Malaysia will spend 500 million ringgit (147 million dollars) to build 1,250 telecommunication towers over the next two years to increase nationwide mobile phone coverage, a minister said Thursday, according to DPA. Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor said the government would begin building the towers from next month, adding that construction was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010. "By then, 97 per cent of the country would have mobile phone coverage," Shaziman was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal. Currently, 92 per cent of the country's land area has mobile phone coverage, he said. Shaziman also urged residents not to protest the setting up of towers near their homes. "It is my hope that the people would not object to the construction of these towers as it is for their benefit. Also, they should not unnecessarily worry about any health effects," he said. He said the government would also spend 1.5 billion ringgit (440 million dollars) for broadband internet services in rural areas, adding that this would hopefully bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
