Public uni Wi-Fi project expected to be completed this month

The Malaysian government's Public Higher Education Institution Wi-Fi project, aimed at improving internet coverage across 539 campuses nationwide, is set to be fully completed by September, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching announced. Currently, 55 percent, or 294 locations, already have access to Wi-Fi. Funded entirely by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) through the Universal Service Provision (USP) initiative, the RM664 million project utilizes high-end Wi-Fi technology, specifically Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7, to upgrade infrastructure at strategic locations including lecture halls, laboratories, libraries, student centers, residential colleges, and hostels.

Teo visited the IPTA Wi-Fi Project Phase 3 site at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) to discuss progress. Phase 1 and 2 of the project have been completed at 191 locations, while Phase 3 is underway at 204 sites, with 42 locations (21 percent) already seeing network provisioning and installation. In Melaka, the project has reached 44 percent completion, with 1,399 new access points activated at 10 IPTA institutions.

UTeM's Phase 3 work, completed on August 27, ahead of the MCMC's original target date of September 23, has installed 302 additional access points, bringing the total to 410 operational APs. Student representative Muhammad Quwayyis Khairuddin emphasized the importance of this project for students, particularly those in residential colleges and other strategic locations, as reliable internet access is crucial for completing projects and assignments.