit www.smebank.com.my and www.tmone.com.my.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

TM and Ministry of Education establish synergy to drive digital transformation in education
TM Becomes the Strategic Partner for Digital Education Transformation Initiative and Launches Special unifi Mobile Plan, Exclusively for Teachers Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) and Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) today embarked on a journey to establish working synergies on Digital Education Transformation initiative, in line with the Government’s Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50) plan which is set to empower Malaysia’s education system through innovation and digitalisation. This collaboration marks a steadfast effort via strategic partnership between TM and MOE to ensure effective delivery of the Digital Education Transformation programme. The collaboration will focus on four (4) main pillars namely 21st Century Teaching & Learning, Enterprise Architecture, Education Analytics and other Value Added services suitable for education. The ceremony was graced by YB Dato’ Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Minister of Education Malaysia together with Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Sulaiman Mahbob, Chairman, TM, together with Datuk Dr. Amin Senin, Education Director General of MOE and Datuk Bazlan Osman, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, TM. To commemorate this collaboration, TM also introduced a special unifi Mobile plan exclusively for teachers, called “JASA Pack”. The plan which is offered at only RM59 a month for unlimited data, calls and SMS. Commenting on the collaboration, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Sulaiman Mahbob said, “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 is proud to play its role as the strategic partner in establishing the ecosystem for MOE digital transformation programme. We really look forward to work with MOE to accelerate the delivery of innovative digital services and solutions for the education sector towards building a knowledge-based workforce for the country.” “Meanwhile, as the one and only brand in Malaysia that offers truly seamless Internet connectivity to Malaysians nationwide, we are excited to introduce unifi Mobile “JASA Pack” plan for teachers, offering our teachers a converged digital lifestyle. The exclusive plan for teachers will be available nationwide for all teachers to enjoy unlimited data, calls and SMS via unifi Mobile at an affordable price for their daily communication needs, true to our promise, “Life Made Easier”,” he added. The collaboration will enable MOE to boost and accelerate its digital transformation journey as outlined in the national education blueprint 2013-2025 (Wave Two). This means students, teachers as well as MOE administrators can look forward to a seamless transformation of digital experience. These digital experience include high speed broadband connectivity, interactive smartboard, smart devices, as well as the methodology of teaching and learning the 21st century way. The transformation will also digitise the students tracking and attendance system for the safety of the students, whereby all parents and teachers will have real-time visibility on the students’ attendance. The transformation will also enable parents to choose cashless payment options at school. Ultimately, all data and information from all these solutions will be integrated and combined into one single platform to provide Big Data analytics.

TM ONE LAUNCHES ITS INNOVATION LAB AND ENTERPRISE 5G LAB TO EMPOWER AND DRIVE DIGITALISATION IN THE ENTERPRISE AND GOVERNMENT SECTOR
CYBERJAYA, 20 FEBRUARY 2024 – TM One is proud to announce the launch of its Innovation Lab and Enterprise 5G Lab, designed to accelerate the realisation of ground-breaking digital services and solutions. These initiatives cater to the unique needs of Malaysia’s large enterprises and Government sector, fostering innovation and empowering digital growth opportunities for TM, its valued customers, partners and society. Officiated by Minister of Digital, YB Gobind Singh Deo, both labs will serve as hubs to bring together the latest technologies, digital leaders and inspiring ideas. It provides a secure, collaborative space where TM, its customers and partners can turn ideas into tailor-made solutions, creating opportunities in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. Amar Huzaimi Md Deris, TM’s Group CEO, said, “We are excited to launch our new Innovation Lab and Enterprise 5G Lab by TM One. This is a significant milestone of our commitment to drive innovation and deliver value to our customers, partners and the nation. Through these initiatives, we aim to foster greater industry collaboration, and propel key areas such as Enterprise 5G and Smart Services with AI to help organisations thrive in the digital age. “The launch of the Innovation Lab and Enterprise 5G Lab underscores TM's ongoing commitment to foster innovation and customer-centricity. It strengthens our role as a trusted partner for organisations seeking to harness the power of digital technologies, and drive growth and transformation within their businesses and wider communities,” he shared. Located at the state-of-the-art TM Digital Academy in Multimedia University, the Labs are the next in TM One’s continuous efforts to build collaborative ecosystems to drive equitable digital progress. Complementing this initiative is TM One’s 5G Sphere Partnership Programme, with partnerships with over 50 local and global entities to support the co-creation of new innovations. TM One’s Sandbox further provides a secure operational test-bed environment for these partners and customers to develop customised solutions. Both Labs enable: 1. Immersive Engagement: Beyond showcases, organisations will experience first-hand how TM One innovates solutions and delivers expertise for their specific needs. By experiencing potential solutions in action, customers can better grasp the implications and advantages to their own operations. 2. Dialogue & Knowledge Sharing: Having initial prototypes will encourage a deeper exchange of insights by various ecosystem players including TM One’s 5G Sphere partners, and other industry experts. 3. Accelerated Decision-Making: Live use-cases and knowledge sharing help expedite decision-making processes, empowering customers to make informed choices confidently. The Innovation Lab helps decision-makers address hurdles or uncertainties they may have about new technologies or services. 4. Tailored Relationships: Customers will receive a personalised, tailored experience, focusing on an organisation’s unique digital and business objectives, and how TM One can contribute to their success. Customers visiting the Innovation Lab and Enterprise 5G Lab will explore a diverse array of opportunities including the future of connectivity and digitalisation, as well as how technology will reshape industries and elevate the digital business landscape into a realm of boundless possibilities. For a first look at the TM One Innovation Lab and Enterprise 5G Lab, visit https://youtu.be/kg6CA16Khqk

TM R&D Celebrates double win at the global TM Forum Excellence Awards 2020
In-house solutions SWIMS and IDEAS+ received global recognition for the Beyond Connectivity and A.I, Data & Analytics categories respectively Telekom Research & Development Sdn Bhd (TM R&D), the innovation arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), added another feather to its cap when they recently bagged not one, but two (2) awards at the prestigious TM Forum Excellence Awards 2020. The awards were conferred to TM R&D for its innovative solutions namely Smart Water Integrated Management System (SWIMS) under the Beyond Connectivity and Artificial Intelligence (A.I) category, while its Intelligent Network Diagnostic & Expert Advisory System for Service Desk (IDEAS+) solution received the recognition under Data & Analytics category. Since 2007, TM Forum Excellence Awards recognises the world's leading companies for their innovative achievements spanning digital transformation, business and IT agility, customer centricity, cultural transformation, cross-industry partnering and collaboration, and product and service innovation in AI, data analytics, autonomous networks and cloud native IT. All entries were assessed by a global panel of judges based on the extensive materials submitted. Each year, the judging panels are carefully selected from varied global organisations to ensure a balanced approach and a wholly impartial view. Commenting on the double wins, Dr. Sharlene Thiagarajah, Chief Executive Officer, TM R&D said, "This is certainly a welcomed surprise and a proud moment for us at TM R&D. We are excited that two of our very own internally-developed smart solutions, deployed in collaboration with Air Selangor and Group Customer Experience at TM have been recognised by global industry experts such as TM Forum. Both solutions are now commercially available domestically and to the global market. We believe TM R&D is on the right track to support TM's Digital Malaysia aspirations and simultaneously accelerate Malaysia to become a digital nation." SWIMS is an Internet of Water (IoW) solution, essentially doing for water what Internet of Things (IoT) does for various other industries and verticals. These include electric utilities, transportation, smart cities and factory automation, to enable in-depth, new insights into the operations and the right tools to act on those insights. "SWIMS offers end-to-end smart water management that improves non-revenue water management. It optimises the repair and replacement of ageing water infrastructure as well as improves response to weather events such as water level and quality. Based on feedback we received from Air Selangor, with SWIMS, water usage visibility improved by 3,000% and meter reading accuracy improved 10-15% through automation," shared Dr. Sharlene. The TM Forum Excellence Awards also recognises another solution from TM R&D, IDEAS+ which is a one-stop advisory platform deployed at TM's contact centre. Using machine-learning algorithm, IDEAS+ assists the call centre agents to efficiently troubleshoot and resolve various customer issues. The objectives of the project were to reduce Average Handling Time (AHT) at the contact centre when entertaining customer calls, reduce repeated truck roll, increase the accuracy of troubleshooting and escalation as well as to achieve cost-saving. IDEAS+ is an intelligent diagnostic and advisory system for TM contact centre agents to provide predictive guideline as well as troubleshooting steps with more than 95% accuracy. Established in 2001, TM R&D is the centre of innovation for TM Group focusing on innovations that enriches humanity and bring progress to nations. Growing from strength to strength since 2016, TM R&D has won 15 globally recognised awards and generated more than 2,800 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and 1,400 digital assets to-date. TM R&D's innovations all developed in-house cut across multiple verticals such as Utilities, Retail, Agriculture, Healthcare and Education with safety and productivity as the top priority. As TM R&D continues to expand beyond connectivity and into smarter digital ecosystems, its role in TM has become more prominent and exciting. For more information about TM R&D and its products and services, they can be contacted at business@tmrnd.com.my or log on to www.tmrnd.com.my or follow them on LinkedIn (TM Research & Development) for more news and updates.