PETALING JAYA: A new national digital network called Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) will provide 96.9% of populated areas with a 4G mobile broadband network, says Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
In a statement issued on Saturday (Aug 29), the Prime Minister said that the digital infrastructure plan which will be done in phases between 2020 and 2022, is to provide a platform for the transition to 5G in the near future under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“The speed of the mobile broadband network will be upped from 25Mbps to 35Mbps, and 7.lima million premises will get fixed broadband access with gigabit speed.
“This will also involve the end of the 3G network in phases until 2021 to put up 4G as a platform for 5G,” said Muhyiddin.
He also stated that Phase Two of Jendela will be the transition to 5G.
East Malaysia will be the main beneficiary from Jendela as there will be many more digital infrastructure upgrading in Sabah and Sarawak.
“In Sabah, there are 382 new communication towers in the plan and 924 current communication transmitting devices will be upgraded,” said Muhyiddin.
Service providers will also set up 35 new towers and upgrade existing 1,048 communication transmitting devices to expand 4G.
Fibre optic network will be available for 251,166 premises.
In Sarawak, Muhyiddin said that 636 new towers are in the plan and 977 communication transmitting devices will be upgraded.
Commercial service providers will also set up 49 new towers and upgrade 825 communication transmitting devices. Fibre optics will be made available to 43,013 premises.
“The action plan for Jendela will be closely monitored to ensure it is properly implemented throughout the country,” said Muhyiddin.
The main ministry involved is the Communications and Multimedia Ministry and the main agency will be the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.