Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is set to scrutinize the disparity in 4G Coverage of Populated Areas (CoPA) among telecommunications companies in various locations, announced Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The minister highlighted that while Malaysia boasts an overall 92% coverage in Sarawak and 98.70% nationwide as of the first quarter of 2025, the coverage levels among telcos differ significantly.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, some telecommunications companies report CoPA as low as 76%, while others achieve up to 86%. Fahmi, speaking after the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2025 celebration, revealed that he has tasked MCMC with producing detailed reports that outline both the national aggregate and individual telco CoPA, categorized by state.
The minister emphasized the importance of ensuring that Malaysians receive the coverage they pay for across the entire country, not just in selected areas. Fahmi reiterated the government’s commitment to improving network-sharing among telcos, mentioning a newly formalized framework to facilitate this collaboration.
In another development, Fahmi discussed the forthcoming implementation of the Online Safety Act (OnSA) 2024, which aims to hold social media platforms accountable for the content they host. The act seeks to protect users from scams and online harm, compelling platforms to share the responsibility of maintaining a safe digital environment.
Fahmi expressed concerns over major platforms, particularly Facebook, for their insufficient action against scam and gambling advertisements. He noted that despite these ads being paid content, platforms like Facebook have not adequately addressed the issue.
The Online Safety Act, passed by Parliament in December of the previous year, will introduce three core responsibilities for social media platforms: ensuring platform safety, protecting children under 13, and restricting access to harmful content. Additionally, platforms will need to provide clear user guidelines and reporting mechanisms for harmful or offensive content once OnSA receives royal assent and comes into effect.