Rural Broadband in Malaysia

School children with a wireless laptop and pervasive broadband connectivity in Malaysia.

The plan from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is to establish rural broadband community centres in every parliamentary constituency (22) in the country. The Sarawak Rural Broadband Initiative (SRBI) will be the first, connecting school children in Sarawak, aged six to 12 years, who are provided with a low-cost Wifi terminal known as “one-laptop-per-child” (OLPC). The broadband infrastructure, such as fiber optics and satellite coverage is provided by a joint venture between Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd and Sarawak’s state-run Sacofa Sdn Bhd.

After 1½ years, the SRBI has achieved 20% broadband coverage of Sarawak and aims for 50% by 2010.

Sarawak joined recently the Multimedia Super Corridor.

Source: The Star Online