KUCHING, March 2: A total of 3,906 5G sites have been completed by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) nationwide as of Dec 31, 2022.
According to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report, the Minister of Communications and Multimedia Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil revealed 5G network availability has reached 47.1 per cent of the population in populated areas throughout the country.
“This total percentage of 5G network availability includes the 5G transmitter sites, which have been activated by DNB but are not accessible to users,” he said.
“If you look at the 5G sites that can be accessed by the users, availability of the 5G services is only at 38.2 per cent of the population in populated areas,” he added.
He was responding to an oral question from Lubok Antu MP Roy Angau Gingkoi today as it was not answered in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
Ahmad Fahmi also disclosed that his ministry is constantly improving the implementation of the Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) Phase 1 (2020-2022) and Phase 2 (2023-2025), which would narrow network access and Internet coverage gaps throughout the country and is being expanded in stages.
“A total of 7.7 million premises have been connected with fibre optics for fixed line broadband and have exceeded the target of 7.5 million premises,” he further revealed.
“As for mobile broadband service, we achieved the targeted 96.9 per cent of populated areas as of the fourth quarter of 2022.
“In addition, the mobile broadband download rate has reached 116.03Mbps compared to the original target of 35Mbps,” he explained.
He added that the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia has also accelerated the provision of broadband services through satellite technology in 839 locations in rural areas throughout the country.
“It was originally planned to be implemented in 2023 in Jendela Phase 2, which was completed in Jendela Phase 1 in 2022. — DayakDaily
