KUANTAN: A total of 79 telecommunication towers have been built in Pahang under Phase One of the National Digital Network (Jendela), from the target of 270 towers.

       State communications and multimedia, youth, sports and NGO committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal said the remaining 191 towers were in progress and would be completed in stages.

       He added that the upgrade of 902 transmitter stations from 3G to 4G had been completed in the middle of last year.

       "Some 69 identified Orang Asli villages in the interior have also been equipped with free satellite broadband Internet services,” he told the state assembly meeting at Wisma Sri Pahang on Tuesday (Sept 5).

       He was replying to V. Arumugam (BN-Sabai), who wanted to know about the progress of communications infrastructure projects being implemented throughout Pahang.

       Fadzli said 4G mobile broadband coverage in the state has increased to 94.31% in the second quarter of this year, compared to 89.1% in Q2 2020.

       The coverage is expected to continue rising after all Phase One Jendela projects are completed.

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       He also said that starting this year, the state government has streamlined processes through integrated and strategic cooperation involving various government agencies, including the Land and Mines Office, Forestry Department and Public Works Department, to expedite the construction of towers.

       "As a result of these efforts, the tower in Kampung Orang Asli Kuala Boh, Cameron Highlands, for example, was completed in approximately five months, starting from the site acquisition process to the activation of the tower,” he said.

       Meanwhile, state consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman Sim Chon Siang said the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry had conducted 90 Rahmah Sales programmes in the state from January to June this year.

       "It will continue to hold Rahmah Sales in all 14 parliamentary constituencies in Pahang twice a month until December,” he said in reply to Chan Chun Kuang (PH-Semambu). – Bernama