KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty-seven Orang Asli villages (KOA) in Johor are now covered by reliable 4G networks, with another settlement lined up for internet access improvements under National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA) Phase 2, the Communications Ministry said.
In a written reply published on the Parliament website, the ministry stated that internet and telecommunications coverage in populated areas across Johor, including populated areas within KOA reserves, has achieved 99.98% through the rollout of the JENDELA initiative.
The ministry was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (BN-Sembrong) about the progress made in providing People-Friendly Broadband Internet service in Johor's Orang Asli reserve areas, as well as plans to address the issue of telecommunication towers without a permanent power supply.
On the issue of power supply to communication towers in Orang Asli villages in Johor, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is constantly assessing the need for improvements and developing appropriate solutions to ensure uninterrupted communications services in the affected areas.
Among the measures conducted is the conversion of existing generator (genset) facilities to solar or hybrid genset systems, with the goal of increasing power supply capacity and operational resilience of communication towers.
As at September 1, four towers in KOA Kemidak, KOA Pasir Salam, KOA Tewowoh, and Jalan KOA Peta were upgraded from gensets to solar genset systems for continuous service. Additionally, five JENDELA towers in KOA Tanah Gemboh, KOA Simpang Arang, KOA Pasir Intan, KOA Sayong Pinang, and KOA Peta gained permanent grid electricity, according to BERNAMA.
The photo is for illustration purpose only.