CYBERJAYA – Efforts to eliminate mobile coverage gaps along Malaysia’s highways received a major boost today after the Communications Ministry and the Works Ministry formalised a strategic partnership to strengthen the nation’s digital infrastructure.
The initiative was cemented through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), witnessed by Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil and Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
The agreement, signed by MCMC chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din and LLM chairman Datuk Seri Utama Ir. Hasni Mohammad, reflects the MADANI government’s whole-of-government approach to accelerating Malaysia’s digital transformation.
In a joint statement, the ministries said the collaboration would enhance communications infrastructure along the country’s highway network, ensuring digital connectivity keeps pace with the expansion of physical infrastructure.
“Highway users are expected to enjoy improved mobile connectivity to support emergency calls, navigation applications, real-time traffic information and a wide range of other digital services through the deployment of telecommunications towers and fibre optic networks,” the statement said.
The two agencies will also work together to improve connectivity in areas affected by weak signals and mobile coverage blind spots, including locations prone to dropped calls, by utilising highway reserves, or Right of Way (ROW), for telecommunications infrastructure.
As an initial step, MCMC issued a call for participation on May 15 to improve internet coverage along 10 highways managed by LLM that have been identified as having inadequate network coverage.
The initiative targets the construction of 77 new telecommunications towers across approximately 50 kilometres of highway stretches where mobile coverage remains poor.
The identified locations include the East Coast Expressway 2 (LPT2), the West Coast Expressway (WCE), and geographically challenging sections of the North-South Expressway (PLUS), including the Menora Tunnel and Gua Tempurung.
According to the statement, the partnership will also support the rollout of future mobility technologies such as the Multi-Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) toll collection system, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, all of which require reliable and resilient communications networks.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, and Works Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Azman Ibrahim. — July 31, 2026