Tuesday December 13, 2011

Fixed line and broadband penetration rate hit 81%

THE national fixed line and wireless broadband penetration rate had reached 81% of populated areas, the Dewan Negara was told.

Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said up to the third quarter of this year, the total Internet subscriptions numbered 5.59 million and the number of Internet users was approximately 17.5 million.

“The Internet service coverage has also been increased from time to time by the service providers and through the implementation of broadband initiatives by the Government.

“Among the initiatives are the construction of telecommunication towers, wireless villages, community broadband centres and broadband services at rural libraries,” he said in reply to Senator Chew Lee Giok during question time.

The deputy minister also said the broad-band penetration rate in Malaysia should not be compared with Singapore’s and Hong Kong’s.

“This is because the population density in Malaysia differs from the two countries ... so do the size and the geographical features of Malaysia,” he said.

Nevertheless, he said the Government was concerned with the service performance and the quality of Internet services in the country and had underlined mandatory standards for broadband access service that should be adhered to by service providers. — Bernama

News

Tuesday December 13, 2011

Fixed line and broadband penetration rate hit 81%