Reasons Celcom can’t achieve 100% coverage

ALOR STAR: The country's high terrain and highrise buildings have hampered Celcom (M) Berhad's efforts at achieving 100% coverage nationwide.  

Telekom Malaysia Berhad chairman Tan Sri Md Radzi Mansor said breakdown occurred when high terrain or tall buildings blocked mobile signals from a telecommunications tower.  

This had caused network users to face disruptions during calls, he said. 

Celcom is Telekom Malaysia's cellular arm. 

He said the company had identified the problem and was working towards improving its services . 

“Our coverage at the moment is 98% of populated areas with more than seven million customers nationwide,” he told reporters after attending the opening of Kedah Telekom’s new building yesterday. 

He was commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s statement that telecomunications companies in the country failed to provide good coverage. 

Sultan of Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah opened the new building. 

On another note, Md Radzi said Celcom 3G mobile network was now available here to usher in the 11th Sukma Games which would begin next week. 

He said Alor Star would join Klang Valley, Penang, Malacca, Johor Baru, Genting Highlands and two other locations in Kedah – Sungai Petani dan Kulim – to receive the coverage.