PUTRAJAYA: Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) interest in venturing into the high speed broadband telecommunications business will positively impact connectivity infrastructure in Malaysia.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said TNB’s participation would be a game-changer for the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP).
“The pilot project in Jasin shows that the national electric utility corporation’s existing infrastructure can offer Malaysians open access network and bandwidth services through telecom players.
“It also indicates that efforts by the government to connect the country can be done in a faster and more cost effective manner.
“It will also provide a much-needed boost to our fibre infrastructure as Malaysia gets ready for 5G implementation.
“This is necessary to enable Malaysia to hasten its efforts to bridge the digital divide and encourage more Malaysians to participate in the digital economy,” he said in a statement today.
Eventually, he said, Malaysia would be able to keep up with the world in embracing the challenges, opportunities and benefits anticipated from the boom of the 4th Industrial Revolution in the near future.
“Therefore, the ministry is looking forward to engaging with TNB and discuss ways in which it can participate in this sector in order to realise the objectives of the NFCP and achieve nationwide connectivity soonest possible,” he said.
The minister was responding to TNB chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie’s recent statement that the national utility provider had seen the potential of the business, but would not do so in a reckless manner.
“I take note that it will do so cautiously as the company is a public listed organisation and being a national electric utility provider, it must ensure that the security and reliability of its grid infrastructure is intact at all times,” said Gobind.
He said the ministry looked forward to working closely with TNB to boost the country’s efforts to provide quality
connectivity with everyone in Malaysia at reasonable prices as soon as possible.