Phase Two of Jendela initiative has connected 1.1 million premises to fibre optics, says deputy minister

KUALA LUMPUR: Phase Two of the National Digital Network (Jalinan Digital Negara, or Jendela) initiative that began in the second quarter has brought fibre-optic connections to 1.1 million premises nationwide, says Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.

This brings the number of premises with fibre-optic connections to 6.05 million across the country, he said during his winding-up speech on the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) in Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 6).

Jendela is also a platform for the transition to 5G in the near future under the five-year 12MP.

Phase One of Jendela began in September last year and focused on the expansion of fibre-optic coverage, the construction of new 4G sites and the upgrading of existing 4G transmitting stations to improve coverage nationwide, said Zahidi.

He added that the achievements of Phase Two included increasing the speed of mobile broadband from 25Mbps to 26.03Mbps.

"Also, 4G mobile broadband coverage expanded from 91.8% to 94.03% in populated areas," he said.

Meanwhile, Zahidi said the ministry has launched 86 investigation papers into inappropriate social media posts on racism from 2018 up to August this year,

Of that number, four cases were taken to court, he added.

Zahidi also said there will be ongoing efforts by the ministry to spread awareness of the misuse of social media to sow discord among Malaysians.