Salleh: Bumiputra firms must grab opportunities in telecommunications sector

CYBERJAYA: Bumiputra companies must grab opportunities in the telecommunications industry to avoid being left out in the competition with global companies.
Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said Bumiputra entrepreneurs must be more competent and viable to reduce dependence and monopoly of certain quarters in the business.
He said this was in line with Malaysia's effort to achieve an internet access of at least 95% by 2020, by giving speed, reasonable cost and wide coverage for urban and rural communities.
"As such, we want to see more Bumiputra companies involved and competing in such fields. In the competitive world, we cannot just depend on, or merely reap the support of any quarter.
"All must come with own efforts to progress and help to boost the nation's name," he said at the launch of Aries Infinity One Gigabite broadband service here today.
Aries Infinity, developed by Aries Telecoms (M) Bhd (Aries Telecoms), is an Internet Protocol version 6 broadband technology (IPv6) which is the fastest in Malaysia, with an Internet speed of up to 1,000 Megabite per second, or 1 Gigabite.
As such, Salleh said the key to excellent achievement was by always upgrading competitive capability in the light of many new technologies in the country.
While praising Aries Telecoms in coming up with the broadband, the minister said: "I am proud a local company is successful because not many local companies venture into the sector. The effort is much lauded by the government.
"Whatever business. it must have technology, and technology is the key to success. We must plan our future and change with the times, in the interest of the people and national progress."
Earlier, while delivering his keynote address, Salleh said the government recognised the need of the IPv6's adoption to Malaysia's development as the world today was preparing for the transition from the Internet Protocal Version 4.
Since the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was directly involved in the implementation of IPv6, Salleh said MCMC would act as the regulatory body and promote and encourage industry players to adopt the new technology.
He also urged the private sector to come forward and join hands with the government to ensure that Malaysia would have a world class infrastructure to be globally competitive.
On the Aries Infinity broadband, Salleh hoped the technology could be further extended to cover other segments of the market such as the education community in the country.
"Aries Telecoms has chosen Cyberjaya as the nation's first location to be equipped with the fastest and most efficient broadband. This will definitely elevate Cyberjaya's reputation as a global technology hub," he said. — Bernama