This article appeared in The Star on 4 October 2022.

KUALA LUMPUR: Coverage of 4G broadband in populated areas in Sarawak increased to 82.84% in the second quarter (Q2) of this year compared to 73.67% before the implementation of Phase One of the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) (2020-2022).

Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said as at Q2 this year, a total of 91 new tower sites had been built in the state, 3,082 transmitter stations upgraded, 523 areas provided with satellite broadband coverage while 79,766 premises had fibre optics Internet access.

“Improving (broadband) coverage will continue through Phase Two of the Jendala Plan (2023-2025),” he said during the question and answer session.

He was replying to a question from Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem (GPS-Serian) regarding the ministry’s commitment in ensuring comprehensive and stable broadband coverage in the interior areas of Sarawak.

Zahidi said all the initiatives involved government allocations through the Universal Service Provision and commercial investment by service providers exceeding RM4bil in Sarawak, reported Bernama.

He said of that amount, a total of RM2.12bil had been utilised while the remaining RM1.9bil was in the implementation stage.

Zahidi said in addition to the construction of telecommunication towers through the Jendela Plan and satellite projects, the government had also implemented the provision of broadband infrastructure using the Point of Presence (PoP) method.

According to him, overall, Phase One of the PoP project would involve 630 locations and Phase Two would cover 3,693 locations near schools in rural areas throughout the country, while the total number of PoPs in Sarawak would be 741.