By Christopher Lidom
MIRI, April 12: Sarawak government is negotiating with the federal government to acquire its own 700mhz frequency spectrum to enable a real time high speed data connectivity, especially in the rural areas.
According to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, in Sarawak at the moment, the spectrum is only being held by the telecommunication companies that are reluctant to go to the rural areas because it is less profitable for them.
“So what I do is we are negotiating with the federal government to give spectrum to a firm under Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), a counterpart of Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS), which is basically on the application, but the firm will be on the infrastructure.
“With that signal, then the data will travel at a fast speed in real time,” he said during the launching ceremony of Miri Smart City, at a local hotel here today.
Abang Johari explained, beside boosting the internet connectivity speed in the state, the spectrum would also be beneficial for the medical as well as the agricultural sectors.
He said with high speed internet connectivity, it would enable a specialist doctor to conduct an operation remotely by instructing the surgeon to perform the operation from afar.
“Apart from that, it also benefits the agricultural sector, where it will involve the usage of technology to take care of the crops by utilising the data provided,” he added.
Also present during the event were Minister for Local Government Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin and other distinguished guests. — DayakDaily
