KUCHING, March 31: It is high time for Sarawak to have its own frequency spectrum to expand its telecommunication and internet coverage.
Utilities and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi said he believed that the Sarawak government has a complete plan and a clear agenda to increase Sarawak’s internet coverage.
“This is because the Sarawak government has placed heavy emphasis on the digital economy for the future,” said Julaihi in his keynote address at the Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Conference 2022 held at a local hotel, today.
On April 2012, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak government is negotiating with the Federal government to acquire its own 700mhz frequency spectrum to enable real-time high speed data connectivity, especially in rural areas.
Meanwhile, Julaihi said telecommunication service providers in Sarawak should look at the need and invest in the rural areas.
He also said the rural areas are catching up quite fast in terms of development.
“Yes, we know they (telco providers) are providing good services and have profited from city and urban areas, but we would propose that besides providing good coverage in urban and city areas, they should be willing to invest in the rural areas,” he added.
On another note, Julaihi said Sarawak’s unique terrain is one of the biggest challenges faced by his ministry in terms of project implementation.
Apart from that, he said other challenges and issues are such as physical connectivity, lack of integrated planning for the utility development, wayleave approval, accessibility to the site, the need to reroute or redesign the pipes, cables or lines which could cause delays on project implementation, including vandalism.
According to Julaihi, in terms of interagency collaboration, there is also a need for better cooperation and coordination between agencies, departments and ministries involved to ensure that they are not working in their own respective silos.
“So we are putting up the idea that all these agencies, departments and ministries must cooperate and coordinate in our efforts to give better service delivery in the future.
“By the year 2025, we must reach 100 per cent coverage in terms of water, electricity and telecommunication for Sarawak,” he said. — DayakDaily
