By Peter Sibon
KOTA SAMARAHAN, Sept 22: The Sarawak government will invest about RM50 million for VSAT (Very-Small-Aperture Terminal) satellite services that will amplify and provide high speed Internet connectivity in “blind spot” areas in Sarawak latest by early 2021.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg emphasised that the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) has been tasked to implement the project which is expected to be in operation by the end of this year or early next year.
“VSAT satellite is a technology where the antenna can communicate (receive and transmit data) through satellites. It costs roughly over RM40 million and the device could be moved somewhere else.
“So, you have the (telco) towers and if that area has no telco operator services, then you can use that satellite.
“When operator services come in, you can move the device to other places as it is mobile,” he told a press conference after officiating at the earth-breaking ceremony for the new office of the Sarawak Farmers’ Organisation here today.
Abang Johari elaborated that Sarawak will need a few of these devices to cover “blind spot” in rural areas.
“The speed is about 30mbps as now the speed is only three to five mbps. The new technology is also able to accommodate WiFi.
“This is a very important device because we are going to cover from Lawas to other parts of Sarawak. In other words, they can also use this as a channel for Sarawak Pay,” he pointed out.
Earlier in his speech, Abang Johari advised farmers to adopt the Internet of Things (IOT) to enable them to be agropreneurs in the next five years.
He envisioned that the Sarawak government will be able to provide all the basic infrastructures such as roads as well as electricity and water supply for modern farming.
“Honestly, this is what GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) wants to do. When we have the money, we want to implement things so that it can benefit the rakyat.
“When we have extra income, then we can do more things for the people. This is GPS lah,” he added. — DayakDaily
