Cellular telephone coverage in the rural areas of Malaysia is expected to reach 97 percent by 2012 with the installation of 873 new telecommunication towers, said Information

Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim.

He said this was part of the government’s on-going effort to provide better cellular coverage in the remote areas as the technology had provided connectivity, and was changing and uplifting the socio-economic status of rural folk.

“In ramping up efforts to provide service coverage in rural areas, Wi-Fi Internet service is being used to provide ‘Kampung WiFi’ to the people to accelerate broadband take-up in the country and also to bring the benefits of broadband to the people.”

He said this in his speech at the YTL Communications Sdn Bhd’s ‘Yes,’ - the world’s first 4G network launching ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today.

rais yatim pc 070809 03 It was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

    

Rais ( right ) said wireless communications, both mobile voice and data, had become an essential component in generating productivity gains for Malaysian businesses.

“The use of wireless data, especially mobile broadband to handle businesses on the go is gaining momentum, further improving productivity growth of commerce in Malaysia.

“Over the years of technology advances, many related industries and businesses have been generated in an almost domino-like effect, originating from the wireless industry itself, creating what is now an emerging multi-billion dollar industry in the country.”

Rais said the economic value of wireless industry to the national economy was about RM90 billion (US$26.5 billion), representing 17 percent of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2008.

“This figure is not inclusive of the value of the government’s use of spectrum resource in Malaysia, such as for defence and security purposes.

“Comparatively, estimates placed the total economic value of the United States spectrum at US$771 billion,” he said.

- Bernama