KUALA LUMPUR — The Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have reaffirmed their joint commitment to strengthening digital connectivity in rural Sarawak through the implementation of Project SMART600.
The high-impact initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and enable more equitable access to online services, particularly in underserved communities across the state.
At a signing ceremony held at MCMC headquarters in Cyberjaya today, MCMC Chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din and SDEC Chief Executive Officer Datuk Sudarnoto Osman formalised the collaboration.
“The implementation of Project SMART600 is a testament to the Government’s commitment to advancing digital inclusivity,” said MCMC in a joint statement with SDEC.
“This project will benefit rural communities by supporting their daily needs in education, telehealth, digital economy activities and everyday communications.”
Under the initiative, 600 new communications towers are being built across Sarawak in two phases, with 300 towers per phase.
These towers will deliver high-quality 4G mobile services to more than 1,000 rural sites, potentially benefiting some 180,000 residents in areas such as Belaga, Marudi, Sungai Belawai, Kapit and Sungai Encheremin.
To date, 587 towers have been constructed, of which 431 are already “on-air” and powered by the Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology. The remaining towers are expected to be activated in stages.
The project also supports high-speed Internet access to enable data-heavy applications such as AI tools, video streaming, public services and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
Through MOCN, users in rural Sarawak will have access to services from up to five Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) — CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, YTL Communications and the state-run Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN) — all sharing the same infrastructure and spectrum.
MCMC said the success of the initiative was made possible by “strong cooperation between the Federal Government and the Sarawak Government.”
“By strengthening rural connectivity, Project SMART600 is aligned with the aspirations of the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030, aimed at stimulating digital economic activities, improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the people, and ensuring no one is left behind,” the statement read.
The Sarawak Government, through SDEC, is funding the capital expenditure (CAPEX) for tower construction. Meanwhile, operational expenses (OPEX) will be co-financed by MCMC and the participating telcos to ensure long-term sustainability — particularly in remote areas with difficult terrain and economic constraints.
Also present at the signing ceremony were SDEC Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani and officials from both agencies. - July 9, 2025
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