Budget 2025: Internet connectivity in schools, campuses is a priority – Fahmi

GEORGE TOWN: The Ministry of Communications will give priority by continuing efforts to improve and further strengthen connectivity infrastructure involving Internet issues in Budget 2025, which will be presented on 18 Oct.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said it included Internet issues in remote areas, hinterlands and islands in ensuring that high-speed Internet access is more widespread, including in educational institutions in the country through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

“We will also try to help equip a number of schools with wi-fi because the Point of Presence (PoP) program was drawn up when we provided high-speed Internet to schools in rural areas.

“The program was before I became Minister of Communications; the Internet only reached the school fence and not the school entrance,” he told reporters after attending a casual chat session with the Penang Civil Society Community in Kampung Batu Uban, Gelugor, last night.

Fahmi said it was also following his ministry receiving criticism in the Auditor General’s Report Series 2 2024 regarding the implementation of the PoP project; therefore, there is a need to fix the problem involved by helping the approximately 4,000 schools involved to complete Internet facilities.

The PoP project aims to bridge the digital divide in rural areas by turning schools into fiber optic broadband infrastructure hubs, thus allowing schools, government premises, and surrounding residential areas to have high-speed broadband access.

In addition, Fahmi said the Ministry of Communications will also focus on increasing Internet access on public university campuses as recommended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to focus on solving Internet problems on campuses, especially in public universities.

“I have asked the MCMC to immediately discuss with the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) so that we can identify which campuses have Internet issues, whether it is the Internet outside or the Wi-Fi Internet, for example, that we need help with.

“Because every campus has problems or even slightly different issues. So, the issue of Internet and infrastructure will be the priority of the ministry,” he said.

The 2025 budget will be presented in Parliament on Oct 18.

— BERNAMA

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