Gobind (left) and Ishak announcing the NFCP's latest development, after touring the NFCP Operations Room. — Bernama
Local telcos have agreed to join forces to complete the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP) by sharing and planning infrastructure development together.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said this is the first time key players within the communications industry have agreed to such a collaboration which he hopes will cut down time and cost.
“Where possible, the industry should share mobile and fixed infrastructure as it saves time and cost and can minimise duplication,” he said at a press briefing in MCMC’s headquarters in Cyberjaya.
CEOs from most telcos, including Celcom, Digi, Maxis, TM and U Mobile were present at the briefing.
Early next month, Gobind is expected to announce the companies that will be awarded the license for NFCP 1 development and they will be selected through a tender process.
NFCP 1 involves 153 locations in 94 mukim, in eight states: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Terengganu and Sabah.
The selected licensees will be required to install network facilities capable of delivering 3G and 4G cellular connectivity with an average speed of 30Mbps (megabits per second).
MCMC chairman Al-Ishsal Ishak revealed that the regulatory body also recently issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) for NFCP 2 on Nov 15.
The second stage of the NFCP involves 500 locations across 210 mukim in 10 states: Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak.
Companies will have to submit their bids by March 31, 2020.
Both projects will be funded via the Universal Service Provision fund in accordance with the objectives specified in the Communications and Multimedia (Universal Service Provision) Regulations 2002.
During the event, Gobind and Al-Ishal also visited the NFCP Operations Room, which monitors quality of experience and service, and progress of projects.
