KOTA KINABALU (March 6): A total of 40 new telecommunications towers will be erected in the Pensiangan parliamentary constituency through the National Digital Network (JENDELA), said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup. 

He said 44 existing units will be upgraded to the 4G network.

“This telecommunications network development project is expected to be completed in 2022 ... and more new towers are being planned under the JENDELA programme,” the Pensiangan Member of Parliament (MP) said in a statement today.

"This demonstrates that the development of telecommunications infrastructure will continue to be enhanced, especially in Sabah rural areas, so that the rural population will be able to enjoy better connectivity,” he said.

With the approval of such a huge telecommunications upgrading development project, he said, the government hopes to narrow the gap between the urban and rural folks as well as among Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.