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KOTA KINABALU, Dec 28 — Malaysia is getting closer to reaching its target of achieving a 50 per cent penetration rate in the domestic broadband sector by 2010, having reached 31.4 per cent and surpassing the 30 per cent target set for this year.

Minister of Information, Communications, Culture and Arts Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim who was informed of the latest figure by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), said that another 18.6 per cent penetration rate was required to meet the full target.

“Therefore, I am confident that the 50 per cent target by end of 2010 will be an easy reach. Indeed, we might surpass the expectation,” he told reporters.

The minister said this after launching the MyIX Internet Exchange and the Community Broadband Centre Sabah state level, here today.

Asked on the huge disparity in the use of broadband between the urban and rural communities, which stands at a ratio of 6:1 or 85.3 per cent in the city and 14 per cent in the rural areas, he said the situation was a challenge to his ministry.

New measures would have to be taken to overcome this situation, especially in states like Sabah and Sarawak where the rural areas are wider, he said.

However, he added that the figures may not be accurate considering that the figures were arrived at based on the number of households, which was not a suitable yardstick for determining the rate of broadband penetration.

Now, more people are using mobile phones which may come with broadband facility, he said. “We should base our conclusions and data now on the number of mobile phones we own,” he said.

“Malaysians currently own more than 28 million mobile telephones in the country, and this is a high rate of achievement in the use of mobile phones... but a study has not been done based on this reality. From now, we should be looking at other indicators besides the number of households,” he said.

Asked on the broadband penetration rate target of 30 per cent for Sabah by end 2010, Rais said he was confident of the target being reached although the current rate stood at 11 per cent only.

The government, through the MCMC, has allocated RM383 million to Sabah for a five-year period beginning next year in its efforts to narrow the digital divide through the Universal Service Provision (USP) programme.

Allocations under the programme include programmes for the under-served groups, underprivileged, as well as for the setting up broadband centres, libraries, and expansion of cellular coverage network through more transmission towers, he said.

Asked on the total allocation for narrowing the digital divide nationwide, he said the real allocation has yet to be made certain but the figures will be updated by the launch of MyIX at the Sarawak state level scheduled in January next year. — Bernama