KUALA LUMPUR – Intel Malaysia has launched an initiative to help accelerate the country’s rate of broadband adoption.
The plan is to use a three-pronged approach called Jom Broadband 555, whereby Intel Malaysia aims to achieve 50 percent household broadband penetration, with at least one Internet device in each household by 2010, according to the company. At the end of 2007, Malaysia had a broadband household penetration rate of some 15.5 percent.
Intel Malaysia country manager for sales and marketing, Ryaz Patel, said: “We believe that a more expansive and robust broadband infrastructure will help make connectivity accessible and affordable to more people. It is imperative that all stakeholders work together and leverage each other’s network, for the most efficient use of resources.”
Patel said that to ensure the success of Jom Broadband 555, Intel is committed to providing consumers with greater choices (silicon, hardware and access mode), to help bridge the digital divide and increase PC and broadband penetration in Malaysia.
“For instance, Intel Centrino 2 and Atom processor technologies are delivering connectivity and performance that enriches users’ Internet experience,” he said.
Patel added that, in May this year, the company announced an investment of RM50 (US$14.85) million in local broadband provider Green Packet Berhad and a collaboration with Green Packet’s subsidiary, Packet One Networks (Malaysia), to roll out a commercial WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) network in Malaysia.
Apart from Intel’s technology enablement strategies, Intel Malaysia would also like to see the government and the ecosystem working towards reducing the cost of international bandwidth charges to the Internet.
Patel explained that this move is likely to make Malaysia more competitive and opens the door for growth and investments in other market segments such as shared services outsourcing and the setting up of regional data farms.
He welcomed the government’s plan to use the existing Universal Service Fund allocation for broadband infrastructure deployment in the country.
“Intel applauds the Malaysian government’s comprehensive digital agenda,” Patel said. “Having a bigger focus on increasing broadband access to the citizenry — especially in sub-urban and rural areas — will definitely help spur the country’s competitive growth and deliver enhanced social and economic capabilities in the long term.”
