KOTA KINABALU: Maxis Bhd, Malaysia’s leading integrated communications provider, has invested over RM80 million over the past year to establish and enhance network coverage in Sabah and Sarawak.
Chief Operating Officer Jean Pascal Van Overbeke said this was in response to the call by the government to narrow the digital divide in the two states.
He said the extension of broadband networks to Sabah and Sarawak was also in line with the government’s Universal Service Provider (USP) fund initiative which strives to provide telecoms facilities and Internet access to underserved areas.
Speaking at the launch of Maxis broadband expansion programme involving five major towns — Labuan, Keningau, Sandakan, Lahad Datu dan Tawau — by State Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai here yesterday.
Van Overbeke said this rollout was part of Maxis’ assurance to build more new network sites in Sabah by the end of this year.
He said the investment benefitted the local community and supported agricultural development by extending coverage in secondary towns and remote sites such as those within oil palm plantation areas.
It helped to fund infrastructure that provides new coverage in remote areas such as Keningau, Pitas, Kota Marudu and Kota Belud, he said.
“Maxis has also helped to provide coverage enhancements in the interior of Nambawan, Sook and Sapulut and network quality enhancements in all key towns and suburban areas such Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Sandakan.
“Additionally, broadband coverage was expanded to industrial and commercial areas in Kota Kinabalu such as Putatan, Penampang and the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park,” he said.
Van Overbeke said Maxis’ commitment to network developments and improvements in Sabah and Sarawak underlined its firm support of the government’s vision of bridging communities and narrowing the digital divide through greater e-inclusiveness, particularly in underserved segments and rural regions.
“Through these initiatives, Maxis hopes to help further the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia concept by improving communication and connectivity between and within the communities in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yee said Sabah was getting closer to reaching its target of achieving a 30 per cent penetration rate in domestic broadband sector.
As for now, he said, the state reached 26 per cent in broadband penetration and hoped, with the cooperation of all telecommunication players including Maxis, the targeted mark would be achieved in the near future, particularly in the rural areas.– BERNAMA