Internet speed key to Smart Sarawak
CM: State govt in talks with Putrajaya to secure own 5G spectrum needed to realise digital transformation initiatives
Spectrum will determine the speed. If you want to have 5G, you must have the speed of at least 700 over megahertz (MHz).
Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg
MIRI: The Sarawak government is now in the process of discussion with the federal government to get its own spectrum to boost internet speed throughout the state, especially in rural areas.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this is necessary to realise the state government’s digital initiatives to transform Sarawak into a smart state.
“Spectrum will determine the speed. If you want to have 5G, you must have the speed of at least 700 over megahertz (MHz).
“We are now discussing with the federal government to give spectrum to the state agency which is Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SEDC),” he told a press conference a er launching ‘Miri Smart City - Proof of Concept’ at Imperial Hotel here yesterday.
Abang Johari explained that spectrum is only given to telecommunication companies like Digi and Telekom.
However, he pointed out that the telecommunication companies were not willing to provide telecommunication services in rural areas with low demand.
“These people (telco companies) sometimes don’t go to the rural areas where there is no market and do not generate income for them. As public listed companies, they must be able to produce
business margin,” he said.
In view of that, he said the state government will manage the spectrum in rural areas with 5G internet speeds by giving subsidy.
Earlier in his speech, the chief minister said the effort to
transform Miri City into a smart city will help to support the digital economy initiatives being implemented in the state.
He gave his thumbs up to Miri for being a smart city model in Sarawak, and said this concept will be extended to Kuching, Sibu
and Bintulu as well as other areas in order to make the state into ‘Smart Sarawak’.
Through the smart city initiatives, he said all the major cities will have to transform by using digital technology and providing first class service to the
people.
He believes such smart city initiatives will help ministries to provide efficient services to the people.
“By 2030, we will have all these facilities throughout Sarawak. Of course, in the transition period, we have to use satellite because satellites have to go through cloud.
“Once we lay down our fibre optic then we can use the 5G. At the moment, we cannot apply the 5G because there is what we call interception in between.”
Later at the same function, he presented state government grants worth RM1 million each to Miri Red Crescent Kidney Dialysis Centre and Miri Tua Pek Kong Temple.
Also present were Local Government and Housing Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin; Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datu Dr Penguang Manggil; Assistant Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus; Deputy Speaker of State Legislative Assembly Datuk Gerawat Gala; State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion and Miri mayor Adam Yii.