PENANG PARTNERS TIME DOTCOM TO BRING GIGABIT CITY TO LIFE

TALKING POINTS BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

FOR PRESS CONFERENCE ON PENANG PARTNERS TIME DOTCOM TO BRING GIGABIT CITY TO LIFE

DATE : 1 FEBRUARY 2019 (FRIDAY)
VENUE : OPERATION ROOM, LEVEL 28, KOMTAR
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Hon. Zairil Khir Johari
State Executive Councillor (Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation)

Hon. Dato’ Seri Farizan bin Darus
State Secretary
Penang State Secretariat Office

Mr. Afzal bin Abdul Rahim
Chief Executive Officer
TIME dotCom Berhad

Ms. Nur ‘Aishah binti Md Norodin
Principal Assistant Secretary
Local Government Division

The Penang government on August 29 last year outlined its plans for the state with a vision called Penang 2030: A Family Focused, Green and Smart State to Inspire the Nation. This vision contains four themes.

The first theme is to increase livability to enhance the quality of life. The second is to upgrade the economy to raise household incomes. The third thrust is to empower people to strengthen civic participation and, last but not least, is the initiative to invest in the built environment to improve societal resilience.

The fourth theme includes the need to strengthen connectivity and digital infrastructure with the aim to integrate all smart city initiatives and technologies for digital growth.

 Internet connectivity is the foundation of digital growth and fiber optics is the most vital infrastructure. Currently, Penang is 50% fiberized with 3,217 km of fiber optic cables installed by several parties including TIMEs’.

TIME dotcom has been collaborating with the Penang State Government since 2013. Through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, TIME has provided high-speed fiber broadband to Penang Digital Library 1 and Penang Digital Library 2 which I have officially opened recently.

Today, in order to expand fiber coverage and facilitate Penang State towards becoming a Gigabit City, TIME has come with a proposal to roll out fiber infrastructure within the next three (3) years to put Penang at the forefront of the digital era.

A first for TIME, this initiative will include the expansion of coverage beyond multi-dwelling units (“MDU”) to encompass landed property and shop lots. This collaboration will also see TIME facilitating Penang’s move towards becoming a Gigabit City.

With this move, Penang is primed to ensure all citizens’ well-being through digital development. This is in-line with one of the key targets under the last theme I have mentioned earlier which is to strengthen connectivity via digital infrastructure.

In tandem with the 4P partnerships namely public, private, people and professional, the Penang State government has always encouraged any parties to work with us to ensure the realization of Penang 2030: A Family Focused, Green and Smart State to Inspire the Nation.

We would like to thank TIME for their continuous support and diligence as well as their dedication to always going the extra mile to achieve the best results for Penang.

Thank you.