During the Dewan Rakyat session, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced that Malaysia has achieved 99.71% internet and communications coverage in populated areas as of 31 December 2025. This marks a significant jump from the 91.8% coverage recorded before the implementation of the government’s National Digital Network Plan, JENDELA.
The minister highlighted that this near-universal connectivity reflects sustained government efforts, led by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to expand reliable access across rural, remote, and urban communities. Further work remains focused on improving service quality in areas where coverage exists, but signal strength or performance remains weak.
Strategic Measures to Improve Quality and Reach
Fahmi outlined a range of measures aimed at closing the gap between nominal coverage and the actual user experience. These include directives issued to major telecommunications companies to enhance service quality and enforce actions, including fines for non-compliant operators. The government is also promoting infrastructure sharing among carriers to speed up network expansion and improve performance consistency nationwide.
To support remote or off-grid areas where terrestrial infrastructure is difficult to deploy quickly, interim options under consideration include satellite-based solutions such as SpaceX’s Starlink service. This hybrid approach aims to extend connectivity where traditional tower construction is not yet feasible.
Addressing Coverage Challenges and Digital Safety
Fahmi acknowledged ongoing coverage challenges, such as signal interruptions experienced by fishermen off the Langkawi coast and disruptions near border townships resulting from signal spillover from neighbouring countries. The government is coordinating with foreign authorities to address these technical issues. Priority upgrades are also directed to disaster-prone regions to ensure uninterrupted communications during emergencies, including structural reinforcement of telecommunications towers in flood-affected locations.
In a separate update, the minister noted that efforts to remove manipulated imagery and deepfake content from digital platforms have continued, with more than 92% of reported cases successfully taken down, and nearly 87% of false content removal requests completed. Stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.
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