Telekom Malaysia has set aside RM100 million to expand its wireless fixed-line services this year, a report said today.

With the new investment, Telekom will be able to offer an additional 70,000 wireless fixed lines, mainly to rural areas, its chief operating officer Idris Ibrahim was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

Last year, Telekom invested RM180 million and installed 200,000 wireless fixed lines. About 51,000 Telekom customers are currently using these lines.

Idris said the move towards wireless fixed lines was to help the government narrow the digital divide in the country.

Where demand for telephony was low, the best option was to offer wireless fixed lines, as the cost of laying copper or fibre optic lines was high, he added. - AFP