CYBERJAYA – Malaysia has surpassed its 2025 target for nationwide high-speed internet coverage, with more than 9.03 million premises now connected under the National Fibre Connectivity Plan (Jendela) initiative – ahead of the 9 million goal set for next year.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the early milestone reflects strong momentum in Malaysia’s digital infrastructure agenda, with mobile broadband speeds now averaging 105.36 Mbps and internet coverage reaching 98.66% in populated areas as of Q4 last year.
“These achievements are more than numbers – they represent real progress in our efforts to build a connected, inclusive nation,” said Fahmi in his keynote address at the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 celebration here today.
The event, organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), also marked International Girls in Information and Communications (ICT) Day and the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), underscoring Malaysia’s long-standing support for global cooperation in the communications sector.
Fahmi noted that the country’s 5G rollout continues to gain ground, with 82.4% coverage in populated areas and a mobile penetration rate of 61% as of April 30 this year. He said these advances open new doors across industries, from education to entertainment.
International recognition has followed suit. ZTE’s Minimalist Private 5G for Entertainment – deployed in Malaysia – earned a GSMA Foundry Innovation Award at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Meanwhile, 12 MCMC-led initiatives have been shortlisted for the WSIS Prizes 2025, the most ever from Malaysia.
Among these are rural connectivity projects, metaverse-based training, and the National Information Dissemination Centre (Nadi) digital literacy programme, which Fahmi said is helping bridge the gap between infrastructure and capability. As of March, Nadi has trained 4,000 entrepreneurs – 85% of them women.
“Inclusivity is at the heart of what we’re building,” he said, echoing this year’s WTISD and Girls in ICT themes focused on gender equality in digital transformation.
He also touched on education reforms, including the Education Ministry’s (MoE) move to require 70% of students in fully residential schools to pursue the STEM stream from 2026 – a step aimed at producing 60,000 skilled talents for high-demand sectors like semiconductors and E&E.
As digital connectivity expands, Fahmi stressed the need for safe online practices. He highlighted the “Kempen Internet Selamat” or Safe Internet Campaign as part of MCMC’s push to raise awareness around cyber threats and responsible internet use.
“Today is not just a celebration of how far we’ve come, but a reminder of our shared responsibility to ensure everyone can thrive in a connected world,” he said. – May 17, 2025