logo
Murum at 96.1 pct internet coverage, Jendela Phase 2 set to boost connectivity, says S'wak deputy minister

Murum at 96.1 pct internet coverage, Jendela Phase 2 set to boost connectivity, says S'wak deputy minister

Borneo Post23-05-2025

Liwan says MCMC in collaboration with SMA is currently conducting a study to identify coverage gaps and areas requiring improvements in telecommunication services. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (May 23): Internet coverage in Murum has reached 96.1 per cent to date, said Sarawak Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Liwan Lagang.
He said the federal government, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in collaboration with the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), is currently conducting a study to identify coverage gaps and areas requiring improvements in telecommunication services.
'This study will take into account the 'fit for purpose technology' approach, where the selection of technology is based on the suitability of local conditions and needs, such as the construction of telecommunication towers and satellite-based network solutions.
'As of now, the study is in the final stage of evaluation for implementation under the Jendela (National Digital Network) Phase 2 initiative, which is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year,' he said.
He was responding to a question from Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
On coverage specifics, Liwan explained that 4G transmitter sites can typically cover a radius of up to 2km, depending on terrain, while 5G have an optimal coverage radius of up to 500 metres.
He also revealed that, to date, a total of 1,591 subscriptions under the Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN) have been recorded in the Murum constituency, based on data from the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC). DUN internet coverage Liwan Lagang Murum

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Govt's data collection directive sparks privacy concerns, says Dr Wee
Govt's data collection directive sparks privacy concerns, says Dr Wee

The Star

time9 hours ago

  • The Star

Govt's data collection directive sparks privacy concerns, says Dr Wee

PETALING JAYA: The government's efforts to collate detailed records of phone calls and internet usage from telecommunications firms are a violation of the people's right to their personal data, said Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong. He also said there is no need to have such detailed information for facilitating policymaking in the information, communications and technology (ICT) sector, and the tourism sector, as clarified by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). 'This is not a question of whether we trust in the current government or not. The question is, why does the government want to collect such detailed information on its citizens? 'Today, we say it's to study tourism statistics. We don't know what it'll be for tomorrow. 'You want to calculate tourists? You want to calculate active broadband users? You don't need the people's personal data. Aggregate data is enough,' Dr Wee said in a posting on his Facebook page on Saturday (June 7). It was previously reported that, according to industry sources, the government in April had ordered telcos in Malaysia to hand over detailed records of phone calls and internet logs for the first three months of this year, supposedly for the government's 'Mobile Phone Data' project. The records demanded purportedly include information about call logs, IP call records, location, latitude and longitude. It was also reported that if the telcos failed to comply, it would be considered an offence under the Communications and Multimedia Act, carrying a penalty of RM20,000 fine or six months' jail. MCMC has since explained that this move is to support evidence-based policymaking in two key sectors, i.e. the ICT and tourism sectors. The commission also stressed that the data will be anonymised before it is submitted to them and that no individual subscriber can be identified through the data collected. 'In both cases, no individual subscriber can be identified through the data collected,' MCMC said. However, Dr Wee said anonymising the data is not enough to maintain the privacy of the users, especially in an increasingly connected world. 'If you're collecting data on who we call, how long we talk, our Internet IP, and our location, including latitude and longitude - with such consistent location data showing the exact time and day, anyone with access to this data can easily match it back to our identities. 'Our identities can be uncovered very easily,' he said. On top of that, he added, there is also data from the mobile app MySejahtera, e-wallets, CCTVs, Touch n' Go and bank records which can be cross-checked to identify someone. MCMC had also previously said they engaged extensively with all telcos over the past two years on the safe handover of the data, but Dr Wee questioned the need to threaten the telcos if this is true. 'If it is true that this is all safe and it has all been agreed upon for two years, why is there a need to threaten the telcos?' Ultimately, he said, this is not about politics but about the rights of the people. 'Our personal data is not the right of any government, whether today, tomorrow or those to come. 'When the government starts collecting such detailed data, that has already crossed the line. 'The Malaysian people must raise this issue. Our data is not a plaything.'

MCMC says no personal data involved in phone record request
MCMC says no personal data involved in phone record request

Daily Express

time10 hours ago

  • Daily Express

MCMC says no personal data involved in phone record request

Published on: Saturday, June 07, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 07, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. - Getty Images PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has defended its directive requiring phone companies to hand over data on all mobile phone calls made from January to March. The commission said no personal information would be accessed, processed, or disclosed by the commission. It said that the data requested was anonymised and contained no information that can be used to identify any person. Advertisement The telecommunications companies are given the option to either process the data within their own secure environment and submit the required anonymised and aggregated output to the MCMC; or for those without processing capabilities, submit the anonymised data to the commission for processing. 'In both cases, no individual subscriber can be identified through the data collected,' MCMC said in a statement this evening. The statement came hours after the South China Morning Post , quoting industry sources, said that Putrajaya had ordered mobile phone companies to hand over detailed records of phone calls and internet usage as it broadens controls over online activity. The Post's sources said MCMC had sent a letter to telcos calling up detailed call and internet logs for the first three months of this year, as part of the government's mobile phone data project. The data collected would be used strictly for generating official statistics to support 'evidence-based policymaking'. Advertisement It sought such statistics such as the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions and penetration rates by state, district, mukim, local authority and parliamentary and state constituencies. The data was also used for tourism-related purposes, such as generating indicators on visitor numbers and domestic travel trends, MCMC said. 'The use of mobile phone data as a new source of national statistics is a strategic direction set by the government to strengthen the quality and timeliness of statistical outputs for policy and planning purposes,' it added. - FMT * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

MCMC clarifies mobile phone data collection for national statistics, says no identifiable user information involved
MCMC clarifies mobile phone data collection for national statistics, says no identifiable user information involved

Malay Mail

time18 hours ago

  • Malay Mail

MCMC clarifies mobile phone data collection for national statistics, says no identifiable user information involved

KUALA LUMPUR, June 7 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has clarified its collection of mobile phone data (MPD) from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), assuring that no Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is accessed, processed, or disclosed. The clarification comes amid recent media reports regarding the matter. In a statement today, MCMC said MPD was used strictly for the generation of official statistics to support evidence-based policymaking in two key domains, namely the ICT Sector and the Tourism Sector. For the ICT Sector, MPD helps produce granular statistics, such as the number of active mobile broadband subscriptions and penetration rates at the state, district, mukim, parliamentary constituency, state legislative assembly (DUN), and local authority levels. For the Tourism Sector, it generates indicators such as the number of visitors and domestic tourism trips. 'The MPD data requested from MNOs is anonymised and contains no PII. 'In addition, MNOs are given the option to either process the MPD data within their own secure environment and submit the required anonymised and aggregated output to MCMC, or, for MNOs without in-house processing capabilities, to submit the anonymised data to MCMC for processing. 'In both cases, no individual subscriber can be identified through the data collected,' it said. MCMC further clarified that the use of MPD as a new source of national statistics was a strategic direction set by the government to strengthen the quality and timeliness of statistical outputs for policy and planning purposes. Implementation of MPD is through collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science, it added. Over the past two years, MCMC said extensive engagement with all MNOs had been carried out to ensure mutual understanding of the data requirements, processes, and privacy safeguards. These included the MPD National Workshop held from Sept 2 to 5, 2024, attended by representatives from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture, and MNOs (CelcomDigi, Maxis, TM Tech, U Mobile, and YTL). 'This initiative aligns with international best practices. It mirrors similar projects already implemented in countries such as Indonesia and Brazil, where anonymised telecommunications data is used to enhance national statistics while fully safeguarding user privacy,' it said. — Bernama

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store