Kota kinabalu: Eleven telecommunications towers across the West Coast Division of Sabah, including those in Kota Kinabalu and Penampang, have been earmarked for urgent site hardening work to stabilize electricity supply and communication networks during natural disasters such as floods or landslides. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil highlighted that the towers most vulnerable to risks during the northeast monsoon season, and those frequently experiencing power outages, will be prioritized.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, a recent power disruption in eastern Sabah impacted several telecommunications towers, prompting Fahmi to instruct the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to analyze outage data from the past two years. This analysis aims to identify patterns and ensure that towers most frequently affected by outages are equipped with backup solutions like generators or solar systems.

Fahmi pointed out that power disruptions also impede the operation of the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI). The site hardening work on the affected towers is anticipated to be completed within the next few months.

In addition, Fahmi announced the deployment of the Mobile Integrated Radio and Internet Communications System (PRIME) to Sarawak. Developed by MCMC, the vehicle-based PRIME serves as a mobile support unit during disasters to maintain internet and communication connectivity, particularly benefiting security and rescue teams.

On September 7, two PRIME units were deployed in Sabah and one in Peninsular Malaysia, as part of the efforts to boost communication readiness during emergencies, especially in regions susceptible to network disruptions or internet outages.