Sarawak on track to enjoy high speed broadband
MIRI: The state government is adopting a multi-pronged approach to increase household Internet penetration rate to 50 per cent while laying the foundation for next generation network (4G) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) services.
Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who is also Minister of Public Utilities, said the state government had already stepped up coverage of Internet penetration rate to 46 per cent from barely 11 per cent a year ago.
“Sarawak is ready to reap the benefits of the latest telecommunication services and technology as we have the 3,000 kilometres full dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) state-of-art submarine and land fibre optic networks,” he said.
He also said state-owned telecommunication and technology company Sacofa Sdn Bhd was currently fibrerising more than 400 communication towers which would be ready for commissioning by next year to provide high capacity bandwidth to base stations to would allow 4G and LTE services.
This, he said, would provide access to the latest high speed broadband technology at a more affordable rate, complementing the 3,000km of full DWDM fibre-optic network system spanning Mersing, Kuching and Lawas with a 400-gigabit-per-second capacity.
He said this when officiating at the signing ceremony for the first UniFI in the state between Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and Sarawak-based developer Homelite Development Sdn Bhd.
Awang Tengah believed the availability of high speed broadband service such as UniFi would spur and accelerate development of industries in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) besides bringing much relief to commercial and domestic users.
“The state government hopes that similar services would be extended to other towns and rural areas although the sheer vastness of the state land mass poses big challenges,” he said.
Wong Su Chung, managing director of Homelite, said the company was committed to breaking new grounds by introducing refreshingly new concepts and designs in line with its motto of involvement, innovation, initiative and integrity.
“Many people work their whole life just to own a house, and Homelite believes that it is its great duty to deliver good quality and yet affordable houses, integrating past experience with new concepts and designs,” he said.
With UniFi, he said the projects would revolutionise urban lifestyle, adding Homelite Resort Phase I would be launched on August 21, followed by Phase II which would transform Miri airport area into a high-end residential area in the near future.
The development of another 460 houses in these two phases will mark the coming of age of this young company which started in 2004 with the building of just six semi-detached houses.
Phase I will include 157 units of five-star standard condominium apartments with the incorporation of Homelite UniFi draw and attractive pricing.
“The new venture would include water theme park at the doorstep, with children enjoying themselves while parents can have their cup of coffee in the gazebos or enjoy the high speed broadband services,” he said.
Wong thanked Awang Tengah and the state government for providing Homelite with a business platform conducive for it to help the government develop the state.
On the future, he said Homelite Group had more projects in the pipeline for next year, stressing it was committed to technological lifestyle, and possibly construction of green buildings that optimise natural resources such as sunlight, rain, water and wind.
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