{
  "id": 8233347,
  "title": "Nearly 300 higher education sites now connected under nationwide Wi-Fi project",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/nearly-300-higher-education-sites-now-connected-under-nationwide-wi-8233347",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-18T11:20:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/18/nearly-300-higher-education-sites-now-connected-under-nationwide-wi-fi-project/235697"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Malaysian government's nationwide IPTA Wi-Fi project, aimed at connecting over 539 higher education institutions across the country, is expected to be fully completed by September 2025. As of now, 55% of the 294 locations have already gained access to Wi-Fi, thanks to an RM664 million project funded entirely by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) under the Universal Service Provision initiative.\n\nDeputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching highlighted that the project targets strategic spots such as lecture halls, laboratories, libraries, student centers, residential colleges, and hostels. She announced that Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the initiative have been successfully executed at 191 locations, while Phase 3 is underway at 204 sites, with 21% of work completed thus far.\n\nIn Melaka, the project has reached 44% completion, with 1,399 new access points operational at 10 IPTA institutions as of August 2024. UTM's progress is commendable, having installed 302 additional access points on August 27, 2024, surpassing the MCMC's original target of September 23. This brings the total number of operational access points at UTM to 410, including the 108 APs installed in Phase 2 in June 2025.\n\nFor students living in residential colleges and utilizing other key locations, the addition of these high-speed Wi-Fi access points is deemed vital by UTM student representative Muhammad Quwayyis Khairuddin. He emphasized that these enhancements contribute significantly to the university's infrastructure, ensuring reliable internet access for completing academic projects and assignments.",
  "summary": "MELAKA, Sept 19 — The Public Higher Education Institution (IPTA) Wi-Fi project, covering 539 locations nationwide,...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Nearly 300 higher education sites now connected under nationwide Wi-Fi project",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/nearly-300-higher-education-sites-now-connected-under-nationwide-wi",
        "published": "2026-09-18T11:20:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}