Answer for Oral Question PL293

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Daud bin Jihan

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG HAJI DAUD BIN JIHAN requested the MENTERI PENGANGKUTAN DAN INFOKOMUNIKASI to state the Ministry's measures and plans to expand coverage and increase internet speeds, particularly in rural areas, so that the public can enjoy more stable, faster and comprehensive access. This is in view of the fact that quality internet access is a basic necessity in supporting education, the economy and the delivery of digital services.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Pengangkutan dan Infokomunikasi

The Ministry's policy is clear, namely to ensure that quality, stable and high-speed internet access can be enjoyed comprehensively, regardless of whether people are located in urban or rural areas. In this regard, Perkhidmatan Internet Yang Berkualiti Tinggi is among the National Key Performance Indicators (NKPI) monitored in terms of coverage and quality of user experience.

At present, Fixed Broadband (FTTH) coverage has reached 96% of the population, while mobile network coverage has reached 99% of the population, including 97.65% 5G coverage.

In terms of speed, as at June 2026, 99.97% of residential users had access to fixed broadband services with speeds of 100 Mbps and above, subject to their respective subscriptions. AITI also conducts regular network performance monitoring nationwide to ensure that the speeds received by users are in line with their subscription packages. In tests conducted on 30 residential users, all of them achieved download speeds corresponding to their respective subscription speeds.

Nevertheless, the Ministry does not only look at national-level average figures. Our priority is to ensure that the digital divide between urban and rural areas continues to be narrowed.

In this regard, the Ministry, through AITI and in collaboration with Unified National Networks Sendirian Berhad (UNN), will continue to expand and optimise telecommunications infrastructure, including through the construction of new towers. Since 2021, 38 towers have been completed and are operational, while three more are currently under implementation at Kampung Kuala Unggar, Hutan Simpan Bukit Ladan and Kampung Lamaling.

These efforts have also increased coverage in several rural areas, including Kampung Melilas, Kampung Sukang, Kampung Sumbiling Baru dan Lama, and Kampung Long Mayan. For fixed broadband, the baseline subscription speed has been increased to at least 100 Mbps since 2023.

In terms of monitoring, AITI also conducts regular network tests, including data tests to assess average mobile internet speeds and coverage tests to ensure the availability of 4G and 5G networks nationwide.

Overall, the Ministry's direction is to ensure that the development of digital infrastructure is not focused solely on increasing speeds, but also places emphasis on coverage, stability and equal access. This is important so that the internet truly serves as basic infrastructure supporting education, economic activities and the delivery of digital services, including for communities in rural areas.