THE construction of 10 4G telecommunications towers in Chini will provide residents with better internet access, said Saifuddin Abdullah.

The communications and multimedia minister said monitoring by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in 15 areas in the constituency on May 27 found that internet coverage is poor.

“Apart from building new towers, 11 existing ones will be upgraded from 2G and 3G to 4G. For fixed broadband services, 439 premises using copper broadband will be upgraded to fibre-optic broadband.

“The upgrading initiatives carried out by Telekom Malaysia Bhd are expected to be completed by the end of 2021,” he told a press conference after visiting the Chini by-election media centre in Kg Salong, near Pekan, today.

Present were Pahang MCMC director Zahari Ismail, state Telekom general manager Zulfikri Hashim, state information director Mohd Salmun Mustafa and Beserah assemblyman Andansura Rabu.

Saifuddin said transmitter stations at the towers in Chini and National Youth Skills Institute in Paloh Hinai were upgraded to 3G and 4G in the second quarter, while a new tower began operations recently.

The process of expanding internet coverage has begun, with portable base stations set up this month, he added. – Bernama, June 30, 2020.