KUCHING: The first stage of Phase 2 of the National Network Digital Plan (Jendela) is expected to start soon following the issuance of letters of acceptance, says Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
He said six clusters will be implemented across Sarawak at a cost of RM545mil.
“For Jendela 2, we plan for about 350 locations in Sarawak to enjoy better Internet connectivity,” he said.
Fahmi said the implementation will commence once the companies involved sign the letters of acceptance, which were handed over yesterday.
“In the coming months, they may be able to start transporting equipment to the telecommunication tower sites.
“So it will start almost immediately,” he told reporters after witnessing the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the state Public Health, Housing and Local Government Ministry and Utility and Telecommunication Ministry at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
The MOU is for the implementation of the Kuching Smart City project, which aims to expand digital connectivity and support the transformation of urban services across Greater Kuching.
Fahmi said the Smart City project, estimated to cost RM550mil, will involve the 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.”
Fahmi also said the Madani Submarine Cable (Salam) project will involve at least three landing points in Sarawak, including Bintulu.
“This will support the development of Bintulu Port,” he said, adding that the other two landing points proposed are Buntal and Matu.
Overall the Salam project, which will strengthen communications connectivity between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, will involve 10 landing points nationwide.
Five will be in Sabah, to be complemented by a coastal submarine cable from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau, Fahmi said.
“We expect Salam to start by the end of the year or early next year and be completed in two or three years,” he added.
Separately, Fahmi said MCMC had not received any complaints about offensive comments online on the transboundary haze issue.
“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 fires but we have yet to receive a response,” he said.
