Telcos to achieve 700MHz spectrum in 2018

Telecommunication companies in Malaysia will achieve the 700 MHz spectrum by 2018 to increase the level of services for
customers, said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Its chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi said currently the 700 MHz spectrum or frequency is used by broadcasting services and there were a few steps that needed to be done before it could be applied to the telecommunications services.

"After the process of spectrum refarming by broadcasting systems, it can be used by the telecommunications system," he said after a knowledge-sharing session titled "Staying Ahead in Telco Game" in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said the utilisation of the 700 MHz spectrum would only happen with the agreement of neighbouring countries.
To date, none of the telecommunication companies worldwide are utilising the 700 MHz spectrum.

Without disclosing the spectrum band used in the country at present, Mohamed Sharil said it is at the same standard as in developed countries in terms of the spectrum's allocation and utilisation.

He added that the way the spectrum was managed was similar and at the same level in accordance with the standards by international telecommunications companies.

"MCMC wants to encourage the public to utilise the services that are available such as broadband services as best as possible to generate economy for the country, and indirectly increase gross national income," he said.

On prospects for 2014, Mohamed Sharil is confident the telecommunications sector in Malaysia would be more advanced with healthy competition among telecommunications companies in the country.

"In terms of utilisation, it will also be more advanced with the presence of mobile banking. The government will also introduce e-government system for the public to file complaints, check examination results and others," he added.-- Bernama