Sabahans to enjoy wider broadband coverage from year-end, says PM

 

With an estimated cost of RM2.45 billion in Sabah alone, the state is poised to be the top recipient of the government's National Digital Network (Jendela) initiative. - Photo by Bernama.

KOTA KINABALU: With an estimated cost of RM2.45 billion in Sabah alone, the state is poised to be the top recipient of the government's National Digital Network (Jendela) initiative with regard to infrastructure development to increase broadband connectivity.

Speaking at the launch of Gerbang Sabah, here, tonight, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Sabahans will start to enjoy wider broadband coverage beginning end of this year, with the project expected to complete by 2022.

Gerbang Sabah is an underwater fibre optic cable landing station in Tanjung Aru and a crucial component of the Jendela initiative introduced on Aug 29.

"This initiative is part of the country's strategic plan to prepare the people for changes in future lifestyle that is based on technology and innovation.

"Gerbang Sabah is the internet connection point between Sabah and the rest of the world. I believe it will further boost Sabah's progress and development," said the prime minister.

Muhyiddin was accompanied by his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abd Rahman, Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, and Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, among others.

The Gerbang Sabah will see capacity increased threefold from its initial capability of 4Tbps (terabytes per second) to 12.8 Tbps in the next three years.

It involves an additional allocation of RM100 million from the initial RM575.5 million investment by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM).

"This capacity is important to accommodate the increase in internet users in Sabah while supporting the mission of Jendela's action plan that will be implemented by the government as well as telecommunications service provider companies.

"Works for the Jendela initiative have already started. It is expected that 96.9 per cent of populated areas will be covered with 4G services by 2022 before we expand to the 5G network," said Muhyiddin.

He informed that 419 new towers will be built while 1,972 transmitters will be upgraded to 4G.

Muhyiddin said the project will make broadband connectivity in Sabah at par with other states.

Apart from that, fixed line fibre optic coverage will be expanded, involving 251,166 premises in the state.

Being the biggest recipient of Jendela benefits, Sabah will witness aggressive telecommunication infrastructure development, especially in 30 state constituencies identified as most lagging in terms of telecommunication facilities.

To help improve the people's standard of living in line with Jendela, the MCMC will also restructure the role of existing 133 Community Internet Centers (PIK) in the state.

The role of PIK includes developing Internet usage skills and e-commerce involvement among rural communities. - NST