Public safety utmost priority when installing telco towers – SMA
KUCHING: The Sarawak government is committed to ensuring that public safety is given the highest priority while meeting the increasing demand for better coverage, quality and affordable broadband service.
A media statement by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority ( SMA) said two engagement and dialogue sessions were carried out this year to discuss on the suitable site for the construction for a telecommunication tower as stipulated in Principle 3 of the Sarawak Telecommunication Policy that the facility should be located in a practical and standard manner.
“Moreover, the selected site should not result in obstruction or negative impact to any landmark, heritage or panorama.
“To this end, the first engagement was organised involving the government, NFP (network service provider) and the community. As there were still concerns raised by the public regarding the construction of this structure, a second engagement session was held last month, with the participation of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, an agency under the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change ( Mestecc),” pointed out the statement yesterday.
The statement was issued in response to the recent complaints made by Sarawak United People’s Party ( SUPP) and residents of Tabuan Heights on the construction of a new telecommunication structure at Lorong Song 3, Tabuan Heights here.
It clarified that the construction of the new telecommunication structure was approved by the SMA based on the consideration that the data traffic in the area had exceeded the capacity of the current cellular telecommunication equipment.
The authority had also studied the possibility of installing extra equipment on existing towers but not only is such implementation not optimal in terms of operation efficiency and cost, but it may also risk public safety due to the physical overloading of the existing towers.
Initially, the proposed site for the construction of the new structure was in a residential park, subsequently prompting SMA to advise NFP to relocate the site, explained the statement.
“This new site has already been gazetted for utility purposes and its location has been audited to perform high- speed broadband connectivity, better coverage and quality of broadband service.
“Hence, approval was given to NFP to erect the structure at this new site. Moreover, NFP is required to adhere to all governing procedures including obtaining Sarawak Energy Berhad and Land and Survey Department approvals,” it said.
Decisions on the construction of telecommunication structures had to be made and promptly executed, said SMA.
It added that any review on the decided optimum site had to be backed by proven scientific evidence to avoid any unnecessary compromise in terms of cost, time of delivery and quality of broadband to the public.