BANTING, July 9 — The 4G mobile broadband coverage in Selangor has reached 99.87 per cent of populated areas as of the first quarter of this year, with speeds of up to 55.96 Mbps, said Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
The broadband coverage through the phase one National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) had shown encouraging achievements, with 17 new telecommunication towers planned for completion by the end of the year.
“Eleven of them have been completed and telecommunication providers are taking action on the installation of communication equipment. However, I received information this morning that eight of the 11 towers are not yet on air.
“I will visit one of these eight soon. If I find that there are no immediate plans to activate these towers, they should be prepared. I ask that this matter be expedited,” he said.
Fahmi was speaking at the Day with Digital Economy Centre (PEDi) Community programme in Kanchong Darat, earlier today.
He said so far 8,457 transmitter stations had been upgraded to the 4G network, leaving only 19 stations still in the implementation stage.
Fahmi said he will discuss with telecommunication service providers, to ask them to intensify efforts to promote the prepaid and broadband unity packages announced by the ministry earlier.
“Last February the government announced the prepaid unity package and in March we unveiled the unity package for broadband. If you are still not aware, let me know, and I will call all the telco CEOs to ask why they are not publicising these benefits for the rakyat,” he added.
The ministry introduced the Mobile Internet Prepaid Unity Package, better known as Unity Package, at RM30.
Fahmi said 28 fibreoptic Point of Presence (PoP) facilities have been completed, ready for subscription by at least 2,912 premises to widen the network coverage for broadband infrastructure.
226 PoP initiatives have also been planned for development in Selangor, with 52 PoP under the first phase and 174 more to be implemented under the second phase.
On the Saya Digital programme, he said the initiative had benefited about 16,081 participants throughout the country, including 3,195 people in Selangor, in the two-year period since its implementation.
The programme had moved physically to almost 40 locations throughout the country, including five in Selangor, to create awareness of the need to adapt to technology to enhance the people’s digital skills, especially among the B40, senior citizens and students.
— Bernama
