KUCHING: Internet coverage in Sarawak’s populated areas has now exceeded 90%, thanks to the rollout of SMART 600 towers, 5G connectivity, fibre expansion and the Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN) initiative.

Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg (pic) said this achievement marked a major step towards bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities.

“We are on track to achieve 7,000 telecommunication towers under the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, ensuring near-universal digital coverage across Sarawak,” he said when officiating at the launch of the 8th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS 2025) on Wednesday (Oct 22).

Abang Johari said the state government’s efforts extended beyond infrastructure development, focusing also on empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which he described as the backbone of Sarawak’s economy.

“Under PCDS 2030, Sarawak targets 30,000 SMEs to adopt digital platforms. Through programmes such as Go Digital, SME Digitise, and the Sarawak Digital Mall, more than 15,000 SMEs have already digitalised their operations – opening new markets and new possibilities,” he said.

“These digital efforts are about giving Sarawakians the tools to compete globally – with local roots and global reach.”

He also highlighted Sarawak’s strong commitment to renewable energy and technological innovation.

“Today, 62% of our power generation comes from renewable sources, mainly hydropower. By 2030, we aim to expand this energy mix further with hydrogen, solar, and carbon capture technologies,” he said.

On the state’s ambitions in the high-tech sector, Abang Johari said the Sarawak Semiconductor Roadmap 2030 charts the state’s course towards establishing a complete semiconductor ecosystem – from research and design to manufacturing and applications.

“With this roadmap, we aim to position Sarawak as a regional gateway for semiconductors, capitalising on Asia’s fast-growing demand in electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, renewable energy, aerospace, and consumer electronics,” he said.

The Premier said the initiative is expected to create 3,000 high-skilled jobs, expand downstream industries and contribute RM30bil to Sarawak’s GDP, supporting the state’s PCDS 2030 target of RM282bil by 2030.

Looking ahead, Abang Johari said the state’s upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (2026–2030) will further deepen Sarawak’s commitment to digitalisation and sustainability.

“The digitalisation of government services is already well ahead of schedule – surpassing 62% in 2025 – as we move towards full digital access by 2030,” he said.