ITU places Malaysia in 15th spot globally in its ICT Development Index 2023
By Digital News Asia February 9, 2024
- Strong achievement towards Universal & Meaningful Connectivity targets
- DNB hits target 80% population coverage for 5G rollout by end Dec 2023
According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the latest publication from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the 2023 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Index (IDI 2023) positioned the country as a global front-runner in telecommunication development.
Malaysia scored 94.5 points out of 100, surpassing the global average at 72.8, demonstrating strong achievement towards achieving Universal and Meaningful Connectivity targets.
The report shows that Malaysia is positioned 15th globally and 3rd within the ASEAN region, behind Singapore which scored 97.4 and Brunei with 94.8.
The IDI 2023 index consists of 10 indicators. Among these, the IDI 2023 highlights that Malaysia has achieved near-universal coverage of 4G/LTE mobile network, a high level of mobile-broadband subscriptions, and low prices for mobile and fixed-broadband services. Malaysia also boasts high rates of Internet usage, mobile phone ownership and Internet traffic per subscription. These achievements collectively demonstrate robust access to digital services and widespread digital engagement in Malaysia, said the Communications Ministry in a statement.
Minister of Communications, Fahmi Fadzil said, “This achievement underscores the Government’s continuous commitment to achieve Universal and Meaningful Connectivity for all Malaysians, with inclusivity as the primary driver for ensuring communications services are ubiquitous.”
With the strong support and collaboration with various quarters, the deployment of digital infrastructure has been expedited with the adoption of the Communications Infrastructure Planning Guidelines by the respective state governments and the establishment of the Committee on the Standardisation of Costs, Charges and Fees for the Development of Communications, approved by the Council of Chief Ministers.
The MCMC emphasized that the support of all stakeholders has enabled it to advance the planning and rollout of 5G and satellite coverage to address connectivity challenges in rural and remote areas. Meanwhile, as of 31 Dec 2023, the 5G rollout in Malaysia, spearheaded by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), has reached 80.2% coverage in populated areas. The government had given DNB a target of 80% to achieve by end Dec 2023.
