MCMC Draws Up More Solutions Under JENDELA 2 For Rural Connectivity

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is drawing up additional solutions under Phase 2 of the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA) to further expand high-speed internet access in rural areas nationwide.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said JENDELA has achieved encouraging progress, with 9.48 million premises now having fibre optic access and internet coverage in populated areas reaching 98.82 per cent as of July 31.

“The median mobile broadband download speed recorded 150.10 Mbps,” she said in response to Senator Datuk Rosni Sohar’s question on Malaysia Digital initiatives nationwide, including in rural and remote areas, during question time at the Dewan Negara today.

She said for 5G coverage, Digital Nasional Berhad has completed 7,489 transmitter sites, providing 82.4 per cent of populated areas with 5G access.

Meanwhile, the second 5G network by U Mobile Sdn Bhd, which began operations on July 14, has completed 1,232 sites with more than 28 million subscriptions, bringing the 5G penetration rate to 82.7 per cent for every 100 inhabitants.

In line with efforts to strengthen communications infrastructure, the government under the 13th Malaysia Plan has set a target of achieving 98 per cent 5G coverage in populated and industrial areas, including rural regions, by 2030, Teo said.

She said the government is also deploying broadband infrastructure using the Point of Presence (PoP) fibre optic hub method, where as of Aug 12, 677 PoPs under Phase 1 have been fully completed.

Meanwhile, 1,468 PoPs out of 3,693 under Phase 2 have been completed nationwide, providing 163,906 fibre optic ports with speeds of up to one gigabit per second (1Gbps).

Teo said to ensure affordable internet access, the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development under the United Nations has set that the cost of basic broadband in low- and middle-income countries should not exceed two per cent of monthly Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.

“Malaysia recorded 0.7 per cent for mobile broadband, far lower than that target. For fixed broadband, the latest rate is 2.2 per cent, slightly above the global benchmark, but is expected to be reduced through various initiatives and more competitive pricing strategies,” she said.

To Rosni’s supplementary question on whether the ministry plans to increase facilities under Community Internet Centres, rebranded as National Information Dissemination Centres (NADI), in urban poor areas, Teo said that 1,098 out of the 1,099 NADIs planned under the ‘1 Constituency 1 NADI’ initiative were fully operational as of July 31.

“The remaining new NADI is currently being implemented, namely NADI Kampung Gelam in Sabah, due to a change in location, but we expect it to be operational soon,” she said.

Teo said the ministry is also running safe internet campaigns and cybersecurity awareness courses, while collaborating with platforms like Shopee and Lazada to help rural residents become e-entrepreneurs.

In reply to Senator Datuk Salehuddin Saidin’s question on incentives for telcos to provide broadband in remote or less commercial areas, Teo explained that the government provides funding through PoP and JENDELA to ensure these areas have internet access.

“We are still providing incentives to service providers to go there and fibre-up the area. We use schools as the centre point, and we will fibre-up surrounding areas within a 2.5 to 3-kilometre radius to ensure remote locations, even without commercial value, still have coverage,” she said.

Teo said through JENDELA, service providers will be appointed to build communication towers or adopt suitable solutions to expand internet coverage to remote areas, even those with a small population.

-- BERNAMA