KUANTAN: Rural cellular and internet coverage, especially in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang, will improve with the completion of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
This is due to the government's push to bring digital and modern communications services to all, especially to the previously underserved areas.
"It's a case of where there's a road, there's Internet. In the case of ECRL, it is where there's rail, there's Internet," he said in his speech after witnessing the handover of the letter of appointment from Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) to Maxis Bhd as the preferred telecommunications provider for the ECRL alignment.
MRL is the project and asset owner for the 665km rail link from Kota Baru to Port Klang that is expected to enter into service by early 2027.
Under the 10-year contract, Maxis will be the lead telco in the provision of telco services for the rail alignment in tandem with other service providers such as YTL and UMobile, including the optimisation of the railway's fibre optic cable asset.
"I would like to congratulate this close collaboration between MRL and Maxis, as this represents an important step in national digitalisation," he said.
Fahmi alluded that it was not easy getting all the telco players on board as they "are dragons".
"It is very difficult getting them all together, and compelling them to share (common) infrastructure," he said.
Sharing of common telecommunications infrastructure includes transmission towers and base stations.
These seamless digital experiences for train passengers will also extend to those living along the rail alignment.
"This is an example of digital development moving along with physical development, with service quality in line with the (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's) Mandatory Standards for Quality of Service (MSQoS).
"This kind of sharing is way ahead for the future, where sustainability is key," Fahmi added.
