The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM) is monitoring companies that have been awarded tenders to install Point of Presense (PoP) fiber optic network hubs in 700 rural schools in Sabah.
Communications and Multimedia Minister, Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the implementation of the project, which was supposed to be completed by the end of this year, was slow and companies needed to improve their implementation performance under the Phase 1 PoP.
“All PoP projects in the schools involved in Sabah will be continued and the ministry will launch PoP Phase 2 before the end of this year, Sabah and Sarawak will also be given priority for this project,” he said in response to a supplementary question from Vivian Wong Shir Yee (PH-Sandakan) on question and answer session of the House of Representatives Conference here today.
Vivian wanted to know the progress of the implementation of the PoP project in rural schools in Sabah which was announced last March.
PoP is a fiber optic hub installation initiative that is an alternative in ensuring that broadband infrastructure networks and coverage can be expanded to areas around schools and residents to enable the availability and accessibility of 4G network coverage to be at an encouraging level apart from the construction of telecommunication towers and satellites.
Meanwhile, answering the original question from Datuk Wilson Ugak Anak Kumbong, Annuar said a total of 85 telecommunication tower sites had been completed in Sarawak while another 741 were currently under construction under the National Digital Network (JENDELA) Phase 1 program.
He said for the upgrade of transmitter stations, a total of 2,933 towers had been upgraded while another 247 were in the process of being upgraded throughout Sarawak.
“The Federal government’s commitment to ensure the state of Sarawak & nbsp; has the best internet service is clear, a total of RM4.09 billion under JENDELA Phase 1 has been allocated and is being implemented,” he said.
Annuar said for the Hulu Rajang area, a total of 59 telecommunication towers were under construction, while for the upgrade of transmitter towers, 38 had been completed and 12 more were still under implementation.
He said all the initiatives were still in the implementation stage and were expected to be completed in stages by the end of 2023.
Meanwhile, Annuar said the percentage of 4G coverage in populated areas in Sarawak increased to 84.24 per cent in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 73.67 per cent before the implementation of JENDELA.
