Malaysia’s broadband penetration rate continued to expand at a brisk pace of 19.6 percent by the end of the first quarter 2012 from 19.4 percent as of last year, reflecting the people’s propensity to embrace information, communications and technology.

According to a pocket book of statistics released by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) today, the 19.6 percent increase from a population of 28.78 million clearly signalled the acceptance and adaptation of the latest Internet revolutions by Malaysians.

The increase was also in line with the government’s National Broadband Initiative, it said.

MCMC said the percentage reflected 5.75 million subscriptions from fixed broadband lines, wireless and 1Malaysia Netbook.

It said broadband penetration rate for households rose to 62.9 percent as of the first quarter this year from 62.3 percent last year. Malaysia has about 6.69 million households.

Kuala Lumpur continued to lead the household penetration rate by state as of the first quarter this year with 112.1 percent, surpassing the maximum 100 percent because of multiple subscriptions.

Perlis and Penang followed suit with a penetration rate of 83.7 and 83.4 percent, respectively.

Sabah experienced the lowest penetration level with 32.9 percent while Kelantan registered lowest rate in peninsular Malaysia with 44.7 percent penetration.

Penang and Selangor led the other states with 3,045 and 2,530 hotspot locations, respectively, out of a total of 22,654 nationwide.

MCMC is an agency under the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture. Its primary role is to implement and promote the government’s national policy objectives for the communications and multimedia sector.

- Bernama