ALOR GAJAH (March 17): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) of Melaka remains committed to expanding 5G accessibility by 2024, especially in industrial areas, to attract more investors to the state.

Its director Muhammad Luqman Ali said that so far, about 15 industrial areas in Melaka have 5G services, and the number is expected to increase by the end of this year.

“A total of 224 5G locations covering tower sites, buildings and street lamp posts have been identified throughout Melaka in an effort to achieve 80% 5G coverage by the end of this year.

“This will indirectly provide more advantages in Internet of Things (IOT) applications and industry players and, at the same time, boost the confidence of investors to come to Melaka,” he said.

He told reporters this after the symbolic handing over of telecommunication towers under the Universal Service Provision (PPS) programme to Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd in Kampung Solok Uban, Taboh Naning, here, on Friday (March 17).

Also present were Melaka ICT Holdings (MICTH) chief executive officer Dr Nazdiana Ab Wahab, Taboh Naning assemblyman Zulkiflee Mohd Zin and Maxis representative Lam Leong Kien.

Meanwhile, Dr Nazdiana said their main goal is to improve blind spot areas and dropped calls, which are among the state’s main telecommunication problems.

“Although telecommunication access in this state has reached 99.9% for 4G, we are working hard to reduce the problem of blind spots. We hope that by changing street lamp posts to smart poles, which will also function as a telecommunication structure, this problem can be solved.

“Although these smart lamp posts are just 18-metre high and the maximum access is between 300 and 400 metres, it is still sufficient to overcome the problems of blind spots and dropped calls,” she said, adding that the pioneer project would be carried out in Peringgit and Klebang.

Meanwhile, Zulkiflee said the internet network problem faced by over 1,000 residents around Brisu has been resolved, after a 45-metre high telecommunication tower in Kampung Tok Uban that was built through the PPS programme by MCMC and Maxis Broadband, as the service providing company, was completed and handed over on Friday.

The level of coverage in Brisu is also expected to increase when two new telecommunication towers in Kampung Batang Melaka and Kampung Brisu are handed over at the end of this month.