KUCHING: The first stage of Phase 2 of the National Digital Network Plan (Jendela) in Sarawak is set to begin soon, with six clusters worth RM545mil covering about 350 locations, says Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
He said letters of acceptance had been issued to the companies appointed to carry out the projects.
“For Jendela 2, we plan for about 350 locations in Sarawak to enjoy better Internet connectivity,” he told reporters on Thursday (Oct 15).
Fahmi said work could begin once the companies involved signed the letters of acceptance, which were handed over on Thursday.
“In the coming months, they may be able to start transporting equipment to the telecommunications tower sites.
“So implementation will start almost immediately,” he said.
Fahmi was speaking after witnessing the exchange of a memorandum of understanding between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the state Public Health, Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Utility and Telecommunication Ministry at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
The MOU covers the implementation of the Kuching Smart City project, aimed at expanding digital connectivity and supporting the transformation of urban services across Greater Kuching.
Fahmi said the project, estimated to cost RM550mil, would involve Kuching North City Hall, Kuching South City Council, Padawan Municipal Council and Kota Samarahan Municipal Council.
“This will leapfrog the digital infrastructure in Kuching and the surrounding areas.
“The project will, among others, provide fibre-optic cables for Smart City initiatives, including CCTV,” he said.
Fahmi also said the Madani Submarine Cable (Salam) project would have at least three landing points in Sarawak, including Bintulu.
“This will support the development of Bintulu Port,” he said, adding that Buntal and Matu had been proposed as the other two landing points.
The Salam project, which is aimed at strengthening communications connectivity between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, will have 10 landing points nationwide.
Five will be in Sabah, complemented by a coastal submarine cable linking Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, Fahmi said.
“We expect Salam to start by the end of the year or early next year and be completed within two or three years,” he added.
Separately, Fahmi said MCMC had not received any complaints over offensive or extremist online comments related to the transboundary haze.
“MCMC is monitoring the situation. We are aware that people are angry about the haze, which seems to be unending.
“On the part of the federal Cabinet, we have offered assistance to Indonesia to help put out the fires, but we have yet to receive a response,” he said.
