Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Communications is set to adopt the 'where there is a track, there is internet' principle to enhance internet coverage along the KL Sentral-Segamat Electric Train Service (ETS) route. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced this initiative as an extension of the earlier principle, 'where there is a road, there is internet'.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and telecommunications companies have been tasked with resolving internet connectivity issues along the ETS route within a month. Fahmi expressed hope that users of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) service would experience better connectivity, allowing them to work and stay connected while traveling.
Internet speed tests for 4G and 5G networks were conducted by MCMC in collaboration with six major mobile network service providers: CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, TM Tech, YTL Communications, and Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB). The initiative aims to not only improve internet coverage for the ETS service but also the entire KTMB service, which extends 1,700 kilometers up to Tumpat, Kelantan.
Fahmi has requested MCMC, KTMB, the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), and all six telecommunications companies to hold a workshop to identify internet coverage issues and blind spots across the KTMB network. The objective is to identify immediate solutions and long-term measures to enhance connectivity.
He noted that while RAC and KTMB provide certain services, including WiFi, a more comprehensive, carrier-agnostic approach is necessary. Fahmi emphasized the importance of shared passive infrastructure like towers and equipment, urging all telecommunications companies to utilize existing resources.
During the KL Sentral to Segamat journey, Fahmi conducted internet speed tests at Kajang Station and Pulau Sebang/Tampin Station. MCMC stated that the tests aimed to assess coverage performance and the speed of 4G and 5G networks in real time along this major transportation corridor. Various technical parameters, including download and upload speeds, data connection stability, and continuity of coverage, were measured using specialized equipment and network monitoring applications.
Currently, 71 percent of coverage areas are equipped with 5G services, with expansion plans ongoing. However, some rural areas in Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and northern Johor are facing declines in coverage quality and download speeds, necessitating further improvement and optimization by service providers.