THE MALAYSIAN COMMUNICATIONS & MULTIMEDIA COMMISSION (MCMC) Malaysia is ranked as one of the top emerging nations in the field of internet access. The country aspires to become a developed nation, with an affordable and accessible broadband service, by 2020. To this end, the focus has been on the 3G roll-out expansion through government and private sector initiatives. As for fixed broadband, this is done through public–private partnerships (PPP) to provide highspeed broadband. These initiatives have resulted in the reduction of the infrastructure cost, while stimulating the demand and service of broadband. This also resulted in increased internet access for low-income communities, funded by a Universal Service Provision Fund. According to the Affordability Report 2013, which was published by the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), Malaysia holds the top position among emerging countries. This achievement did not happen overnight. In 2010, Malaysia launched its National Broadband Initiative using a three-pronged measure to stimulate demand by focusing on awareness, attractiveness and affordability, while on the supply side increasing competition between providers and established public–private partnerships to roll out the infrastructure. Within five years, four out of every five people had access to 3G, more than 4.2 million to mobile broadband (3G and LTE) and more than 67.8 per cent of households to an internet connection. DIGITAL NATIVES The term ‘digital natives’, first coined in 2001, refers to youths aged 15–24 with at least five years of active internet use. In the first ever comprehensive study on global internet usage, Malaysia’s digital natives accounted for 13.4 per cent of the population, comprising nearly threequarters of its youth. Malaysia was ranked behind only Iceland, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea. HIGH SECURITY In a recent report titled Internet of Things: Privacy and Security in a Connected World, the United States’ Federal Trade Commission urged businesses to take concrete steps in protecting the privacy and security of American consumers. With cyber threats now representing one of the most serious economic and national security challenges faced by any country, cyber security is a top priority. Malaysia’s efforts under the Framework for Security Governance were recognised by the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union when the latter released the Global Cybersecurity Index 2014 in December last year. The index provides a gauge as to the cyber security preparedness of each country. MCMC, the regulatory body responsible for the Communications and Multimedia industry in the country, is tasked with overseeing all the networks in Malaysia, including the telecommunications and broadcasting industries, and online activities. Its role was expanded to include overseeing the postal service sector pursuant to the Postal Services Act 2012 and licensing of the Certification Authorities under the Digital Signature 1997. The Network Security Centre under MCMC serves as the national internet network thermometer to provide overall understanding of macro-cyber threat level with the involvement and cooperation of both public and private sectors, and provides preventive early warnings to all relevant stakeholders in Malaysia. MCMC also leads the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) readiness for the telecommunications sector, together with the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, by ensuring all the CNII entities identified under the sector are certified under the MS ISO/IEC 27001:2007 Information Security Management System. CONCLUSION MCMC plays an integral role in Malaysia’s aim for three-quarters of households to have a broadband connection by the end of this year. The recognition given to Malaysia has spurred MCMC to continue with various national-level initiatives. It is currently in the midst of collaborating with government agencies to promote digital connectivity in the residential and business communities. MCMC’s implemented programmes include: 1Malaysia Wireless Village, 1Malaysia Netbook, Community Broadband Library, Get Malaysian Business Online, Digital Lifestyle Malaysia, 1Malaysia Internet Centre and Youth Communication Package, as well as rolling out 1,000 towers for improved cellular coverage in rural and remote areas nationwide. Rank (Overall composite score) 1. Malaysia 2. Mauritius 3. Brazil Sub-index (Communications infrastructures) 71.6 61.7 52.6 Sub-index (Access and affordability) 72.2 76.9 72.6 Affordability index (Overall composite score) 68.6 65.5 58.0 www.mcmc.gov.my Malaysia’s broadband initiatives 1Malaysia Internet Centre, an initiative by MCMC to provide basic internet access to the needy and underserved in urban areas
CEP template 2012
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