KOTA BELUD, July 23 — The East Malaysia International Internet Gateway (EM-IIG) project will create jobs for locals, boost economic growth and ensure that domestic and international businesses remain viable and competitive.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes the EM-IIG project will lure foreign investors to set up their research and development base here.

"I hope this project can be fully implemented for the benefit of locals,” he told reporters after the ground breaking ceremony of EM-IIG project in Kampung Rampayan Laut, here today.

Ahmad Zahid said the project would assist government plans to reduce the digital gap between the rural and urban population via the provision of high speed broadband Internet.

It would also improve connection of 1Malaysia Internet Centres to enable the rural people to have access to the Internet and enjoy information and communication technology (ICT) facilities.

The project developed by Xiddig Cellular Communications Sdn Bhd (Xiddig) involves four phases, of which, three phases are expected to be completed in two years at a cost of about RM850 million via Private Funding Initiative (PFI).

The fourth phase will see Xiddig and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia expand the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) to Sabah.

Meanwhile, Xiddig executive chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahim said the first phase involves the laying of 60 terabyte undersea fibre optic cables.

"It is the best solution for all high speed Internet users in Sabah thereby reducing the dependence on the Internet gateway of the peninsula.”

The second phase will connect all telecommunications companies in Sabah and enhance the Internet bandwidth, while the third phase is the construction of a Tier-4 database, the first of its kind in this region.

The database is expected to attract investments from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines. — Bernama