KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) recently signed an agreement to migrate the bank's branch network from frame relay technology to the newer Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) service.

In a joint statement today, the companies said the IP VPN service is mainly used as a medium of communications between a company's head office and its branches nationwide to exchange confidential, encrypted data and information.

In addition, the service is monitored round-the-clock to reduce service downtime while allowing customers to maximise usage of its network, they said.

Under the agreement, TM will provide IP VPN services for Maybank to replace its analogue network, which serves the off-bank automated teller machines (ATMs), and the current frame relay technology that connects all their branches.

"The TM IP VPN service allows our customers to make use of Internet communications in a private and highly secured environment," said Datuk Adnan Rofiee, chief operating officer, TM Retail, Malaysia Business.

"Our decision to adopt the IP VPN service is Maybank's ongoing commitment to leverage on the latest technology to further enhance our services and further boost efficiency," said the bank's chief operating officer Datuk Johar Che Mat.

Maybank plans to replace the network for more than 400 branches, which currently use frame relay technology.

-- BERNAMA