JOHOR BARU: The Johor government will start upgrading and expanding its Johor WiFi 2.0 project next year to provide free Internet coverage statewide, especially in rural areas.

       State Education, Infrasture, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman Mazlan Bujang said studies have started in July this year to identify suitable locations to build new infrastructures for this purpose.

       “At present, there are 201 free hotspots under the project, and we aim to add more hotspots where the locations are still under review.

       “Besides that, we plan to begin upgrading works at existing hotspots too as some of them have been in service since the Johor WiFi project was introduced in 2016 to provide free Internet access to the public.

       “We hope to complete the upgrades from copper to fibre optics and the installation of new hotspots in the next three years,” he said in a press conference here on Tuesday (Nov 16).

       Earlier, Mazlan attended a briefing session about the Internet coverage in Johor with the state’s assemblymen at the RTM auditorium in Johor Baru.

       “Previously, the project focused on urban areas and public spaces, so this time round, we aim to add more hotspots in rural areas.

       “The need for better Internet speed and coverage is crucial, which was seen during the Covid-19 pandemic where work, businesses and studies were conducted heavily online,” he added.