MOST people do not realise that fibre optic cables are required for wireless broadband services such as 4G and 5G. The analogy is like water sprinklers: they can only work when there is a water pipe at the base. It would be a big mistake if we don’t have a concrete fibreisation plan to improve existing 4G services and to prepare the nation for 5G, as well as to improve the coverage and quality of high speed fixed broadband to premises.
The government announced the National Fibreisation and Connectively Plan (NFCP) in October last year. It was followed by the launching of 5G pilot projects. Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo has said he wants to make Internet access a utility service, which is laudable.
