Baru delivers his speech at Puneng Trusan.
LAWAS: The federal government will introduce satellite mobile communication for rural areas in Sarawak.
Minister of Works Baru Bian said this alternative system to terrestrial mobile communication would enhance connectivity without the need for telecommunication towers.
“I have talked with the Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo, so we can try to connect via satellite communication.
“This has been implemented in Indonesia. We have access and they have met us and we will conduct testing on April 27 because the system has arrived in Sri Aman and has been provided. We will make a testing and communicate with the ministry in Kuala Lumpur, and I will be in Sri Aman on that date,” Baru told reporters after launching a hydroelectric system in Puneng Trusan here recently.
He said if the technology is successful, it would enable broadband messaging as well.
“Wired communication has become a problem for the rural population. It is a challenge, especially when we are connecting the interiors of Sarawak.
“It is not very easy for us to use cables or even building telecommunication towers everywhere, and because of that this would be one of the easiest ways to connect with the interior of Sarawak, that is through satellite telecommunication.
“So, it is a very interesting system. If this brings good and strong impact, I believe this is a game changer for Sarawak,” he said.
Baru said the cost of the satellite mobile communication system is minimal.
“We just have to buy receivers that will receive messages from a satellite. Places or villages surrounding the receiver will then receive the communications,” he added.
Meanwhile, Puneng Trusan residents are happy to have 24-hour electricity supply following the completion of the RM100,000 project funded by the CIMB Foundation through its corporate social responsibility programme.
Village chief Buaya Sinau explained that a 12kW hydroelectric system was set up about two years ago.
“We have 38 households here, so electricity supplied earlier was not enough. After that, we bought a 30kW dynamo from Sibu and that is what we are using now.
“This is the third time Barefoot Mercy has come here to send new pipes. We have completed with the installation of the pipes, which only took about two days, yesterday, and that’s what we’re using now,” said Buaya.
Buaya added Puneng Trusan also requires a multipurpose hall and a new church building.
“We have applied for these last year, and we would like to know the status of the applications,” he said.