5G network coverage in Sarawak reaches 62 pct, set to expand further by year-end

Tiong delivers his welcoming remarks at the Sarawak Telecommunication Development Townhall Session held at a hotel in Kuching on Aug 21, 2024. Photo credit: Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA)

By Ashley Sim

KUCHING, Aug 21: 5G network coverage across Sarawak has reached 62 per cent as of June 2024.

According to Dato Dr Anderson Tiong Ing Heng, General Manager of Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), which is responsible for managing the 5G network, is targeting coverage of 64.8 per cent by the end of the year.

“There are still a few percentage points left to reach this target and complete 5G network coverage in several areas of Sarawak this year,” he said.

Tiong made these remarks at the Sarawak Telecommunication Development Townhall Session, which was held today at a local hotel and featured key telecommunications sector leaders and stakeholders.

Organised by SMA, the session aimed to address the development of telecommunication infrastructure in Sarawak, with a strong focus on the ongoing 5G rollout.

Tiong further stressed that the 5G network is critical in supporting Sarawak’s rapidly growing digital economy development agenda, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.

He emphasised that Sarawak, through its digital economy policy, aims to become a developed and high-income state by 2030, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of up to eight per cent per year.

Additionally, he urged the public to support the construction of 5G network infrastructure in their respective areas and to filter out false information claiming that 5G radiation can cause cancer.

SMA, he said, has collaborated with the Malaysian Nuclear Agency (ANM) to assess 5G telecommunications towers to ensure they comply with established standards.

Adding to Tiong’s statement, Roha Tukimin, Senior Research Officer from ANM, in a briefing stressed that claims about 5G radiation allegedly causing cancer are unfounded, as no specific body in the world has declared that the development of the 5G network can alter human body tissues.

Roha explained that there are two types of radiation, ionising and non-ionising. Ionising radiation, such as X-rays and radioactive materials, can cause cancer, while non-ionising radiation produced by 5G only causes heating effects and is not strong enough to negatively affect human body tissues, even in the long-term.

“Based on reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 25,000 research articles worldwide published over the past 30 years show that exposure to low-frequency radio waves or non-ionising radiation does not have a negative impact on human health,” she added.

Tiong further emphasised that the 5G network not only benefits residents in the covered areas but also supports future technological advancements.

He additionally highlighted the importance of tackling vandalism against 5G infrastructure.

The Sarawak Telecommunication Development Townhall Session featured presentations from experts from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), DNB, and the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, which provided insights on the safety and benefits of 5G.

The event was attended by various dignitaries and officials, including Sarawak Deputy Premier and Sarawak Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Sarawak Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, Datuk Liwan Lagang; Sarawak Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng; Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai; Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap; and Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang. — DayakDaily