MCMC SEEKS NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO ADDRESS BROADBAND NEEDS UNDER THE NATIONAL FIBERISATION AND CONNECTIVITY PLAN
GEORGETOWN, 18 February 2019 --- The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced today that it is open to industry-led initiatives as part of an expansive effort towards achieving the goals set out in the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP).
The announcement follows the launch of YTL Communications and Facebook’s Terragraph market pilot in Georgetown to deliver a reliable, affordable and high speed broadband connectivity to the heritage city. The six-month long market pilot will include the provision of public Wi-Fi and Fixed Wireless Access that can potentially solve the challenges faced in urban areas with rising bandwidth per square kilometer; legacy copper infrastructure; costly fiber optic cable deployment; and limited spectrum at lower frequencies.
Minister of Communications and Multimedia, YB Gobind Singh Deo was present to witness the showcase, along with the Chairman of MCMC, Al-Ishsal Ishak and members of the Penang State Government.
“If the technology is capable of delivering gigabit speeds to high-density areas at a fraction of the cost of fiber, we can consider it as part of the NFCP,” said Al-Ishsal.
On 8 January 2019, the inaugural pilot project for NFCP was successfully launched in Jasin, Melaka in collaboration with the Melaka State Government, Jasin Municipal Council, Setia Haruman Technology (a subsidiary of TNB Berhad) and MCMC.
“The NFCP is the Government’s initiative to provide the rakyat with robust, pervasive, high quality and affordable digital connectivity. It is a five-year plan that shall serve as one of the country’s economic levers as we move towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Al-Ishsal.
Key targets set under the NFCP include having average speed of 30Mbps in 98% of populated areas and Gigabits availability in all state capitals by 2023, which will be achieved through initiatives undertaken by MCMC and industry.
“More pilot projects are in the pipeline especially in Sabah and Sarawak. The government is committed to providing internet access to everyone – not just a privilege or a luxury. Access to the internet has become a necessity to the people and an essential building block for the future growth of the country,” Al-Ishsal concluded.
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