KUCHING: The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia wants the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP) to achieve a minimal 500Mbps bandwidth in all state capitals and selected high-impact areas by 2021.

Its minister Gobind Singh Deo said by 2023,98% of other populated areas should have an average 30Mbps access.

“The ministry is aware of the need to beef up the telecommunication infrastructure to ensure Malaysia is capable of connecting its people, business and industry to the world.

“Broadband penetration is one of the impetus to the survival of the national economy. The government sees connectivity as a utility, just like water supply and electricity, ” he said at the Merdeka@Komuniti 2019 programme at Kampung Saratau here today.

Also present at the event were Puncak Borneo MP Willie Morgan and Information director-general Roselindawati Abdul Rahman.

Merdeka@komuniti aims to bring the people and leaders as strategic partners in developing the nation.

Meanwhile, Willie expressed his gratitude to the ministry for its commitment through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in ensuring better communications access in his area.

“There are now 20 completed communication towers in Puncak Borneo and I was told that eight of them are already operational, ” he said. — Bernama