KUCHING: A digital transformation is key in Sarawak's aim to achieve economic prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability by 2030, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
In line with this, the Sarawak Premier said that the state government had put in place various initiatives to support its digital economy agenda.
He said this included the Sarawak Linking Urban, Rural and Nation (Saluran) initiative to provide connectivity to underserved communities in rural and remote parts of the state.
"The construction of 600 communication towers is part of this initiative, carried out under the Sarawak Multimedia Authority rural telecommunication (Smart) project," said Abang Johari.
Speaking when opening the Asean-Australian Engineering Congress at the Tegas Digital Village here on Tuesday (July 12), he added that this is expected to be completed with mobility and the Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN) services in 2023.
The three-day conference was organised by Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and Engineers Australia in partnership with Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Bhd and Sarawak Development Institute.
In addition, Abang Johari said MySRBN had been implemented in 158 sites across Sarawak, providing fixed wireless broadband services to rural families and communities.
"MySRBN will be extended across all 600 Smart towers to cater for a further 100,000 rural homes in the coming years," he said.
Abang Johari also said engineers played a key technological role in realising the state's ambitions through implementing strategic infrastructure and ensuring resilience against cybercrime.
He said future engineers must be prepared for an increasingly digital future amid the challenges of building sustainable communities, overcoming the impact of climate change and encouraging responsible consumption.
"Embracing the digital transformation will ensure that engineers can tackle these highly complex global challenges to secure our ideals," he said.
