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PUTRAJAYA – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will streamline the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for telecommunication access by holding discussions with the stakeholders.
In a statement, the commission said that as a result of its immediate action, all telecommunication service providers have achieved cellular coverage exceeding 50Mbps in the area of the landslide tragedy in Batang Kali, Selangor.
“MCMC, along with the service providers, will continue to monitor the quality of service in the area to be at the best level to facilitate the search-and-rescue operations and to enable media practitioners to disseminate the latest information on the tragedy to the public,” it said.
Prior to this, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil wanted the commission and service providers to expedite the streamlining of the SOPs, especially with the specific need for search operations in disaster areas.
Last Friday, the landslide claimed 24 lives out of the 94 victims involved.
Among MCMC’s actions was mobilising the Emergency Disaster and Response Team on December 16, instructing the main service providers – Telekom Malaysia (TM), Celcom, Digi, Maxis, and U-Mobile – to immediately analyse and mobilise their communication assets to the location of the incident.
“MCMC has also asked for assistance from a non-governmental organisation, Malaysian Amateur Radio Emergency Service, to provide alternative communication by using amateur radio technology to be used by rescuers to communicate quickly.
“They had arrived earlier that day at the scene to help other agencies rescue the victims,” it said.
MCMC also stated that TM has also provided free Unifi WiFi service with a speed of 800Mbps in the Armed Forces, Civil Defence Forces, Fire and Rescue Department, and Royal Malaysia Police’s tents.
“A similar access point has also been placed in the Information Department’s truck as the media coordinator,” it said.
The commission said that among the challenges faced by telecommunication network providers in providing services at the location of the tragedy was the lack of electricity, hilly terrain, and the distance of the service provider’s transmitters, which caused technology such as microwaves to be unable to be used due to the absence of line of sight.
“TM has immediately prepared an alternative, pulling and providing a 2km fibre optic cable from the Awana Genting node and providing its MoVIC (mobile IP cell) at the disaster site.
“This allows multi-operator core network technology to be used by service providers and provide coverage for their respective networks,” it added. – Bernama, December 19, 202