PUTRAJAYA, Aug 15 — The 5G network coverage in Malaysia has reached 66.8 per cent as of the end of July, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said.

He added that with a new chief executive officer (CEO) and new board members soon, Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) will further expedite the 5G rollout process.

"So far the rollout in the Klang Valley has been good. It’s beyond the Klang Valley when we talk about breaching 80 per cent," Fahmi said.

As for Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by American aerospace company SpaceX, the broadband services are intended for use as a temporary solution for areas with low connectivity until better infrastructure can be laid out, he explained.

Fahmi said he had written to the Minister of Health, Minister of Education, Minister of Rural and Regional Development, as well as several other MPs to identify locations in their constituencies or premises under their respective ministries that can be used for a proof of concept in the Starlink rollout.

"For the Ministry of Health, for example, it’s identifying appropriate rural or very remote government clinics.

"For schools, it (the Education Ministry) is identifying schools with no Internet access at the moment.

"And perhaps some Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) areas or areas in Sabah and Sarawak with no access,” he said.

He also added that by the end of July, more than 160,000 people had registered for the Pakej Prepaid Rahmah, which was initially introduced as the Pakej Perpaduan.

It provides 30GB of data quota valid for six months with a speed cap of 3Mbps for RM30.

Another package under the Rahmah umbrella is the 5G Rahmah package that starts on August 31 in conjunction with the National Month celebrations.

The 5G Rahmah package is a 5G device bundle data plan priced at RM60 a month, with the choice of either a Samsung A14 5G or Honor 90 Lite 5G at prices as low as RM240.

Fahmi said that the first 100,000 B40 (denoting the bottom 40 per cent of Malaysian income group) applicants will enjoy a discount with the smart phone priced as low as RM120.

"The Rahmah concept which was espoused by the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, the philosophy is very clear.

"Businesses can make more, but if they take a little bit from their earnings to give a little bit more to those who need it then you create this virtuous cycle, this sense of love in the community,” he said, explaining that this feeling is what his ministry is trying to evoke.

The Rahmah concept has successfully created competition around doing good and helping others, he added.

After the launch of the 5G Rahmah package, he said several other phone makers called him to request to join the initiative.