By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, July 9: A total of 603 out of 618 Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunication (SMART) telecommunication towers have been completed across Sarawak, with 502 of them already activated or ‘on-air’, and 405 progressively equipped with advanced Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology.
State Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said digital transformation requires a strong infrastructure foundation.
As such, the Sarawak government launched the Sarawak Linking Urban, Rural and Nation (SALURAN) programme, which aims to construct 600 4G telecommunications towers in rural and remote areas under the SMART project managed by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC).
“To date, 603 out of 618 SMART towers have been built, with 502 activated (‘on-air’) and 405 progressively enabled with the advanced Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology.
“This MOCN technology allows major telcos like CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, YTL, and TM to deliver their network services—ensuring inclusive coverage for rural communities, regardless of their preferred network provider,” he said during the launch of the Integrated Business Digitalisation Initiative @ Sarawak (BDI@SARAWAK) at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
With the rollout of SMART towers, he highlighted that Sarawak also introduced the Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN) in March 2021.
“MySRBN, which uses Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology, delivers high-speed internet to rural communities that previously had no internet access.
“To date, 32,000 homes across Sarawak are connected via MySRBN, and this number continues to grow.
“MySRBN has stimulated economic growth in Sarawak by creating new opportunities for local entrepreneurs to venture into online business,” he said.
Julaihi added that Sarawak aims to build at least 7,000 telecommunications towers statewide to achieve full coverage.
He said the State has already surpassed 5,000 towers to date, with the aim of physically strengthening Sarawak’s digital infrastructure to support wider connectivity, particularly in rural and remote areas. — DayakDaily
