RM480 mln broadband boost

by Peter Sibon, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 17, 2012, Friday

LATEST UPDATE: Dato’ Mohd Sharil Tarmizi, chairman of MCMC (left) gives a briefing

on the latest broadband penetration in Sarawak to Awang Tengah (second right) in

the present of Entrie (right) and Dr Rundi (second left). — Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: 140 new towers to increase state’s broadband penetration by year end.

The federal government will build 140 telecommunication towers costing RM480 million to increase broadband penetration in the state this year.

Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan in disclosing this said broadband penetration in the state had already improved from just 20 per cent two years ago to 47.4 per cent today.

The new towers, about half of which would be completed by middle of the year, would enable between 80 to 90 per cent of populated areas in Sarawak to have access to the internet by the end of the year.

“This year, hopefully we will achieve higher broadband penetration.

“But this also depends on the subscribers, not just on the infrastructure.

“Our main idea is to close the digital divide between the rural and urban areas,” Awang Tengah told the media after receiving a courtesy call from a delegation led by the special affairs officer of the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture Dato’ Mohd Nazri Abdullah at his office at Wisma Sumber Alam here yesterday .

However, Awang Tengah said the penetration achieved so far fell short of the 50 per cent target set by the state government for end of 2011.

458 villages to have access to free Wi-Fi

“But that by itself was a great achievement as we have been able to increase our capacity from 20 per cent two years ago to 47.4 per cent today,” he reiterated.

Awang Tengah who is also the Minister of Resource Planning and Environment said currently Miri had already achieved more than 60 per cent.

“But let me explain that no country in the world would be able to achieve between 80 to 90 per cent of broadband penetration because there would always be at least two out of 10 people who would not want to pay the subscription fee.

“So the commitment of the government to provide the infrastructure is more important than how many subscribers we would be able to get,” he stressed.

He also explained that this year alone there would be 458 villages with access to free Wi-Fi throughout the state.

“The government will continue to improve the infrastructure capabilities with the help of the MCMC, Sacofa and other providers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Awang Tengah disclosed that the government would distribute some 100,000 more computer
notebooks this year compared to 80,000 last year.

“We want to ensure that our students and community leaders would be more IT savvy,” he added.

Also present during the briefing were Assistant Ministers of Public Utilities Datuk Sylvester Entrie and Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.