THE Penang government will implement the Smart Street Pole (SSP) project from early next year, establishing 151 poles in the first quarter of 2022 and eventually having a total of 1,500 poles by 2025.
State Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the project would involve the participation of telecommunication stakeholders during an engagement session for them as well as all departments and agencies involved with the SSP project at St Giles The Wembley Hotel today.
Among the participants in the engagement session were Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Digital Penang, local councils, Public Works Department, district offices and 22 companies from the Network Facility Provider (NFP) and Network Service Provider (NSP).
“It’s actually a street pole replacement programme. Not all street poles, however, will be replaced. Some existing ones will be replaced with smart poles, which are a bit taller.
“Some of these poles will cater to 5G and some 4G, depending on the needs of the areas. Basically, with the installation of the 18-metre high smart poles, you get better 4G and 5G.
“5G won’t be in all places. We’re discussing with Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) on the key areas. They are a federal government agency created to do the 5G.
“We’ll do it in phases. George Town is one of the key locations. Key areas are definitely populated areas.
“And the likely areas are the FTZ (Free Trade Zone), and the industrial areas in Butterworth and Batu Kawan,” Zairil told the media after officiating the closing ceremony of the engagement session.
He said the Penang government has planned to implement the SSP project since 2019 to prepare for the readiness of 5G implementation in the state.
The SSP project, he said, would not incur any cost to the state government.
In fact, he said it is an investment by the private sector with the telcos setting up the smart street poles (based on the demand) and the council charging them for the pole rental.
“We (the state government) are giving them incentives. They have to pay a monthly rental of RM1,200 per pole but if they provide smart devices like WiFi and CCTVs, we give them a rebate of RM600,” Zairil explained.
Asked about objection by some quarters on the building of telco towers because of radiation, he said they have to show medical proof.
“Nowadays, the people are complaining more about not getting Internet coverage or signal. They know data is important, especially in the recent lockdown when they had to stay at home,” Zairil said.
Also present at the press conference were Penang State Secretariat Office head of local government division Nur Aishah Md Norodin and MCMC Penang director Rahmat Abu Nong.
Nur Aishah said useful input and feedback from the engagement session today would be used to make the SSP project a success.
She said three smart street poles with different designs had been installed on the island and the mainland each to test their suitability.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar