MCMC, SDEC Ink Agreement To Accelerate Digital Connectivity In Sarawak

PUTRAJAYA, July 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) signed a financing agreement today for the Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) Radio Access Network (RAN) Sharing Partnership, aimed at accelerating digital connectivity in Sarawak under the SMART600 Project.

MCMC and SDEC, in a joint statement, said that the Sarawak government, through SDEC, will finance the capital expenditure required for the construction of new telecommunications towers.

MCMC, together with the participating mobile network operators, CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, and YTL Communications, will cover the project’s operational expenditure.

“This joint financing model ensures that towers in Sarawak’s remote areas can continue to operate despite geographical and economic challenges,” read the statement.

Witnessed by MCMC chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din and SDEC chief executive officer Datuk Sudarnoto Osman, the agreement was signed at MCMC’s headquarters today.

According to the statement, 587 4G telecommunication towers have been completed, with 431 of them activated using advanced MOCN technology. The remaining towers will be activated in stages.

Under the SMART600 project, 600 towers are expected to be built in Sarawak in two phases. The project aims to provide high-quality 4G mobile services to over 1,000 rural locations, benefiting approximately 180,000 people in communities across Sarawak.

This high-impact project will enhance access to high-speed internet, supporting data-intensive applications such as AI usage, video streaming, public services, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The project is being carried out in areas including Belaga, Marudi, Sungai Belawai, Kapit, and Sungai Encheremin, narrowing the digital divide between urban and remote areas.

The mobile network operators, under the supervision of MCMC and the Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN), will share infrastructure and spectrum through the MOCN arrangement to deliver services to users under the SMART600 initiative.

-- BERNAMA