KUCHING: The Sarawak government aims to enhance digital connectivity facilities throughout the state, especially in rural areas.
 
In expediting efforts to achieve this goal, Sarawak Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said the state government has implemented the Sarawak Linking Urban, Rural and Nation (SALURAN) initiative, with the Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunication (SMART) towers serving as one of the key components within this initiative.
 
According to him, out of the planned 600 SMART towers in Sarawak, 512 have been fully completed, with 308 operational and 247 utilising Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology.
 
“This (SMART towers initiative) is an intervention to what has been done by the Federal government through the Ministry of Communications and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to accelerate digital connectivity in Sarawak.
 
“MOCN is an achievement that can speed up our efforts to enable the agenda under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint to be effectively implemented,” he added.
 
He said this in a press conference in conjunction with the Signing Ceremony of the SMART600 MOCN Agreement held at the HIKMAH Exchange Event Centre here, on Friday.
 
MOCN is a technology that enables multiple mobile network operators to share a common core network infrastructure while maintaining their own individual radio access networks (RANs).
 
This approach allows efficient resource sharing, reduces investment costs, and facilitates seamless services for end users, even when roaming across different operators’ networks.
 
Meanwhile, Communications Minister, Fahmi Fadzil, who was also present, said that MCMC and the Ministry of Finance agreed to provide funds amounting to RM116 million to help equip the SMART600 towers with six-way MOCN technology.
 
At the same event, Dato Sri Julaihi, representing Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, witnessed the signing of agreements between the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and four mobile network operators, namely CelcomDigi Berhad (CelcomDigi), Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd (Maxis), UMobile Sdn Bhd (UMobile), and YTL Communications Sdn Bhd (YTL).
 
He also witnessed the signing of an agreement between Maxis and TM Technology Services Sdn Bhd on Domestic Roaming (DR) for the SMART600 towers.
 
Also present were Sarawak Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, Datuk Liwan Lagang, MCMC Chairman, Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din, SDEC Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Chief Executive Officer of SDEC, Sudarnoto Osman, and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews