Wednesday, February 10, 2010

November 20, 2009 19:08 PM

Sarawak May Resort To Using Satellite For Better Connectivity

SARIKEI, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Sarawak may resort to using satellite transmission in the near future as the best option for the most comprehensive Internet connectivity.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said this was because of the many challenges faced, notably the state's sheer size, very tough topography and terrains and the absence of the critical mass, especially in its rural expanse.

He said this at a media conference at a longhouse, Rh.Mathew Jana, Batu Matop in Julau about 50km from here Friday after launching the Sarawak Rural Broadband Initiative(SRBI) on "ICT Development Framework Programme For Human Capacity Building" at the SK St Alphonsus nearby.

Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang represented his minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, at the function.

Taib said: "In the years to come, when we have picked up the momentum and when the economy of scales is better, the best way is to use satellite.

"However, this is very costly and currently the country has only three satellites in orbit.

"We could perhaps consider some sort of cooperation with Indonesia, for instance, which is very aggressive in its ICT development programme using the approach," he said.

Taib also expressed his happiness at the initiative shown by the private sector in supplementing government efforts to develop the state ICT infrastructure.

He said the government was aware that this was very difficult in the rural conditions but it hoped for at least 50 per cent of the rural areas to be covered by the end of the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

On broadband penetration, he said the target was for 100 per cent provision of the facilities.

On whether ICT studies should be made a school subject to expedite its development to benefit rural students, he said this was slowly being introduced by the federal government.

What was needed was dedicated programmes designed to help those designing the school co-curriculum, he added.

Salang, when commenting on this, said the schoolnet programme where schools were given computer sets was one example.

"Under this, the government is spending huge sums to provide generator sets to schools for the power supply. Some schools and rural population centres like those in Bario or Long Bedian in the Miri Division are enjoying satellite-based connectivity." he said.

-- BERNAMA

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