KUANTAN, March 3 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is confident of meeting its target of achieving 50 per cent broadband in Pahang by this month.
MCMC's eastern regional director Mohd Shafie Harun said at the moment, the rate was 49.6 per cent.
"To achieve a developed a nation status, the country's broadband penetration rate should be further improved to reach 75 per cent by 2015, " he told Bernama here today.
He said among the national broadband initiatives in Pahang was the allocation of 78,600 units 1Malaysia netbook to qualified secondary school students.
A total of 26,100 units of netbooks were distributed in 2010 and 2011 while 52,500 units more would be distributed this year, with an overall cost totalling RM78 million, he said.
He said the government had also identified 318 locations in the state for the installation of WiFi facility, of which 200 had already been installed, with the rest to be implemented this year.
He added that a total of 217 telecommunications towers have either been built and in the process of construction to improve cellular service coverage in the state from 93 per cent in 2010 to 97 per cent this year.
Other projects in Pahang include the implementation of high-speed broadband infrastructure using fibre optic cables.