Johor Bahru: A total of 568 locations have been chosen in Johor for the implementation of Phase 2 of the Point of Presence (PoP) Project, announced Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. Of these, 17 locations in school areas have been equipped with PoP fibre optic broadband facilities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, under phase two, 12 schools have been selected in the Kulai parliamentary constituency to serve as central points, with fibre optics extending to a radius of 2.5 kilometers. Schools chosen for this phase include Sekolah Kebangsaan Sinar Bahagia, Felda Taib Andak, Sekolah Kebangsaan Felda Inas, and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Ladang Kelan, Kulai.
Teo, who also serves as the Kulai Member of Parliament, expressed her hopes that the expansion of the PoP will provide convenience to the local community and enhance internet speed services. She also mentioned that the 55 schools selected for phase one of the PoP project have been completed. In the Kulai parliamentary constituency, three schools were involved in phase one, including Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kelapa Sawit, SMK Bukit Batu, and the Sedenak Industrial area.
The PoP project is focused on bridging the digital divide in rural areas by turning schools into fibre optic broadband infrastructure hubs, allowing schools, government premises, and surrounding residential areas to access high-speed broadband.
In a related development, Teo announced that two additional National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) centers are expected to open in the state by the end of the month. These will be located in the state assembly areas of Parit Yaani in Kampung Bukit Sri Wangi, Batu Pahat, and Larkin in Kebun Teh. The openings will complete the 101 NADI centers in Johor, aligning with the initiative of having one NADI center per state assembly.
Teo encouraged local residents to utilize the facilities provided by NADI, which includes at least 20 laptops per center for online classes and other purposes. She noted that NADI also aims to train e-entrepreneurs as part of its initiatives to help increase household income.