Friday March 31, 2006
Making plans to boost ICT sector
By JO TIMBUONG
THE 9th Malaysia Plan will help the Government boost the adoption of ICT (information communcations technology) in the country.
To aid it in its task, the Government has MyICMS, a blueprint for the development of the local ICT sector; the promise of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) which would enable more IP addresses and better security on the Web; and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology that offers wireless identification and tracking capabilities.
Among the stumbling blocks to the increased use of ICT are the slow uptake of broadband Internet among Malaysians, the incomplete mobile communications coverage in the country, and the bridging of the digital divide between the technology haves and have-nots.
The Government plans to address the nation's slow broadband uptake by accelerating the implementation of its National Broadband Plan (NBP).
NBP aims to boost the broadband Internet access penetration rate to about 10% of the population by 2008.
Drafted by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in 2003, it also aims to provide 2.7 million homes in Malaysia with broadband access by 2007.
The Government will also consider last-mile technologies such as wireless broadband and broadband over power lines, to reach areas in the country that lack telephone landlines.
This will in effect increase broadband take-up from the current 1.9% to 13% by 2010.
Next, the number of cellphone users in Malaysia is expected to increase to 85% of the population by 2010, so national communications coverage and interoperability will need to be improved through the expansion of 3G (third-generation) mobile services in phases.
Cooperation between mobile service operators and local content providers will be enhanced under the 9th Malaysia Plan to ensure the extensive provision of mobile Internet to consumers, the Government announced.
It said it would implement MyICMS in phases to promote the growth of ICT infrastructure, products and services.
The implementation will include increased integration of the Internet, mobile telephony and broadcast services.
Internet service providers would be encouraged to consolidate and share communications facilities, as well as set up common facilities and interoperable systems.
The Government is also considering migrating from the current Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to IPv6 in view of the latter's improved features.
News Poll
- Court ruling takes bite out of local council summonses
- Chin Peng apologises for death of innocents
- Teoh's second autopsy completed, reburied Tuesday (Update)
- Girl and stepmum held over bid to kill first wife
- Biggest karaoke session a blast
- New evidence on MCA snoop squad case arrives at doorstep
- Victim’s dad nabs kidnapper
- Teoh’s body exhumed for second autopsy today
- Foreigner falls to her death from condominium
- Malaysians must get regular dental checks
- Court ruling takes bite out of local council summonses
- Chin Peng apologises for death of innocents
- Malaysians must get regular dental checks
- Interpol bust online illegal pharmacy racket
- Big impact in ‘small’ man’s win
- Teoh's second autopsy completed, reburied Tuesday (Update)
- No licence to try offenders
- New evidence on MCA snoop squad case arrives at doorstep
- Stop blanket approval for outsourcing, says union
- Johor set to be a medical hub
RSS
