KUCHING: Many rural and coastal areas in Sarawak still face gaps in mobile and internet coverage, prompting the state to intensify efforts to bring all communities online.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, said that while urban areas generally enjoy strong signals, coverage blind spots persist along the Pan Borneo Highway, coastal roads and interior regions.
“At times, connectivity is strong, but once we reach certain locations, the signal disappears entirely,” he said during a press conference at the closing of the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Training here today.
Under the JENDELA (Jalinan Digital Negara) Phase 1 programme, 618 smart towers were planned across the state, with over 614 already physically completed.
JENDELA 2 is expected to further expand coverage with Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) tasked to identify suitable tower locations, particularly in areas previously classified as blind spots.
“These areas include interior and coastal communities that were not prioritised in the past when internet connectivity was not seen as a priority,” he said.
Julaihi emphasised that reliable connectivity is essential for education, business, health services and emergency communications.
“Our goal is to connect rural communities digitally with urban centres, ensuring they are not left behind as Sarawak moves forward,” he added.
He also highlighted the need to consider newly completed roads and bridges, particularly along the coastal belt, which were previously not factored into connectivity planning, noting that many residents live in these areas and it is critical that sufficient internet services are provided.
Full digital coverage is a key objective under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS2030), which aims to achieve full coverage by 2030, though the minister said the state hopes to reach the goal sooner.
Collaboration among SMA, service providers, government agencies and local communities is crucial, he said, to ensure blind spots are effectively addressed and the infrastructure is deployed efficiently.
“By working together, we can bridge the digital divide and bring rural populations fully into the mainstream of the state’s development agenda,” he added.
