BANGKOK: Malaysia's information and communications technology (ICT) sector will get a boost in the next few years from new applications, content and initiatives as the country moves towards developed nation status by 2020.
Further development will come from applications and content, for which Malaysian firms have invested time, energy and money, said Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi when interviewed on the sidelines of the ITU Telecom World 2013 here yesterday.
He said the government's pro-ICT and pro-development policies have benefited the industry, with which it has been engaged in discussions.
As every nation goes through different experiences as it expands broadband access and usage, a global meeting like the ITU Telecom World is an opportunity to share experiences and opinions, he said.
The event on Nov 19-22 organsed by the International Telecommunication Union brings together top-level participants from around the world to debate key issues relating to the dramatic transformations in the ICT sector and how this change can be harnessed to improve people's lives everywhere.
Mohamed Sharil said Malaysia's efforts at enhancing internet and broadband usage have begun to be acknowleged by other nations, with some expressing a wish to visit the country to see for themselves how it has managed to raise the broadband penetration rate to nearly 70% from 30% in 2006.
Earlier, during a panel discussion on "Education Transformation: Financing e-Learning Programmes", he said the ICT industry in Malaysia has been supportive and shared the government's vision.
As a relatively young country with a young population, Malaysia made the decision to get its youth quickly connected without having to worry whether they are in the cities or rural areas, he said.
"As a government and regulator, we may not know the best. The best is to get together a group of experts from the industry and community, and pool the resources together," he said.-