More than 800 new mobile towers are expected to be deployed in rural areas across Malaysia by the end of 2012, The Star Online reports, citing Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang. The minister noted that the infrastructure rollout formed part of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC’s) Time 3 programme, which aims to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban regions. With the minister also claiming that 84% of Malaysia now has cellular coverage, he added that the ‘Wireless Village’ project, which was launched in late 2011, has improved connectivity in some 1,610 rural areas.
Commenting on the state’s efforts to improve access to telecoms services across the country, Mr Salang noted: ‘The Government recognises the importance of ICT and our efforts have ensured that communities living in rural areas [are] now enjoying almost the same level of connectivity and broadband facilities as the urban population … In addition to this, [the] MCMC has also set up Community Broadband Centres and Community Broadband Libraries, where collective access to broadband facilities is shared by the community in rural areas.’