CONSUMERS in Sarawak will soon no longer be receiving separate bills for various utilities, Utility and Telecommunications Minister Julaihi Narawi told the state legislative assembly today.

He said water, electricity and telecommunication bills will be integrated into one utility bill which is part of the state’s “continuous effort” to adopt new technologies to enhance the delivery of its utility services.

“The (billing) system will integrate the reading and billing processes (of) different utility agencies such as the electricity and water agencies,” he said.

Julaihi said like other bill payments, the one bill could be made online or through e-payment facilities such as S Pay Global and Sarawak Service.

On telecommunications, he told the assembly that since Sarawak has low mobile phone coverage, more than RM5.9 billion is needed to achieve 99.9% telecommunication coverage by 2030.

He said his ministry will apply for more universal service provider (USP) to expand its telecommunications coverage.

On the recent amendment to the Land Code, Julaihi said it will give the state government regulatory rights even as DAP state chairman and Padungan assembly Chong Chieng Jen earlier questioned whether the state really has that right.

“This right enables the Sarawak government to plan the development of the telecommunications sector more efficiently and thoroughly through the use of optimal spectrum resources, especially in the underused spectrum.

“This will accelerate efforts to expand telecommunications coverage, such as mobile broadband including 2G and 4G, fixed wireless broadband including MySRBN, and WiFi hotspot services in rural areas.