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Fahmi: Jendela Phase 2 to start in September with hybrid tower rollout
Fahmi: Jendela Phase 2 to start in September with hybrid tower rollout

Malay Mail

time16 hours ago

  • Business
  • Malay Mail

Fahmi: Jendela Phase 2 to start in September with hybrid tower rollout

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — The second phase of the National Digital Network (Jendela) plan is expected to commence in September, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said. He said the initiative, which involves nearly 3,000 sites nationwide, will no longer rely solely on the construction of conventional telecommunication towers. Instead, a hybrid approach will be adopted to expedite deployment. 'For phase two, we do not intend to build traditional towers alone, as some areas requiring coverage may not need a 76-metre or 60-metre tower. A 30-metre monopole might suffice, so a more hybrid solution is being considered, which we expect will speed up implementation,' he said. Fahmi was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Larry Sng Wei Shien (PBM–Julau) during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, who asked when the second phase of Jendela would begin. In reply to Sng's main question regarding 4G and 5G internet coverage in the Julau parliamentary constituency, particularly at rural schools that still face connectivity challenges, Fahmi said that 4G coverage in populated areas of Julau has reached 58.28 per cent He said that the expansion of internet coverage in rural and remote schools is being carried out under the Jendela plan. 'As of June 30, 43 out of 48 new communication towers have been completed and are operational, while 44 out of 45 transmitter stations have been upgraded. Additionally, 1,391 premises have been equipped with fibre-optic access,' he added. On 5G connectivity, Fahmi said implementation in Julau remains under consideration, as priority is currently given to densely populated and industrial areas. 'Nonetheless, 5G coverage will be extended to rural areas, including Julau, in stages based on need and infrastructure readiness,' he said. On other initiatives, Fahmi said the Sarawak government, through the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), is building 600 new towers under the SMART 600 initiative, including in Julau. 'A total of 29 towers are already operational, while another 15 are under construction. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with SDEC to accelerate connectivity efforts in Sarawak,' he said. Besides this, broadband infrastructure is being expanded using the Point of Presence (PoP) approach, with 12 PoPs completed in Julau to date, offering 1,225 subscription ports with speeds of up to 1Gbps. — Bernama

Starlink can give only 20 lakh connections pan-India: MoS Telecom
Starlink can give only 20 lakh connections pan-India: MoS Telecom

Time of India

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Time of India

Starlink can give only 20 lakh connections pan-India: MoS Telecom

Billionaire Elon Musk-led satellite communication services provider Starlink can have only 20 lakh connections in India, Union Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said on Monday, playing down the threat to state-run BSNL and other telecom players. The Minister of State for Telecom was speaking on the sidelines of a review meeting of BSNL here. "Starlink can have only 20 lakh customers in India and offer up to 200 Mbps speed. That won't affect telecom services," the minister said. Satcom services are expected to target rural and remote areas where BSNL is known to have a significant presence. He said that the upfront cost for satcom services will be too high, and the monthly cost may be around ₹3,000. The minister said that the BSNL 4G rollout is complete, and it does not plan to increase tariffs as of now. "We want market first. There are no tariff hikes planned."

Vodacom Tanzania's smile widens after telco takeover
Vodacom Tanzania's smile widens after telco takeover

Zawya

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Zawya

Vodacom Tanzania's smile widens after telco takeover

Vodacom Tanzania earlier this year completed the takeover of Smile Communications Tanzania Ltd with a payment of Tsh73.22 billion ($28.18 million) as the telco moved to expand the rollout of its 4G and 5G coverage in the Tanzanian market. Latest disclosures show that the amount comprised Tsh60.72 billion ($23.37 million) as payment to Smile Holdings shareholders and Tsh12. 5 billion ($4.81 million) in a reassignment cost for the spectrum acquired through the acquisition of the South African telecom operator. In its latest annual report, Vodacom says prior to the acquisition, Smile Communications Ltd had ceased operations, terminated contracts with partners and retrenched employee.'In March 2024, we acquired a small telecom operator – Smile Communications Tanzania Limited (Smile), which gave us access to the essential spectrum resources for enhancing our network infrastructure and providing superior customer experience,' the company says.'This agreement granted us access to spectrum resources previously held by Smile, including 20MHz of 800MHz and 20MHz of 2 600MHz. This additional spectrum, suitable for a broader coverage and high capacity for faster speeds, has enabled us to expand our 4G footprint and accelerate the rollout of 5G technology.'The company says that since concluding the acquisition, it has successfully activated the spectrum and connected more than 1,000 sites across the country.'In addition to providing greater network efficiency and reliability, the acquisition ensured we are well-positioned to meet Tanzania's growing demand for mobile data services while enhancing our existing customers' data experience,' the company says. Spectrum auctionSmile Communications Tanzania Ltd is a subsidiary of Smile Telecoms Holdings, a South African telecommunications conglomerate with operations in Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa. Smile began its operations in Dar es Salaam and Arusha but expanded its network after the company raised $365 million in debt and equity financing to extend broadband services Spectrum is the range of electromagnetic frequencies used for wireless communication. It is a portion of the broader electromagnetic spectrum that encompasses everything from radio waves to gamma rays. Specifically, the radio frequency spectrum, which is used for wireless technologies like mobile phones, Wi-Fi, and broadcasting, is a key part of this range. On February 3, the TCRA issued a draft information memorandum on its plan to license new spectrum in 3600-3800MHz frequency band through a spectrum auction. Reserve prices were proposed at Tsh30 billion ($ 12 million) per 1x50MHz block. Vodacom Tanzania is 75 percent controlled by South Africa's Vodacom Group Ltd, whose ultimate parent is the British Vodafone Group Plc. Vodacom Tanzania recorded a 69.4 percent growth in net profit to Tsh90.51 billion ($34.84 million) in the financial year ended March 31, 2025, from Tsh53.42 billion ($20.56 million) last year, enabling the board to propose a final dividend equivalent to 50 percent of the profit after tax, in accordance with the company's dividend policy.'Increased adoption of smartphones is critical in supporting the transformation to the digital economy. We will continue working with our partners to facilitate access to affordable smartphones. And, we will continue investing in our network, in particular the data network, to expand coverage and enhance quality of services to address customer experience issues,' the company says. In July 2023, the TCRA issued the Interconnection Rates Determination No. 6/2023, which set the mobile calls termination rates (MTR) applicable for five years to December 2027. Accordingly, in January 2025, the MTR dropped by 4.5 percent to Tsh1.68 per minute which will be applicable until December 31, 2025. Starting January 1, 2026, the rate is expected to drop further by 4.8 percent to Tsh1.60 per minute, which will be used up to December 31, 2026. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (

New emergency alert text revealed ahead of test
New emergency alert text revealed ahead of test

The Independent

time2 days ago

  • The Independent

New emergency alert text revealed ahead of test

The UK government is scheduled to conduct a national test of its emergency alert system. Millions of mobile phones on 4G and 5G networks across the UK will receive the alert at approximately 3pm on September 7. The alert will cause phones to vibrate and emit a siren for around 10 seconds, delivering a message in both English and Welsh. The message will state that it is a test and recipients do not need to take any action, directing them to for further information. Designed to warn of life-threatening emergencies, the system has been activated five times since April 2023 for events including severe storms and unexploded ordnance.

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