HULU SELANGOR – The wait for approximately 260 residents of Kg Orang Asli Kerling to obtain telecommunication services has ended, as the area has started receiving signal coverage from four major telco providers beginning yesterday.
This comes after the Communications Ministry, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, took the initiative to conduct a proof-of-concept with Starlink as an alternative to fibre optics for the core connection to the Jendela tower in the village.
Village headman Muhammad Taufik Abdullah, 55, who was delighted and moved by the government’s solution, said that the residents, including nearly 100 students in the area, can now enjoy high quality telecommunication services.
He said that previously, the village did not receive signal coverage from telco providers, forcing them to go to the main road, about 6.5km from the village, to get internet access.
“Thank you very much to everyone who helped realise our dream of enjoying internet like those in the cities. The villagers and I will take good care of this facility,” he told reporters here today.
For Rudy Muhammad, 43, the Starlink access and the provision of telecommunication services in the village is very helpful in reducing risk to the residents, especially during emergencies.
“Before this, if there were emergencies and we needed to contact someone, we had to go to the main road. Imagine at night with the dark and narrow roads, not to mention during rain. It was difficult and inconvenient, especially for women.
“Now with the internet, communication with the outside world is easier. We don’t have to risk our safety just to make a call or send a message, and children who want to study can now use YouTube,” he said, thanking the government for this initiative.
Meanwhile, Ani Gadong, 33, said that the internet facility, now accessible in the village, will make it easier for her to communicate with her mother.
“I live in Kuala Kubu Baharu town, and my mother, who is in her 60s, lives here. Sometimes when I visit her, I find out she is out of medication, and some supplies need to be bought.
“Now everything is easier, and my mother can call me anytime to ask for anything,” she said.
Earlier, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching had inspected the operations of two Starlink satellites in the village, located about 18km from Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Teo said that Kg Orang Asli Kerling became the first location in the country to conduct a Starlink proof-of-concept as an alternative to fibre optics for better telecommunication access.
The residents can now use the services offered by major providers such as CelcomDigi, Maxis, Redtone and U Mobile. – May 9, 2024