KUCHING: The government is improving communication infrastructure in the rural areas of Sarawak, among them in the Selangau constituency.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said through the JENDELA Phase 1 and 2 initiative, network access and internet coverage are being expanded in stages.
According to Fahmi, as of the third quarter of 2022, the percentage of 4G coverage in populated areas in Sarawak has increased to 84.69 per cent compared to 73.67 per cent before the implementation of JENDELA.
“The percentage of 4G coverage in populated areas in Selangau has increased to 52.28 per cent compared to 28.14 per cent compared to the implementation of JENDELA in the second quarter of 2020,” he said this in response to Edwin Banta (GPS-Selangau) in parliament recently.
Fahmi added that, in order to improve access to the internet as a whole in Sarawak, as of the fourth quarter of 2022, as many as 90,840 premises have been prepared with fiber optic connections for fixed line broadband in excess of the planned 115,287.
In addition, he said a total of 3,546 communication transmitters have been upgraded to 4G technology, while the remaining 43 are in the implementation stage out of the planned 3,589.
“The ministry has also completed 158 new towers and is in the process of completing the remaining 684 towers out of a total of 842 towers planned.
“All initiatives currently in the implementation stage are expected to be fully completed in the fourth quarter of 2023,” he explained.
He said the ministry has also accelerated the provision of broadband services through satellite technology in 523 locations at rural areas in Sarawak.
