NEWS: Spotlight on National ICT Month 2010

ERI KEMBANGAN: Malaysia is on track to meet its targeted 50% broadband penetration by the end of this year in keeping with the National Broadband Plan.

“With the roll out of Telekom Malaysia’s high-speed broadband and its commitment to providing high speeds, we will be able to meet this target by end 2010,” said Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

Currently, broadband penetration is 32%, according to the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom).

With the country on track to reach that goal, Pikom said it is confident the local e-commerce market will grow 20% this year.

C.J. Ang, Pikom president, said the coming National ICT Month 2010 will further prime the sector by reminding all businesses of the benefits of engaging in e-commerce.

The event is scheduled to run from July 13 to Aug 12 and is themed e-Commerce for Global Reach this year.

It will also highlight the current state of e-commerce development in the country, as well as spotlight information and communications technology for small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

Other planned activities include a business success forum, leadership summit, computer fair and computer games competition.

“Discussions have been initiated over seminars for SMEs, with SME Corp Malaysia and other SME-related associations,” said Wei Chuan Beng, Pikom chairman.

These will be held starting from next month until December in several states, including Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak.

Pikom said the business success forum will feature prominent Malaysian businessmen as speakers and is a joint effort with the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute. It will include an e-commerce solutions and e-government services showcase.

Ongkili was officiating at the Pikom press conference to announce the National ICT Month 2010.

The event is organised by Mosti and Pikom, with support from the Multimedia Development Corporation, Malaysia Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit, and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.