Communications infrastructure a key growth enabler for Malaysia

Malaysia is about to enter a new phase of national development with the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) offering a strategic direction over the next decade.

Connectivity and the communications infrastructure will be a key component that underpins the nation’s growth aspirations to further increase its competitiveness.

To this end, it is natural that connectivity is a component under the economic empowerment dimension of the 12MP as a growth enabler.

The National Digital Network (JENDELA) initiative was formulated to enable widespread connectivity for Malaysians nationwide.

Malaysia has made good progress in ensuring nobody is left behind when it comes to access to communications services, having classified it as a public utility alongside water and electricity in June this year.

Being a public utility helps secure suitable areas for infrastructure installation to minimise blind spots. It will help better planning for the development or redevelopment of areas by including requirements for communications infrastructure such as spaces for communications structures and in-building coverage within the planning process from the earliest stages of development.

Going a step further, Malaysia is also considering designating internet access as a human right along with other necessities such as clothing, food and shelter. This augurs well for the nation’s development.

The race to provide 100% 4G coverage to all spectrums of society is well underway, but the deployment of communications infrastructure is not without its challenges.

Weather, terrain, and site location and availability are among the factors that affect the rollout. A skilled workforce dedicated to the shared objective of the industry and regulators will accelerate the deployment.

Better connectivity will improve education and productivity in businesses, particularly SMEs and micro-enterprises, communities and societies at large. It will power the socio-economy development of the nation.

Overall, the focus to improve broadband quality and coverage as outlined in the connectivity component of the 12MP will positively improve the livelihood of Malaysians. edotco Malaysia is committed to strengthening the country’s digital infrastructure as the foundation to enable the modern economy is important to realising shared prosperity under the 12MP.

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* Wan Zainal Adileen is the Managing Director at edotco Malaysia, the first and leading regional integrated telecommunications infrastructure services company in Asia.

** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.