KUCHING, 30 JUNE 2024 –  The enhanced Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN) service will allow more people in rural areas to enjoy high-speed internet access in line with the Sarawak Government’s aspiration to create a more inclusive and digitally connected Sarawak.

This was announced today by Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak YB Dato Sri Haji Julaihi bin Haji Narawi at the two-day Sarawak Digital and Connectivity Day event held at Kuching Waterfront.

In his speech, Julaihi said, MySRBN was launched in March 2021 on a trial basis to provide high-speed internet to the rural community who were previously deprived of internet. Following its new enhancements and coverage expansion, the Sarawak Government through Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) is proud to introduce the MySRBN home prepaid package preloaded with 300MB of free data every month. The home device for the service will be provided for free.

“The usage of MySRBN service is based on users’ needs. With 300MB data, it is enough for basic communication such as WhatsApp text message or voice call.”

“However, if the usage exceeds 300MB, MySRBN users have the options to continue using the service from as low as RM5 a week with 200GB data or RM20 a month with 1TB data. RM20 is the lowest price for the same service provided by other telecommunication providers which is RM70 a month. This is made possible by the assistance provided by the Sarawak Government,” Julaihi added.

Meanwhile, Chairman of SDEC YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohd Morshidi Abd Ghani remarked that MySRBN has stimulated economic growth in Sarawak by creating new opportunities for local entrepreneurs to engage in online businesses and facilitated students’ access to a wealth of educational resources beyond the four walls of their classrooms.

Morshidi also spoke at length about other SDEC initiatives such as the Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunication (SMART) project which includes the construction of 600 SMART towers across Sarawak, STEM programmes, innovation ecosystem, MSME digitalisation, research and product development, and other digital economy projects.

MySRBN leverages cutting-edge fixed wireless access (FWA) technology on existing and new infrastructures to provide up to 30 Mbps unlimited internet access to rural and remote communities. Currently, there are 490 MySRBN sites serving 19,668 premises across Sarawak and will continue to expand in the coming months. Every month, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 new registrations are received from the community residing in MySRBN coverage areas.

To continue using the MySRBN service, current users registered during the trial period are urged to update their personal information by downloading the MySDEC application (MySDEC app) via Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei AppGallery. For more information on MySRBN, visit mysrbn.sarawak.digital.

The Sarawak Digital and Connectivity Day also featured talks and exhibition showcases by SDEC and other digital ecosystem partners, Sarawak Multimedia Authority, Sarawak Civil Service Digitalisation Unit, Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak, SAINS, and SPay Global.