This article appeared in New Sarawak Tribune on 29 November 2022.

KUCHING: The state will have 92 5G network stations ready to operate by the end of the year, said Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Julaihi Narawi.

According to Julaihi, these are among 500 5G network stations being built in cities such as Kuching, Miri, Bintulu, and Sibu, with completion expected in stages by the end of 2023.

“The federal government is aggressively implementing 5G technology in Sarawak to realise economic transformation digital in Sarawak through Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB).

“The implementation of 5G in Sarawak began in the middle of this year with a total investment of RM1 billion over a 10-year period,” he said at the DUN sitting here today (Nov 29).

Julaihi said 3,539 out of 7,000 or 50.6 percent of towers and telecommunication infrastructure needed to ensure comprehensive coverage of telecommunications throughout Sarawak have been constructed.

He added that as many as 600 telecommunication towers will be built as part of the Sarawak Multimedia Project Rural Telecommunication Authority (SMART).

“For the first phase, a total of 124 towers out of 300 are projected to be operational by the end of this year when the installation of telecommunication equipment in the towers is done.

“The remaining 176 towers will be outfitted with telecommunications equipment and will go live in the second quarter of 2023.”

“While 300 towers are in the site acquisition process for the second phase, the towers should be fully operational by the end of 2023,” he added.