TAWAU – Contractors and operators of telecommunication towers are now instructed to communicate and cooperate in order to quickly resolve problems and speed up facility operation.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said both parties should work together to coordinate the operation of a telecommunication tower at least three or four months before the facility is ready to enable the people to enjoy better telecommunication.
“This is important to solve any problems so that the tower can operate well and as scheduled. We don’t want problems between the builder (contractor) and the operator to disrupt the operation process,” he said.
He told reporters this after inspecting the operation of a telecommunication tower under Phase 1 of the National Digital Network Plan project in Kg Mangga here today.
Fahmi said that the Communications Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission will monitor the project’s progress to ensure that it is completed and running smoothly.
“I have met with all the parties involved and they have informed me that by the end of this year, almost 400 towers (in Sabah) will be completed. Whatever happens, we want the towers to be ready and we will take action if they are completed as promised,” he said.
The ministry, he said, planned to build 647 new towers, upgrade 4,486 existing transmitting stations and install 303,569 premises with fibre optic connections in Sabah.
He also said a total of 259 transmitter stations have been upgraded and a total of 18,231 premises have been installed with fibre optic connections.
“The broadband service through the satellite Broadband Wireless Access will be provided in 138 locations in the interior areas,” he said.
Commenting on his visit to the telecommunications tower in Kg Mangga, Fahmi said the project was handed over on April 24 and was operational the following day.
“It was fast and I have requested that this project be used as an example so that the people can immediately enjoy internet facilities in their respective areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fahmi requested that MCMC identify steps to address the issue of no internet access in some areas along the main route in Tawau.
“I made some calls on the way from Tawau to the airport and there are places where there is no line or with only 2G. We need to address the problem,” he added. – May 18, 2024