KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 — Internet and communication coverage in populated areas of Sarawak has reached 90.09 per cent as of October 31, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
In addition to the National Digital Network (Jendela) initiative, the Sarawak government, via the Sarawak Multimedia Authority and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad, is implementing the construction of 600 new towers under the SMART 600 initiative to improve internet coverage in the state.
“We will request all telecommunication companies to deploy all resources to ensure uniform coverage across all areas within a state.
“This will certainly take time, but this is among the efforts being made by me and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission,” he said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Fahmi was responding to Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin's query on the latest status of the application to install Starlink services at the Bengoh Dam, which involves three villages that are tourist attractions and require Internet and telecommunication coverage.
As of October 31, Internet and communication coverage in the Puncak Borneo Parliamentary constituency stood at 87.29 per cent.
To improve this figure, he said 28 new communication towers have been completed and are operational under Jendela Phase One, while seven more towers are expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2025.
“All 145 existing transmitter stations have been upgraded, and 6,021 out of 6,189 premises are now equipped with fibre optic access,” he said, adding that the remaining initiatives are expected to be completed in stages by the end of 2025.
Regarding Starlink services in Puncak Borneo, Fahmi said a proof of concept trial for the service is being conducted at Kampung Puak, Bau, and will run until June 2025.
— Bernama
