Comms ministry to have engagement session with DNB, telcos

 

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil says he will be holding an engagement session with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and all telecommunications service providers today to discuss the 5G coverage in the country.

He said among the things to be discussed was for DNB to be managed in a more transparent and open manner.

"There were plans for me to go overseas to attend some programmes, but I cancelled them following the prime minister's announcement (regarding DNB).

“So my focus and that of the ministry now is to hold an engagement session with DNB and all telecommunications service providers,” he said in a live interview session by RTM in Parliament yesterday.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim when tabling Budget 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday said the government was taking an approach to ensure DNB was managed more transparently and comprehensively to achieve full participation by telecommunication service providers.

Fahmi (above) said one of the objectives that would be set was for DNB to ensure 5G coverage in 80 percent of populated areas nationwide by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, when met by Bernama, he said the RM10 million allocation for the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) would help in the fight against scams in the country.

"Action should also be taken, for example, to strengthen the Personal Data Protection Act and create a Cyber Security Commission.

“This is among the efforts being planned by the ministry to ensure the effectiveness of the NSRC in combating scams in our country," he said.

Overall, Fahmi said, Budget 2023 had something for everyone.

"Providing aid to paddy farmers as well as a profit sharing of 30 percent of the net profit from Bernas (Padiberas Nasional Bhd) is something that was never thought of, but has been successfully done," he said.

Yesterday, Anwar announced that in addition to the RM60 million contribution provided, Bernas had also agreed to contribute 30 percent of its net profit from rice imports to paddy farmers.

Meanwhile, in a media statement, Fahmi said the RM102 million allocation for the Digital Content Fund would open up more opportunities for artists to produce various creative works of high quality that will help penetrate the international market.

- Bernama