The state government through Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) will build an additional 300 telecommunication towers statewide under the state’s digital economy strategy, said Corporate Affair Assistant Minister Abdullah Saidol.
“SMA has paid about RM500,000 to contractors doing the recce survey for the 300 locations of the proposed site for the construction of the telecommunications,” he said when answering a question from Ali Biju (PKR-Krian) and Datuk Idris Buang (GPS-Muara Tuang on questions pertaining to telecommunications towers infrastructure development.
He pointed out since the announcement in 2016 of the digital economic initiatives, the state government established SMA in 2018 to spur the digital economy and enhance the telecommunications infrastructure in the state.
“The state government is currently implementing the SMA300 initiatives to construct 300 towers statewide, especially in remote and inaccessible areas that has failed to gain the interest of commercial telecommunications companies in the past.
As such, the planning and construction of telecommunications towers would take at least two years, especially in remote areas as it involves intensive planning process, site feasibility study, land survey, design, access to site, equipment supply, site preparation and tower construction.
“Under SMA300 construction of telecommunication towers had begun in late 2018 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
“The installation of telecommunication equipment in these towers is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2020,” he added.
