KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 11): The work order to commence physical work for the construction of telecommunications towers under the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA) 1 will be issued to the appointed companies this month, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

In acknowledging the delay in the implementation of JENDELA 1, despite the tenders having been issued as early as March, he said the ministry’s goal is to ensure the country’s migration to 4G-based services by year end.

“Our objective is to ascertain that by the end of this year, the 3G facilities will be closed for us to migrate to 4G-based services.

"For that to happen, we want to ensure that by the end of next year, the provision of 4G facilities should cover 96.7% of the nation's coverage, and as such the ministry will ensure implementation of the JENDELA programme will be given high priority," he said during the question-and-answer (Q&A) session in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.

He was responding to a supplementary question by Ahmad Hassan (Warisan-Papar) who wanted to know when the telecommunications tower in his area would be built.

To a supplementary question from Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) on whether the government intends to make it compulsory for telecommunications companies (telcos) to provide transmitters at every new tower being built, Annuar said it is compulsory under JENDELA.

“I would like to give a soft reminder to the service providers that they do not think only think of making profit, the ministry understands... we will monitor, so that the profit be also returned for rural services.

"I have done some random checks and found that there are places where telcos do not provide the service as advertised, which is not fair to consumers," he added.

On plans to upgrade Internet access in Igan, Annuar said it involves the construction of 12 new towers, four of which had been completed, followed by upgrading of 45 transmitter stations with 15 of them completed, and construction of two towers using satellite broadband, which will be implemented soon.

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