KUALA LUMPUR: The Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) initiative is on track, meeting nearly all targets set for its first phase of implementation, including surpassing targets for average mobile broadband speeds.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Datuk Fadhlullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek said the country's 4G coverage had reached 95.52 per cent as of March 31, and over 7 million premises were passed with fibre connectivity.
"In August 2020, our jump off point for 4G coverage was at 91.8 per cent with a speed of 25 megabits per second (Mbps).
"In 18 months (since Jendela was announced), 4G coverage has increased to 95.52 per cent with average speeds of 40.13 Mbps.
"We are at the tail-end year of Phase 1, and we have accelerated two key items which were planned in Phase 2 to Phase 1, which are satellite connectivity and 5G implementation," he said in a Q1 Jendela Report media briefing held virtually today.
On 5G deployment by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), Fadhlulah said a total of 500 5G locations had been completed as of end-2021, with a target of 3,500 sites by end of this year.
He said MCMC would provide more clarity on 5G deployment numbers in the next quarter, and would also report on DNB's achievements then.
During the briefing, Fadhlullah also said 99.3 per cent or 252,199 3G network carriers had been shut down as of March this year, with a total of 1.82 million customers migrated from the network.
"Nearly 100 per cent of the network has been migrated, which results in the freed spectrum being able to be reframed for the use of 4G."
MCMC, he added, had also recorded 23,803 network complaints from January 1, 2022, to date. A majority of those complaints were regarding 4G service quality issues, particularly in high-density areas such as Kuala Lumpur, Petaling and Johor Baru.
The government introduced the Jendela initiative in August 2020 as a digital infrastructure plan to meet digital connectivity needs and to prepare the nation for a gradual transition into 5G technology.
The action plan, under the 12th Malaysia Plan 2021-2025, would pave the way for the provision of a comprehensive and high-quality broadband service coverage.