KUCHING: The Sarawak Government through the Ministry for Utility and Telecommunication (MUTS) plans to collaborate with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to expand the coverage of the Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN) by using the Jalinan Digital Negara (JENDELA) tower infrastructure.

Its Minister, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said this is an effort to carry out extensive promotions and campaigns so that MySRBN can be expanded to all villages and longhouses in rural areas.

"So far, the government is using the SMART Tower built by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), and discussions are currently underway with MCMC for the JENDELA tower to be used to install the MySRBN system to expand broadband coverage in rural areas," he said.

He said this when speaking at the Launching Ceremony of the Integrated Business Digitalisation Initiative @ Sarawak (BDI@SARAWAK) at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Wednesday.

Dato Sri Julaihi added that the Sarawak Government recently held a MySRBN campaign on Pulau Bruit, which received an encouraging response from residents in rural areas.

He explained that the need to expand Internet access, especially to rural residents, ensures that they are given the opportunity to participate in various economic activities.

He said that rural residents, especially those involved in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), will be able to be more actively involved in the future if digital connectivity facilities like this can be implemented more comprehensively.

Meanwhile, when met by the media, Dato Sri Julaihi said that his ministry and MCMC are currently holding negotiations, with favourable responses from both parties.

Also present was Deputy Minister of Digital, Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong. -UKASnews