Teo (fourth from left) at the PEDi centre in Song. With her are Lidam (seventh from right) and Dr Yii (sixth from right).
THIRTEEN schools in Song district, Sibu in Sarawak, will be equipped with telecommunication facilities under the Point of Presence (PoP) Phase Two Project.
This was indicated in a statement following Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching’s visit to Song and Sibu.
The statement said that only SK Cardinal Vaughan’s facilities had been developed under the PoP project’s current phase.
Implemented by Borneo Restu, the Phase Two PoP project is targeting 681 units, which would benefit at least 68,100 users within a 3km radius.
The PoP project’s aims are to provide high-speed Internet access, especially to rural communities, apart from reducing the digital gap so people can keep abreast of technological advancements.
After a briefing, Teo visited the PEDi (digital economy centre) in Song town and the telecommunication tower under the National Digital Network (Jendela) at Nanga Sesawak.
She said PEDi Song could be an effective platform to promote products produced by villagers, especially in rural areas, through e-commerce or online businesses.
PEDi Song is among 133 PEDi centres established in Sarawak, which among others, encourages villagers to be involved in online business or e-commerce activities.
Teo said that through PEDi, small entrepreneurs who previously earned only RM150 can now hit earnings of RM1,000 on average by selling their products online, Bernama reported.
Apart from the PEDi centre, telecommunication towers have started operating in Song.
Seventeen more towers will be installed under the Federal Government’s Jendela programme and another 15 by the state government will be added through the Sarawak Multimedia Rural Telecommunication or SMART programme.
Teo also attended the Raya Gawai orogramme hosted by RTM Sibu.
Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assam and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii were among those present.
