Looks like Malaysian digital connectivity aspiration is about to be realised with Communication Ministry going all out to have the country 90% connected by 2025. The Ministry has called for the reduction in digital gap between the rural and urban, and plans are afoot to fulfill this target. National Fiberisation Connectivity Plan will see the use of all available platforms and the additional budget allocation of RM21.6 billion to make this happen.

One under utilised access is the KTMB railway tracks that has been fiberised by Telekoms subsidiaries Fiberail, these miles and miles of network will now be expanded to more uses with the collaboration of edotco. The both have agreed to offer telco-neutral wireless infrastructure services in the country in efforts to accelerating the expansion of Mobile Network Operators’ (MNOs) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) services, that will see telecommunications industry 5G ready.

Through this collaboration, both parties will work to explore opportunities towards deploying next generation telco-neutral wireless infrastructure along Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB)’s railway corridor, allowing MNOs to expand coverage services to sub-urban areas. Fiberail will be providing the bandwidth connectivity and centralised cabin for mobile operators’ equipment while edotco will erect and manage the telecommunication smart towers and poles sites along the railway corridor.

Commenting on the collaboration, Mohamed Asri Jaafar, Chief Executive Officer, Fiberail shared, “We foresee that this collaboration will lead to improved coverage enabling the acceleration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and other smart services solutions.”

This collaboration between Fiberail and edotco is in the wake of the Government’s call for all telecommunication providers to offer better connectivity and not leave any segment of the population behind in its digital aspiration.