KUCHING: Sarawak is stepping up efforts to expand and regulate its telecommunications infrastructure, aiming to improve connectivity across urban, suburban, and rural areas.
A critical step in expanding the state’s network is securing suitable sites for towers, which Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, said must be accessible to tower owners and properly planned to support statewide coverage.
“These sites may not be large, but they are critically important for the construction of towers.
“Each site is estimated to cost around RM50,000, depending on location. Acquiring all future sites could cost about RM71 million,” he said during a press conference at the closing of the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Training today.
Julaihi clarified that the sites must be landed properties.
“If a site belongs to a private individual, such as on a building rooftop, it cannot be acquired. Therefore, these sites must be landed property,” he explained.
He proposed that SMA take on a larger role in managing tower sites.
“Centralising site management will help streamline construction and reduce delays,” he added, noting that proper planning is crucial to support statewide connectivity and digital inclusion.
While planning new sites is a priority, the state is also formalising older towers built without proper approval, many of which were never formally approved under SMA’s ordinance or state planning regulations yet remain crucial for providing connectivity.
“These towers are very important. If a tower is essential, why should it be demolished?” Julaihi said.
To address this, the ministry began a regularisation process on January 1, 2026, assessing each tower to ensure compliance while keeping them operational.
“The goal is to balance regulation with practicality, protecting the functionality of existing towers while meeting planning and safety requirements,” he added.
