Time to focus on quality of access in telecommunication sector, says Jailani

KUALA LUMPUR: It is time for the Asia Pacific Telecommunity member countries to focus on addressing the quality of access and quality consumer experience in the telecommunication sector, and no longer about providing access.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Jailani Johari said this would help support transformation towards the digital economy, which the main emphasis should be leveraging on high- speed connectivity.

Speaking at the 4th Meeting of the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Preparatory Group for the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC17), here yesterday, Jailani said disruptive innovation in the ICT had become the preferred choices to do business and travelling, hence it was imperative that Asia Pacific countries develop its capacity and continuously explore new opportunities in the digital economy.

“I would like to urge ICT policy makers and regulators, having a key role to play in cross- sectoral collaboration efforts with other sectors, to break down irrelevant barriers and facilitate greater socio-political development and economic growth,” he said.

Jailani said the APT member states must also take the necessary steps to address cyber security problems in horizontal and crosssectoral approach.

“ICT can be a double- edged sword. Without ICT, we risk ourselves being left behind, but with ICT introduction and implementation, we’ve exposed ourselves to an evolving set of cyber security problems.

Until April 2017, the number of cyber attacks using ransomware had increased to 50 per cent and it was also reported that about US$ 1 billion was lost to cyber criminals as a result of ransomware attacks in 2016.

In May this year, the ransomware named WannaCry paralysed many critical institutions and businesses due to lack of awareness among the public and private entities in dealing with cyber security.

Yesterday’s meeting is the last in the series of the APT Preparatory Group meetings and the participants are expected to summarise their discussions on developments in ICT, as well as projects and programmes that will benefit the member states. — Bernama