KUANTAN, Sept 5 — A total of 79 telecommunication towers have been built in Pahang under Phase One of the National Digital Network (Jendela), out of the targeted 270 towers.

State Communication and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and NGO Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal said the remaining 191 towers were currently in progress and would be completed in stages.

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

“Some 69 identified Orang Asli villages located in the interior have also been equipped with free satellite broadband internet services,” he said at the State Legislative Assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang today.

He said this in response to a question from V. Arumugam (BN-Sabai), who wanted to know about the progress of communication infrastructure projects being implemented throughout Pahang.

Elaborating, Fadzli said the 4G mobile broadband coverage in the state has increased to 94.31 per cent in the second quarter of this year, compared to 89.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2020. The rate is expected to continue rising after all Phase One Jendela projects are completed.

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, the Pahang Forestry Department and the 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 Pahang Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) had conducted 90 Rahmah Sales programmes from January to June this year.

“KPDN will continue to hold Rahmah Sales programmes in all 14 parliamentary constituencies in Pahang twice a month until December 2023,” he said in response to a question from Chan Chun Kuang (PH-Semambu). — Bernama