Media & Events

Bridging digital gap with online facilities

06 Aug 2003, Cynthia Peterson, New Straits Times
It is as familiar as going to your favourite coffeeshop to have a cuppa and catch up on the latest in the newspapers with friends. That is how the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) hopes people will view its Kedai.Kom projects around the country. Located in semi-rural areas with vibrant populations, the project allows local entrepreneurs a chance to expand their business and help bridge the digital gap at the same time. Developing communities via Kedai.Kom is a project under the Community Communications Development Programme (CCDP) which aims to make a socio-economic impact on communities in underserved areas with communications and network services and facilities. The facility, which is housed in existing shops, is aimed to be a focal point for communications and multimedia access in the community. Web sites profiling the communities and enrichment programmes are some of the activities expected to take place. “The ‘Kom’ in Kedai.Kom stands for communication, and we hope people will do things like read newspapers online at the facilities,” says Nasaruddin Che Abu, general manager of MCMC’s regulatory division. Each Kedai.Kom has five PCs with wireless broadband access (mininum 384 kilobits per second) via very small aperture terminals (VSATS) and two public payphones outside the premises. The CCDP, through Kedai.Kom, aims to improve information access and help people develop new skills through communications and multimedia facilities, as well as to connect them to the k-economy and provide them with an opportunity to market their businesses and products online. Kedai.Kom is targeted for semi-rural areas which are categorised as areas about five kilometres from the nearest town and having an active community with limited or no access to communication, and with existing cottage industries which stand to benefit from access to communication facilities. Other criteria include an active, strong village development and security committee, and the shop chosen must be a clean and safe premises frequented by the public. “We targeted semi-rural areas because rural areas are covered by our Universal Service Provision (USP) programme,” says Nasaruddin. MCMC has allocated RM90 million for the projects and it provides funding and appoints the service provider. Each location is allocated about RM200,000 for the project, with the MCMC buying equipment and paying the service provider. The MCMC works with and co-ordinates the efforts of governmental and non-governmental organisations to identify communities for the project. The first phase of the CCDP was launched in Rumah King, Pakan, Sarawak; and Kampung Paris I, Kinabatangan, Sabah, on Dec 18, 2002 (see side bar). The first phase of Kedai.Kom has a target of 173 sites with five sites per district in Pahang, Perak, Kedah, Perlis and Malacca. The remaining States will be the focus of the second phase. Perak leads the way in this project as 10 locations in Grik and Manjung got broadband Internet access on March 6 this year. Overall, Perak has 54 sites identified for this project, and the remaining 44 sites are expected to be broadband-enabled very soon. Kampung Sentua in Perlis was broadband-enabled on May 17 this year in conjunction with World Telecommunications Day. Focal points Kedai.Kom was opened in Kampung Telok Talipon in Kuala Kedah and Kampung Batu Hampar in Bedong, Kedah on May 18 in two grocery shops. The grocery shops required small renovations which typically need to take place to house the computers and laser printer securely. “The renovations are small and the entrepreneurs do not spend more than RM5,000,” says Nasaruddin. Among the criteria for selecting entrepreneurs are he/she must currently run a business or have been in business and be committed to making the project work. They are allowed to charge for Internet usage, but Nasaruddin says the operators generally charge rates below that of cybercafes to attract customers. “Students really use the facilities, and teachers send them there to do research on the Internet for their school work,” says Nasaruddin. He adds that students and users from other villages come to Kedai.Kom due to its broadband connectivity. Kedai.Kom also runs courses on PC and Internet usage which are held over weekends, and the community and teachers identify who the participants should be. Success factors MCMC considers each Kedai.Kom a success if it is utilised by the local communities, and service providers support the project with quick response so that the Internet access is always available. Although none of the communities has used the Internet to market their products yet, it is only a matter of time before that happens. The commission is ready to bridge the digital gap in more underserved areas. “We are eager to get to more states and more villages,” says Nasaruddin.
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