KAPIT: Sacofa will build 13 telecommunication towers in Kapit Division this year to improve wireless network services in the area.
The towers are part of the 149 to be built by the end of the year statewide.
“The objective is to extend the network services throughout the state and hopefully to narrow the digital divide. With efforts by MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Corporation) and Sacofa’s high commitment, I hope the objective will be achieved to speed up the process of WiFi services throughout the state,” said Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi during the launching of the Sacofa CSR (corporate social responsibility) Wifi and Klik Bijak programme on Monday.
Nanta said efforts are also being carried out to link Kapit to fibre optic cables.
He pointed out that society is becoming more and more dependent on online services to communicate.
“We can’t deny there’s a wide digital divide between the rural and urban areas. Many parts of the rural interior in Sarawak are still not covered by WiFi or telecommunication services,” he said.
He urged the people to make full use of every opportunity to learn more about Internet services.
“Be smart to avoid falling prey to Internet scams. We’re thankful to Sacofa for organising this programme aimed at educating Internet users to make good use of the services and avoid falling victim. ICT (information communication technology) is a very powerful tool to propel Sarawak towards greater development,” Nanta said.
Sacofa corporate affairs manager Mohamad Sait said this was the company’s first community project here with more planned in future.
“The objective is bridging the digital divide between rural and urban areas. The WiFi is to encourage the community to access the Internet and linking them to the world,” he said.
Sacofa’s next project will be at the Sungai Asap Resettlement Scheme in March.
The Klik Bijak programme included an exhibition on Internet safety awareness, quiz, games and video game.