1 day Ago By Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi
PUTRAJAYA: The government has decided to allow licensed telecommunications companies to install fibre optic infrastructure along the country's railway tracks. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the decision, made during a cabinet meeting, will enable more network facility providers to participate in the development of Malaysia's digital infrastructure."Previously, Fiberail Sdn Bhd was the only company granted exclusive rights to install fibre optics along railway routes.
"With this new policy, other companies can now use our railway tracks to provide fibre optic infrastructure," he told reporters after the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) Appreciation and Open Day event today.Present at the event were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Jana Santhiran Muniayan, RAC chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Ahmad, YTL Communications Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Yeoh Seok Hong, and director Yeoh Keong Ren.Loke said the decision to open the installation of fibre optics to all eligible telecommunications service providers, rather than limiting it to a single company, aims to enhance Malaysia's fibre optic networks and digital communication infrastructure.
"This will also generate additional revenue for RAC, as these initiatives will bring in income each year," he said.Meanwhile, YTL Communications was selected by RAC to develop fibre optic infrastructure along the 1,600km railway corridor from Padang Besar to Johor Baru and Tumpat in Kelantan. Loke said the company was chosen because its proposal offered the highest returns for RAC.
He added that the additional revenue could be reinvested into the development and improvement of the railway industry.This includes the maintenance of rolling stock and stations, upgrades to facilities such as elevators and amenities for persons with disabilities and the construction of new stations and track electrification.© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
