Internet access is crucial for today’s connected world. It provides access to information, communication, online education, job opportunities, and resources for entrepreneurship. It also plays a vital role in connecting people globally.
In addition, the internet has revolutionised the way we do business, shop, and access government services, making life easier and more convenient. Internet has become an indispensable tool for modern living. Imagine living or going to a place where there’s poor internet coverage, finding yourself cut off from the outside world. It could cost you valuable time and money.
The Star reports that Fahmi Fadzil, the Communications and Digital Minister, instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to address any service quality problems faced by telecommunications companies by June 2023.
He mentioned that there have been numerous public complaints about inadequate Internet access in specific areas.
Fahmi said the in-building coverage is a concern as some users can only connect to the Internet when they are outside of the building. However, once they enter the building, the signal drops. In order to solve this problem, some equipment needs to be installed within the building to improve the network coverage.
This requires collaboration among telecommunications companies, which will be facilitated by the MCMC, to prioritise the areas that need attention. Additionally, the quality of service on highways is in question and there have been complaints from football fans about inadequate network coverage in certain stadiums.
Fahmi stated that the his ministry is focused on resolving network service issues for the benefit of consumers. He noted that while users are penalized for late telephone bill payments with their lines being disconnected, telecommunications companies do not face similar consequences when the service quality is not up to standard.
The ministry is also prioritising solving Internet network problems, particularly in 3% of populated areas that include interior and Orang Asli villages. Installing fibre network in these areas can be costly for most telecommunications companies, thus the ministry is exploring alternative options, such as using satellite Internet systems and other technologies, to resolve the issue.
Fahmi emphasised the importance of including these 3,000 areas, each with a population ranging from 50 to over 100 people, in the digital economy.
