KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM96.6 million had been allocated by the government to implement initiatives to widen coverage of internet services in Bintulu, said Deputy Minister of Communication and Multimedia, Datuk Jailani Johari.
Jailani said among initiatives being implemented was upgrading Bintulu’s interexchange to provide fiber-based services by preparing 3,000 port connections.
“Besides that, the existing core network has been expanded with the implementation of three fiber-based network connections in Sebauh and Samalaju to upgrade the speed and capacity of broadband,” Jailani said in Dewan Rakyat here today when responding to a question from Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (BN-Bintulu) on the ministry’s plans to expand internet services in Bintulu, especially broadband using optical fiber.
He said residents in Bintulu were already enjoying access to broadband services from speeds of 384 kilobits per second (kbps) to 20 Megabits per second (Mbps).
Jailani, who is also Hulu Terengganu member of Parliament said the construction of a telecommunications tower with cellular service at the Bintulu-Samalaju highway was also being implemented.
“It also includes the connection of a part of Sistem Kabel Rakyat 1Malaysia (submarine cable system) at the Bintulu Submarine Cable System linking Bintulu to Miri, spanning 217 kilometers,” he said.
He added that the implementation of the sub-urban broadband (SUBB) project was aimed at upgrading broadband services in suburban Bintulu that can achieve speeds of up to 50Mbps and expected to be completed by 2019.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has allocated RM38 million to add 16 automatic walkalators at the KL International Airport 2 (KLIA2) this year, the Dewan Rakyat was also told.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Aziz Kaprawi said the walkalators would be added to sections of the terminal that were too steep for people with disability, the elderly and convenience of other passengers. -- BERNAMA