GEORGE TOWN: May 1, 2008
Penang is making steady progress in the race towards the digital age by recording the second highest broadband penetration rate in the country last year after Kuala Lumpur.
Between the first and fourth quarters of 2007, the state's broadband penetration rate per 100 households rose by 4.7 per cent to 26 per cent.
The figure is considerably higher than the national broadband penetration rate average of 15.5 per cent, but the state government is already pushing for further progress in information technology in Penang.
According to chief minister Lim Guan Eng, efforts were being taken by telecommunications companies and Internet service providers to ensure more people, especially rural folk, continue to enjoy broadband services.
"We want as many people as possible to be Internet-savvy as this is the way to go.
"We also want to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural folk," he said at the Chief Minister 2007 K-ICT (knowledge-information and communication technology) awards ceremony on Monday.
Lim said to further boost information technology, the state government would continue to draw local and foreign investors to venture into information and communication technology-related industries.
"We are focusing on the multimedia industry and animation, as well as shared services and outsourcing, as these are the growth potentials for Penang."
Lim said the state's move into the digital age was progressing smoothly, saying that wireless hotspots in the state had increased from 105 in the first quarter of last year to 120 in the fourth quarter of the same year.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister 2007 K-ICT awards saw top honours going to four different organisations.
In the e-services category, the award went to the Seberang Prai Municipal Council, while the e-economy category was won by NDT Software Consulting Sdn Bhd and RosettaNet Engineering Penang. The e-community accolade was bagged by St Nicholas Home.
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