KUANTAN: The Pahang government aims to ensure all areas in the state will have access to 4G broadband coverage by the end of this year through the National Digital Network (JENDELA) initiative.
State Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisation Committee Chairman, Fadzli Mohamad Kamal said that the JENDELA 4G 1.0 project, aimed at improving Internet access in Pahang was scheduled for completion by June but faced delays due to certain constraints.
“It is divided into 2 phases; the first involves tower construction, and the second aims to expand the communication network for the benefit of the people. I’ve already discussed this with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which regulates the JENDELA project.
“It was scheduled to be completed by the middle of this year, but due to some constraints such as land acquisition and coordination with stakeholders like the forest office and the Public Works Department (JKR), as well as awaiting approvals from the authorities,” he said.
He said this to reporters after officiating the Pahang state-level Communication Infrastructure Planning Guidelines Implementation and Compliance Seminar (GPP-1) recently.
Fadzli expressed confidence that the remaining 6 months would be enough time to complete the project and have it operational by the end of this year.
“After this, our focus will be on JENDELA 2.0 and identifying areas that require communication towers,” he said.
As of last March, 4G mobile coverage in populated areas of Pahang stood at 94.42%, compared to 89.10% before the implementation of JENDELA.
Meanwhile, Fadzli said the seminar organised by the Pahang MCMC in collaboration with the State Secretary’s Office served as a platform for stakeholders to engage in dialogue, exchange ideas and find the best solutions for the development of communication infrastructure in the state.
According to him, the seminar, which emphasises GPP-l compliance, aims to help state authorities, local authorities, developers, and stakeholders plan the implementation of communication infrastructure.
“This is a strategic move to ensure that Pahang not only delivers high-quality infrastructure and meets established standards for the benefit of all stakeholders but also serves as a pivotal platform for the state’s economic development.
“For this reason, the state government places a strong emphasis on developing a holistic, systematic and comprehensive communication infrastructure to ensure that high-speed broadband services are accessible to all residents across Pahang, including those in the interior areas,” he said.
— BERNAMA
