Malaysian mobile operator DiGi Telecommunications has announced that it has expanded its HSDPA-enabled 3G network, offering theoretical downlink speeds of up to 14.4Mbps, in Sarawak, in line with its previously announced expansion plans. According to The Star Online, DiGi said that at launch in the region its infrastructure covered around 68% of the population in Ipoh, while it also covered 45% of those living in Kuching, with this expected to rise to 98% and 55% respectively by the end of March 2010. The operator has said it plans to invest around MYR100 million (USD29 million) on further enhancing its footprint in Sarawak and Perak in the next three years, with DiGi CEO Johan Dennelind noting: ‘As at present, we are only available in Ipoh and Kuching, we are looking to expand the services to Taiping, Kamunting and Kampar in Perak and Miri in Sarawak by the second half of 2010.’ The executive also noted that DiGi was aiming to offer services in three further Malaysian states by the end of this year, with Johor Baharu said to be the next target. DiGi’s existing 3G network already has coverage of almost 100% of Kota Kinabalu as well as 70% of both Penang and the Klang Valley, having inaugurated commercial services in March 2009 in the latter.
In addition to detailing its expansion plans DiGi has announced that as of end-2009 it had approximately 500,000 cumulative 3G mobile internet customers, of which around 10% were mobile broadband subscribers accessing the internet via USB dongle.