KUCHING, Feb 11: Implementation of 4G connectivity for Sarawak will be extended until 2023 to ensure 100 per cent coverage throughout the State, said Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi.
According to Julaihi, Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) aims to continue the implementation until 2022 with an allocation of RM4.09 billion, but the target could not be achieved due to many constraints.
“What is important is that we will get the broadband coverage ready as soon as possible because the allocation is already there to build the facility, and it is already in the planning stage,” he told reporters after a working visit to MCMC Sarawak, here today.
Julaihi noted the State government has also allocated a lot of funds for that purpose, but it depends a lot on the level of implementation at the ground level.
“There may be some unforeseen constraints that delay the implementation due to the vastness of Sarawak,” he said.
Julaihi also pointed out that as of the fourth quarter of 2021, Sarawak has achieved 82.86 per cent of 4G coverage in populated areas throughout the State.
He said this percentage will continue to increase with the construction of 636 new 4G towers under Phase One of the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela), most of which will be erected in rural Sarawak starting this month (February).
“The remaining 337 towers are expected to be awarded to contractors to be built in March 2022 and will take a year to complete,” he added.
Also present during the work visit were Assistant Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (Telecommunication) Datuk Liwan Lagang, Assistant Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (Utility) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Head of MCMC Sarawak (Transformation and Coodination Division) Roslan Mohamad, MCMC chief development officer Nizam Arshad and Dr Zaidi Raza. — DayakDaily
