High-speed broadband project to boost Sungai Asap’s digital transformation

KUCHING (Feb 7): The high-speed broadband project in Sungai Asap is crucial in strengthening education, healthcare, governance and digital trade in line with the Sarawak government’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

State Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication (Telecommunication) Datuk Liwan Lagang said the project complements the Sungai Asap Digital Village initiative and is expected to benefit about 20,000 residents in the area.

“The Sungai Asap high-speed broadband project involves the installation of 140 kilometres of fibre optic cables and a telecommunications tower across 28 sites,” he said during the closing ceremony of the ‘High-Speed Broadband Project — Sungai Asap Digital Village Engagement Session’ there.

Liwan added that the project will benefit 15 longhouses from the Kenyah, Kayan, Lahanan, Seping, Ukit and Penan communities, as well as seven government agencies, three schools and two houses of worship.

Costing at least RM37 million, he said the project aims to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas by providing equitable access to high-speed broadband.

“This project also leverages the Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) Right of Way (ROW) to accelerate the provision of affordable high-speed broadband to rural communities,” he added.

Meanwhile, Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon described the Sungai Asap Digital Village broadband project as a catalyst for socio-economic development.

“It will open opportunities for the implementation of various digital services such as e-government, digital education, smart agriculture and public safety systems,” he said.

He added that the infrastructure will support rural economic growth by promoting entrepreneurship, online markets and innovation-driven digital businesses.

Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) deputy general manager Dr Suhaila Jaffar said the project, which was implemented by SMA in Sebauh district, Bintulu, in 2022, had positively impacted the local community.

“We are now expanding the project to Sungai Asap as part of efforts to facilitate the transformation of Sungai Asap into a digital community,” she said.