KUCHING: The Sarawak government will continue to implement development initiatives that had been planned to expand the state’s RM130 billion economy.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the initiatives included the construction of a Light Rail Transit system comprising three lines spanning 155km in Kuching, Samarahan and Serian. The RM11 billion project is expected to
be completed by 2024.
“I also announced an initial allocation of RM1 billion to develop the digital infrastructure to increase the broadband speed in Sarawak to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) in urban areas and between 20Mbps and 80Mps in rural areas,” he said at the launch of this year’s International ICT Infrastructure and Digital Economy Conference Sarawak here today.
“Over the next three years, more funds will be allocated to provide 100 per cent coverage, if necessary.
“To date, we have improved connectivity in the telecommunication and broadband infrastructure to 78 per cent for 3G service and 48 per cent for 4G service.”
Abang Johari said 1532 communication towers had been built statewide and 657 towers would be constructed this year.
“I am confident that we will achieve full coverage of broadband services statewide by the end of 2020,” he said, adding that between RM7 billion and RM8 billion had been allocated for the first phase of the state water grid project.