Efficient Communication System Vital To Draw Investors To Iskandar Malaysia – Ghani

26 July 2010 , By Bernama

A good, efficient communication network is an important element for Iskandar Malaysia as this could draw investors to the development corridor, said Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

He said this was especially essential as the development corridor would see rapid growth in information communication technology, with the state government itself implementing the e-government concept.

"Communication infrastructure development, especially in high-speed broadband (HSBB), is an important element for Iskandar Malaysia to attract investors," he said at the launching of the TM Sports Carnival at Dataran Bandaraya Johor Baharu, here Friday.

As such, he added, the state government really appreciated the RM1.9 billion investment over 10 years by Telekom Malaysia (TM) since 2008 to develop HSBB service in the state.

TM Group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said HSBB infrastructure development in the new housing area of Nusajaya, the Permas Jaya industrial area and Senai was expected to be completed by the year end.

He said the Skudai industrial area, Pasir Gudang and Tampoi would get UniFi service in stages until the end of 2012.

TM, he said, already had 117 fixed line telephone exchange statewide, providing permanent lines to 512,000 residential and commercial customers.

"The broadband service, Streamyx serves 186,000 customers while 169 locations in the state enjoy wireless broadband service, resulting in 33 per cent broadband penetration in Johor."

He also said that the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) service now had over 7,200 customers.

The TM Sports Carnival, organised by the Johor TM Club is held from Friday until Sunday and involves about 1,300 TM employees from throughout the country.