BAYAN LEPAS – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will collaborate with the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to identify approximately 50km of highways and major trunk roads with poor telecommunications coverage, under the government’s “Di Mana Ada Jalan, Di Situ Ada Internet” initiative.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said discussions are ongoing, though the specific locations have yet to be determined.
“My hope is that these locations will be included in Phase 2 of the Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) initiative, since many of these sites will likely require telco towers to be built,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the YES 4G six-way multi-operator core network (MOCN) tower launch at Tanjung Asam, Gertak Sanggul.
The project, a collaboration between YTL Communications Sdn Bhd and Konsortium Jaringan Selangor (KJS), is expected to benefit 500 residents and 350 daily commuters, including nearby fishing villages and underserved communities.
It is also expected to spur economic activity in Gertak Sanggul, a popular tourist destination on the southern coast of Penang island.
Penang State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari said the tower would ease communication between locals and tourists and the authorities – potentially saving lives in light of past drowning incidents reported in the area.
Fahmi said the project is part of MCMC’s collaboration with industry players under the Network Infrastructure Sharing Framework (NISF), where all telcos can share a single tower to address connectivity gaps in sparsely populated but economically significant areas.
Similar telco tower projects have already been implemented nationwide, including two towers at Bukit Putus in Negeri Sembilan, one at PR1MA Gambang in Pahang, and another along the West Coast Highway in Banting, Selangor.
“This method (of tower sharing) is suitable for areas that are low in population but (economically) significant,” he added.
On a separate matter, Fahmi — who is also the government spokesperson — said MCMC will work with the Penang government to deploy the Nexus app, developed by the commission, to obtain real-time data on internet connectivity in specific areas.
“MCMC will be able to take more comprehensive, data-driven action. We would no longer have to wait for consumer complaints, as we can proactively instruct telcos to resolve (connectivity) problems.”
He also revealed another government connectivity initiative in the pipeline: a direct-to-cell policy using low earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
A proof of concept is expected to be rolled out at selected locations in the third or fourth quarter of this year, with the government currently in discussions with LEO satellite operators. – July 1, 2025