TM said a total of 4,370 PoPs had been planned under the 12th Malaysia Plan, where 4,323 PoPs will be installed near rural schools and 47 PoPs near industrial areas.
PETALING JAYA: Telekom Malaysia Bhd
(TM) has completed the phase one installation of its new fibre optic network hub or point of presence (PoP) across the northern region, Sabah and Sarawak, which will bring faster and more reliable Internet connectivity to rural and remote areas.
In a statement, TM said a total of 4,370 PoPs had been planned under the 12th Malaysia Plan, where 4,323 PoPs will be installed near rural schools and 47 PoPs near industrial areas.
Phase one of the project involves 677 sites and the remainder will be implemented under phase two over the span of three years from 2022 to 2025.
“A total of 233 PoP circuits were installed under phase one, with 100% completion achieved by TM, ahead of other industry players,” the utility giant noted.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who officiated the launching ceremony at Kedah, said the new PoPs represented a major step forward in the government’s efforts to narrow the digital gap and promote digital inclusion across Malaysia.
TM explained that PoP is a place where different devices connect to each other and to the Internet.
“In simple terms, PoP brings fibre closer to users,” it said.
By setting up PoP locations near schools, TM said people in rural and remote areas can get better and faster Internet services in their homes, instead of relying on mobile Internet.
Meanwhile, TM One executive vice-president Shazurawati Abdul Karim said the group was thrilled to see the progress and achievements of the project, which will bring significant benefits and opportunities to the community.
This will include improved Internet quality, economic development and the development of new infrastructures.
She said TM was committed to supporting the nation’s development agenda through the benefits brought by hyperconnectivity and digital solutions, which will accelerate digital adoption and new economic growth.
“The presence of PoPs can attract technology companies, startups and other businesses that require a high-speed Internet connection to operate.
“This can create more job opportunities, increase innovation and stimulate economic growth in local communities,” Shazurawati pointed out.
PoP will create a more balanced and inclusive regional development, boosting the growth of new technologies like 5G and future generations of communication technologies.
Through this initiative, users in TM’s PoP area have now reached over 9,000 and a total of 58 of the users are schools which have subscribed to Unifi services.
“The widespread Internet accessibility will not only help to develop the rural economy, but more importantly, allow learning materials to be downloaded, to improve the quality of education in schools and equipping the future generations with a wealth of knowledge,” TM noted.
For phase two of the PoP project, TM has been awarded with 174 sites in the central region.
This phase is expected to further boost digital connectivity and economic development for Malaysia.
