NEWS: Malaysia ranks high in connectivity study

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is number one in a connectivity study, beating economic powerhouses China and India, in the efficiency-driven market segment of the Connectivity Scorecard study.

The study (www.connectivityscorecard.org) was done by the London Business School and US-based economic consulting firm LECG.

It studied two segments — efficiency-driven markets, such as Malaysia, and innovation-driven economies, like the United States and Japan.

The Connectivity Scorecard measures the extent to which governments, businesses and consumers make use of connectivity technologies — the copper wires, fibre-optic lines, mobile phones and personal computers.

The study was commissioned by Nokia Siemens Networks and published last month. Malaysia was the highest scorer in the emerging economies segment of the study, with a score of 7.59 out of 10, beating China (4.45) and India (1.83) in the process.

According to the study, Malaysia may soon be “knocking at the door” of the “innovation-driven” economies.

Malaysia leads the efficiency-driven segment with high broadband subscription levels, high mobile network coverage and subscriptions, and scores very highly on business usage of mobile e-mail and Internet too, the study said.

Malaysia also did well as it has high ICT (Information and Communications Technology) literacy rates and usage scores, comparable in some cases to innovation driven economies, said the survey.

The Connectivity Scorecard could help governments in assessing how ICT policy can be advanced.

In Malaysia’s case, the study states that the country needs to improve connectivity by further expanding broadband penetration.

Bill Chang, country manager of Nokia Siemens Networks said that perhaps the Government could subsidise broadband Internet.

“It all boils down to high-speed broadband for the masses. When this is achieved, there will be a need for broadband applications and this will generate more economic activity,” he said.

Currently, Malaysia has a broadband penetration rate of 3.5 per 100 people, said the survey.