Broadband services focused on urban areas due to demand, Senate told

(Bernama) – KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Negara sitting on Tuesday was told that greater awareness and demand for broadband services from residents and companies in urban centres resulted in these services being more focused on the urban areas.

Deputy Minister of Information Communication and Culture Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said, however, this factor did not mean that the government was ignoring the needs of the rural residents for broadband services.

“It is undeniable that the broadband services are more concentrated in the urban areas, but emphasis is also given to the provision of such services in the suburban and rural areas,” he told the Senate when replying to a question from Senator Datuk Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman.

Abdul Rahim wanted to know what measures were being taken by the government to ensure that internet services were extended to all parts of the country instead of being concentrated in certain areas.

Salang said that, in order to meet all requests, the ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) were implementing various initiatives to enhance broadband coverage and to provide awareness on and promote demand for the broadband services. – Bernama