Pahang set to become ICT hub

KUANTAN: Pahang is set to become an information, communication and technology (ICT) infrastructure hub in the country with investments estimated at between RM10bil and RM12bil.

Under the project, the state will be turned into a high-speed broadband infrastructure provider offering bandwidth between 30MB and 100MB nationwide.

According to State Information, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin, the project was proposed and would be undertaken by a consortium comprising state government-linked company Pahang Technology Resources Sdn Bhd and several well-established companies from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Europe and the United States.

“A proposal on the project was submitted to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) a few weeks ago.

“We are now waiting to make a presentation before the Cabinet Committee on ICT that is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,” he told reporters after presenting prizes to winners of a debate competition organised by the state Anti Corruption Agency and education department at a hotel here on Thursday.

He added that a team consisting of technical specialists conducted three years of research before drafting the proposal.

To a question, Mohd Sharkar said the project would be funded by the consortium and several financial institutions.

“The companies and financial institutions have given their commitment to provide financial back-up for the project,” he added