Abang Johari (fifth right) with representatives of partnering companies for The Trans Nusantara Regional Fibre Optic Network hold the MoUs signed.
MIRI: Trans Nusantara Regional Fibre Optic Network will spur rapid development in the state and its surrounding area, especially in digital economy.
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the construction of the high speed fibre optic network connecting Sarawak, Indonesia and Brunei
to the rest of the world is expected for completion in three years’ time.
“Using this facility, we will be able to connect to each other in real time,” he said at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Danawa Resources and PT Indosat Ooredoo, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, PT Trans Hybrid Communication, PT Cendikia Global Solusi and Connectloud ceremony at Miri Marriott Resort & Spa on Thursday.
These MoUs are linked to the recently concluded IDECS conference on digital economy held in Kuching.
The CM announced the set-up of Northern and Southern Internet gateways via Brunei and Indonesia for which Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd (Danawa) and partner companies inked the MoUs to kickstart Sarawak’s dream of becoming the digital hub for the region.
The four MoUs signed at the ceremony were witnessed by Abang Johari, Public Utilities Minister Datuk Stephen Rundi Utom and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani.
The first MoU between Danawa, PT Indosat Tbk and PT Trans Hybrid Communication is for collaboration to establish a gateway for regional connectivity involving Indonesia, Sarawak, Brunei, Hong Kong, China and United States.
It’s for cross border interconnectivity infrastructure and services at borders in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
The second MoU between Danawa and Telekom Malaysia Bhd is to provide international gateway services for incoming and outgoing traffic either through Sarawak to local and regional industries.
This international access would be through border terrestrial network, satellite networks, domestic and international submarine cable systems.
The third MoU between Danawa Resources, PT Cendikia Global Solusi and PT Trans Hybrid Communication outlines a collaboration to construct submarine telecommunication cables from China to Sarawak and onwards to Indonesia.
The fourth MoU between Danawa and Connectloud seeks to build and develop the cloud platform market for the world.
Danawa will design and build data centres to host the cloud platform while Connectloud’s Hyperconverged Cloud Software will be deployed to Danawa’s prepared Data Centres for this project in Sarawak.
Abang Johari said the MoUs are a step forward in realising economic development and developing the digital economy of Sarawak.
He outlined several implications on various industries including tourism, healthcare and mobile application design.
“With high speed Internet, we will be able to upload videos of places in the state for people to view and come to visit. This will promote growth of the tourism industry.
“Apart from that, we can refer certain sickness to our counterpart in real time. Patients can get treated here as we offer competitive rates in healthcare services.
“We have lots of innovative Sarawakians to create applications for global businesses. The moment you have one app accepted by the world, the world is yours, just like what Mark Zuckerberg has done with Facebook,” he said.
“When we have the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, we can use the transportation service to get to our workplace.
“In five to 10 years’ time, there will be driverless car to send us to the station and it can be sent back home by remote without having to park at the LRT station, thus reduce traffic jams.
If this kind of technology is available, we will be the first state to have it,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak economy has to be transformed from conventional to digital.
“Sarawak is located at the centre of the world’s economic growth and with good connectivity we can engage with consumers and buyers to transform the way to do business, especially in rural areas.
“It is hoped that through this high speed Internet network Sarawak can become a key engine for economic growth of the world,” he said.
