KOTA KINABALU: The completion of 535 new telecommunication towers by next year would depend on the current Covid-19 and economic situation, says Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Arthur Kurup.
“The completion would depend on various factors like the economy, Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns and other factors.
“We are hoping to be able to complete it all by 2022 as targeted,” he told reporters after launching the new telecommunication tower at remote Kampung Rungus Nahaba in the Kiulu area on the foothills on Mount Kinabalu.
He said so far, 51 new telecommunication towers have been completed and 1,874 towers are undergoing 4G upgrades as of June 30, this year in Sabah.
He said that it was part of the RM3.5bil fund to build 535 new towers and upgrade 3,374 existing towers under the Jendela programme for Sabah.
Kurup also said that 30,000 of 251,000 premises in the state have also been installed with fibre optics under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“We hope the upgrading of Internet facilities in Sabah will help students with online learning as well as encourage rural people to enter e-commerce business,” he said.
Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who is also state Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, said that the village would benefit from the setting up of the tower.
“The village never had telecommunication connectivity. Now it would be good not only for the students but also for people in the area, which is popular for nature trekking.
“Tourists who come for nature trekking will also enjoy Internet connectivity,” he added.
