By Marlynda Meraw
KUCHING, May 13: The Ministry of Utility and Telecommunications Sarawak (MUT) estimates that 7,000 telecommunication towers and structures are required to achieve full coverage in populated areas in Sarawak by 2030, says its minister, Datuk Julaihi Narawi.
Sarawak currently has 4,447 towers and telecommunication structures that have been completed, Julaihi said, with 3,791 towers and structures operational, while the remaining 858 towers will be activated gradually until the second quarter of 2025.
He explained that completed towers signify the completion of the initial stage, involving physical construction while operating towers indicate the conclusion of the second stage, which encompasses the installation of telecommunication equipment, with both stages lasting nine months each.
“Sarawak possesses an internet service coverage of 80.9 per cent compared to 76.3 per cent as reported at the last Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS),” said Julaihi on the sixth day of the DUS sitting today.
Internet service coverage in Sarawak involves three main technologies, namely fixed broadband, mobile broadband, and satellite broadband.
Julaihi, who is also Sebuyau assemblyman, noted that not all telecommunication towers are capable of providing direct signal coverage for making calls, highlighting the presence of repeater towers that facilitate signal transmission between towers.
According to him, the repeater towers do not provide mobile coverage, and they are usually built in high and remote areas. Currently, there are 102 repeater towers under the National Digital Interconnection Programme (Jendela) and Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunications (Smart) initiatives.
Meanwhile, he explained that a tower collector site is responsible for collecting and managing network traffic from the surrounding towers.
“If this tower experiences damage or vandalism incidents, the network or coverage in other towers connected to the collector site will also be affected,” he said. — DayakDaily
