Energy & Technology

SUBANG JAYA: G-AsiaPacific, subsidiary of K-One Technology Berhad, recently crowned the AWS Partner of the Year Malaysia 2024, celebrates the launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) Region, a strategic move that positions Malaysia as a key digital transformation hub in Asia. Malaysia: The Emerging Digital Transformation Hub The establishment of the AWS Region in Malaysia underscores the country’s growing significance in the global technology landscape. By bringing world-class cloud infrastructure closer to developers, startups, and enterprises, as well as government, education, and non-profit organisations, will have greater choice for running their applications and serving end users from AWS data centres located in Malaysia. G-AsiaPacific is proud to be an AWS Advanced Tier Partner to continue to empower local enterprises and public sector organisations to leverage advanced cloud technologies effectively. “Malaysia is poised to become a leader in the digital landscape within ASEAN, and the launch of the new AWS Region plays a critical role in that journey,” said Mark Goh, CEO and Co-founder of G-AsiaPacific. “By providing businesses such as retail and manufacturing, logistics, automotive, healthcare with access to the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud while meeting data residency preferences, we are facilitating faster and more efficient adoption of cloud technologies across industries. This is a significant step towards realising Malaysia’s vision of becoming a regional digital economy powerhouse.” Catalyzing Growth and Innovation The new AWS Region in Malaysia will offer Malaysian businesses, from startups, small and medium sized businesses to large enterprises, as well as government and public sector organisations the ability to innovate at scale, reduce latency, and meet data residency preferences. G-AsiaPacific is uniquely positioned to help organisations capitalise on these new opportunities through its deep expertise in AWS services and cloud advisory capabilities. For instance, by optimising the e-commerce platform of leading Malaysian retailer Padini, G-AsiaPacific ensured seamless online shopping experiences, even during peak sales periods. This is just one example of how businesses can benefit from the local presence of AWS infrastructure, enabling faster data processing and cost-effective scalability. TF Value Mart, one of the largest retail chains in Malaysia, managed to save 35 percent on infrastructure costs by migrating to AWS in 2018 under G-AsiaPacific’s recommendation. They have implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP), backup and disaster recovery solutions to achieve high availability and stability that offers seamless operations and business continuity. To maintain a smooth user experience for its employees, TF Value-Mart has upgraded most of its virtual machines to Amazon EC2 R5 Instances, which are memory optimised for accelerated performance. G-AsiaPacific also provides readily deployable and cost-effective software as a service (SaaS) solutions for businesses of all sizes. They design and implement internet of things (IoT) solutions to gain real-time insights and improve operational efficiency. Stay updated as G-AsiaPacific and AWS continue to explore the potential of the new AWS Region in Malaysia, driving innovation and digital transformation across ASEAN.

KUALA LUMPUR: Huawei Digital Power’s cutting-edge FusionSolar C&I Smart PV&ESS Solution made its Malaysian debut at the Malaysia PV&ESS Safety Forum & Product Launch 2024, which was hosted by Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Huawei Malaysia) recently, and attended by over 250 participants and stakeholders from the energy, photovoltaic (PV), and energy storage industries (ESS).  PV industry leader Huawei Digital Power demonstrated its innovation prowess at the forum and highlighted compelling proof points on the potential of PV as the next main universal form of energy that will steer Malaysia towards carbon neutrality, environmental stewardship, and sustainability.    Forum participants, which included members of government agencies, enterprise representatives, and industry professionals, were given an insightful introduction to the FusionSolar C&I Smart PV&ESS Solution during the event.     Set to redefine safety standards in commercial and industrial (C&I) application scenarios, which include shopping malls, supermarkets, factories, and official parks, the FusionSolar C&I Smart PV&ESS Solution features safety solutions in three dimensions to provide protection across failure, namely, device safety, asset safety, and personal safety.     In his welcome address, Mr Simon Sun, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Malaysia, highlighted that Huawei Digital Power will continue to push the boundaries of innovation in renewable energy to bring sustainable solutions to its customers and to respond to environmental challenges.     “In 2023, Huawei delivered 145 gigawatts (GW) of solar inverters globally, cumulatively achieving 445GW and generating 1,110.6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, equivalent to the planting of 755 million trees. Looking ahead, it is important to focus on improving energy storage solutions while also ensuring that power generation assets remain safe, reliable, and cost-effective,” he said.    Huawei Digital Power’s approach to strategically facilitate Malaysia’s transition from a high-carbon to low-carbon nation integrates digital technology (Bit), electronic power technology (Watt), thermal management technology (Heat), and ESS management technology (Battery), collectively referred to as the “4T” technologies.     “As PV energy generation improves and the costs of solar panels decrease due to growing market supply and demand, the era of PV and Energy Storage (PV+ ESS) parity is on the horizon. FusionSolar, the integration of battery and solar, is gradually becoming the renewable/green energy of choice of the masses, helping to reduce the dependence on diesel generators, and lessening economic as well as environmental impacts. This means combining solar power with energy storage will become the most prudent and universal form of power,” said Mr Sun.    In addition to the introduction to the FusionSolar C&I Smart PV&ESS Solution, the forum explored three main topics, namely: Overview of Malaysia’s Solar and Energy Storage Landscape, Overview of Potential Safety Hazards in PV&ESS Installations, and a Deep Dive into Securing a Greener Malaysia.   Aligning with the Malaysian Government’s objectives of reducing carbon emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030 and achieving full carbon neutrality by 2050, Huawei is committed to continuous innovation and forming strategic partnerships to catalyse the adoption of advanced renewable energy solutions that will yield optimal ways to build a low-carbon and circular economy for Malaysia. 

MALAYSIA: BigID, a leader in data security, compliance, privacy, and AI data management, announced an expanded partnership with Cohesity empowering organizations to find and take action against critical data risks and vulnerabilities across backup and recovery processes. These new developments give organizations unparalleled visibility, context, and control over their sensitive data, across the entire environment – significantly improving data security and risk management at the enterprise scale. The new integration allows organizations to pinpoint sensitive data, identify potential exposure issues related to backup and recovery, and then carry out the appropriate remediation controls and measures to mitigate risk. As a founding member of the Cohesity Data Security Alliance, BigID extends beyond its existing integration within Cohesity’s DataHawk. This new integration will give organizations comprehensive visibility into the location of sensitive data and potential exposure issues related to backup and recovery. BigID’s partnership with Cohesity will deliver a comprehensive approach towards managing and protecting sensitive data from unwanted exposure, enabling joint customers to: Rapidly Identify and Secure Sensitive Data: Discover and map sensitive data sources with or without existing backup policies. Organizations can streamline the process of identifying sensitive data that lack proper security controls, including data backups, so they can swiftly implement the necessary safeguards and measures. Simplify Cyber Recovery Compliance: Simplify compliance by getting a clear picture of data risks and vulnerabilities, as well as existing security controls. This empowers organizations to identify and close gaps between their data protection practices and compliance requirements, ensuring a robust security posture. Proactive Data Security & Risk Management: Maintain visibility into sensitive data across the environment to quickly identify and address potential data exposure risks and vulnerabilities. Organizations can proactively apply remediation actions and security controls faster and more comprehensively to mitigate the chance of a data breach or leak. While the initial integration will enable visibility in sensitive data exposure, BigID is committed to expanding its partnership with Cohesity towards building proactive and automated remediation against data risks. “BigID and Cohesity share a vision of providing proactive Data Security Posture Management with not only visibility into sensitive data exposures but also proactive, automated remediation. We are excited about this next step that we have embarked on together.” – Shay Azulay, Sr. Director, Security Products at BigID. “It is critical for enterprises to quickly and effectively respond to cyber attacks on their critical data sets. However, customers can achieve that rapid response during an attack only if they identify exposures and proactively adjust data protection policies and practices before an attack. Our joint customers can address both scenarios through Cohesity’s integration with BigID’s Data Security Posture Management capabilities.” – Sheetal Venkatesh, Sr. Director, Data Security Products at Cohesity.

CelcomDigi Bhd (CelcomDigi) and Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Huawei) have formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into CelcomDigi’s network, paving the way to establish one of Malaysia’s most intelligent 4G and 5G-ready networks in the country.  The collaboration will explore applying AI capabilities to CelcomDigi’s Radio Access Network (RAN) also known as “IntelligentRAN”. This includes the incorporation of a digital twin system to enable rapid experimentation of new network models, alongside implementing proactive network management capabilities through advanced analytics and leveraging multiple support systems to intelligently provision network services to improve customer experience.    AI and automation can significantly boost network productivity and innovation, even as network infrastructures become more complex. Creating digital twins will enable the company to run large-scale simulations in a virtual network replica before live implementation, accelerating innovation at lower costs with minimal disruption to customers. Proactive network management, powered by predictive algorithms, ensures a consistent and reliable customer experience. Additionally, intelligent orchestration of 4G and 5G resources will enable more personalised and improved wireless services for customers.    CelcomDigi’s CEO Datuk Idham Nawawi said, “The country is in a prime position to be a regional leader in both 5G and AI development. We are proactively investing to build the most advanced 4G and 5G-ready network in the country to realise this ambition and serve the needs of consumers and enterprises in a new 5G-AI powered age of ‘digital-everything’. With a robust AI-driven network, we believe we are best positioned to deploy a high-performance 5G network to power Malaysia’s digital future.”      Mr Simon Sun, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Malaysia, emphasised that Malaysia is at the point of inflexion for deploying network intelligence as AI technology progresses.     “Our vision is to build intelligent networks across Malaysia, and to achieve this, Huawei Malaysia is evolving beyond being an ICT solutions provider towards a collaborative architect of AI-driven networks. By deploying the IntelligentRAN with CelcomDigi, we will unlock significant business value by allowing for full integration of AI capabilities across all layers of wireless networks and enable 5G business success,” he said.     Under the collaboration, CelcomDigi and Huawei Malaysia will also explore jointly leveraging cross-domain data convergence from Huawei platforms to gain a comprehensive view of the customer and service lifecycle, enable proactive user experience management and support seamless digital transformation across the company’s network operations. 

Since its inception in 2002, Symbio has been at the forefront of telecommunications, pioneering high-quality Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. Over the years, the company has strategically expanded its portfolio to include messaging, data services, and network infrastructure, consistently adapting to the rapidly evolving industry landscape. “We started as a VoIP provider, setting new benchmarks in voice calling,” says Dylan Brown, CEO of Connect Division at Symbio. “Our journey has been one of continuous adaptation and expansion. Today, we’re a trusted partner for global telecom and software innovators across the APAC region.” In line with its strategic objectives, Symbio has recently achieved several significant milestones, further underscoring its intent to enhance regional presence and capabilities. Among these, the launch of its voice network in Malaysia stands out, a development made possible by the acquisition of a Network Service Provider (NSP) license from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). “This license marked a major step in our expansion, allowing us to streamline operations and improve connectivity for global telecom providers entering the Malaysian market,” explains Brown. “It’s about simplifying market entry and establishing Symbio as the go-to partner in this region.” To reinforce its commitment to operational efficiency and regional growth, Symbio also introduced the SEA Hub—an innovative solution offering a single point-of-voice interconnection for multiple countries. This hub enables service providers to manage their regional operations more effectively, demonstrating Symbio’s leadership in the sector. “The SEA Hub is a game-changer,” notes Brown. “It allows providers to accelerate their growth in the rapidly evolving digital landscape by offering a streamlined process for deploying services across the APAC region.” Symbio’s high-performance IP voice network is another cornerstone of its strategy, standing out as a state-of-the-art solution designed for telecommunications service providers across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The network’s SIP-native architecture enables it to handle large-scale voice traffic with unparalleled flexibility and efficiency. “Our network is built to deliver,” says Brown. “It decouples last-mile services from voice lines, providing a flexible and efficient platform for our clients. The SEA Regional Hub, in particular, simplifies access to top-tier voice services, reducing costs and speeding up market entry.” Moreover, Symbio’s modular capabilities—including call termination, numbering, and porting—are integral to its success. These services integrate seamlessly with client systems, enhancing operational efficiency and scalability. “Our modular offerings are designed to remove barriers and streamline operations,” Brown adds. “This allows our clients to focus on their core business while we provide a robust, flexible service platform.” Continuing its commitment to innovation, Symbio has been enhancing its service delivery to meet the evolving needs of its clients. A recent example is the enhancement of Pre-port Number Validation (PNV) to Cutover Notification Advice (CNA) for complex ports in Australia, significantly improving operational efficiencies. “This innovation reduced manual handling by 40%,” Brown highlights. “By automating the porting process, we’ve minimized errors and accelerated onboarding for our clients, ultimately leading to faster and more efficient service delivery.” The acquisition of the NSP license in Malaysia is not just a milestone but a strategic move that aligns with Symbio’s broader regional strategy. This license not only simplifies market entry for global providers but also enhances Symbio’s ability to deliver seamless, high-quality voice services across both Malaysia and Singapore. “The NSP license is a critical component of our regional strategy,” says Brown. “It allows us to integrate services more effectively through the SEA Hub, providing our clients with the flexibility and scalability they need to succeed in this region.” Looking ahead, Symbio is clear in its plans for further investment in the Malaysian telecommunications market. The company is committed to exploring new opportunities that align with its regional strategy, with a particular emphasis on fostering growth and innovation within the Malaysian ecosystem. “We see immense potential in the Malaysian market,” Brown remarks. “Our focus is on strengthening our position as a leading provider of telecommunications solutions in the country and beyond.” As Symbio looks to the future, it anticipates developing tailored service packages for multinational corporations operating across Malaysia and Singapore. The company also plans to pursue strategic partnerships in other high-growth Southeast Asian markets, further solidifying its leadership position in the region. “Our goal is to stay at the forefront of technological advancements,” Brown concludes. “By continuing to innovate and expand, we’re ensuring that Symbio remains competitive in the ever-evolving telecommunications landscape.”