MCMC seeking new method through digitisation to expedite applications

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is seeking a new method through digitisation to expedite the process of applications including for the issuing of licences, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo.

He acknowledged that there were some issues regarding the issuing of licences, reiterating that the process would be upgraded.

“There exists a concern regarding the issuing of licences and this needs to be upgraded. We are in the process of revisiting not only licences, but also other applications.

“If possible, we want to speed up the process by digitisation. In the digital age, we can carry out paperless applications. This is what MCMC is looking at and I hope that soon we will announce a new method that can overcome this problem,” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Gobind was replying to a supplementary question from Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PAS-Kuala Krai) who asked the ministry to facilitate the approval of the ‘Apparatus Assignment’ licence for the installation of a communications network at premises which allegedly took between seven and 21 days to be approved.

Responding to Abdul Latiff’s original question on measures taken by the ministry to upgrade telecommunications and internet access in the Kuala Krai Hospital area, Gobind said a total of 32 new communications towers were completed and now operating in the Kuala Krai parliamentary constituency under the Cellular Expansion coverage and Portable Expansion Service initiative.

“It included the construction of two towers around Kuala Krai’s new hospital and 10 towers in the constituency which are in the implementation stage.

“Besides, 70 existing towers in the Kuala Krai area, including one tower near its new hospital, have been upgraded with 3G/4G services, while 11 other existing towers in the area are in the stage of being upgraded.

Gobind said through the Suburban Broadband (SUBB) project that provided fixed line broadband services with speeds of up to 20Mbps, a telecommunication station was in the midst of being built and expected to be ready by the end of next year.