KUALA LUMPUR (March 3): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has developed a fast track process to resolve access issues in high priority areas in ensuring better services to the citizens.

According to a statement today, this process is undertaken following the recent complaints received from consumers that communication services in some high priority areas were delayed due to prolonged commercial negotiations among service providers.

The high impact areas identified are the federal and state government administration centres; transportation hubs and the transportation lines; high economic impact areas; identified government projects under RMK-12 (the 12th Malaysia Plan); JENDELA (National Digital Network) projects; high priority areas identified for 5G deployment; and areas where there are exclusive providers.

"This initiative, coupled with the implementation of JENDELA, is to ensure that consumers have access to communication services that are of high quality in a timely manner," said MCMC.

MCMC added that the initiative is particularly important with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic where consumers, businesses and government are heavily reliant on communication services to conduct their daily affairs.

MCMC has instructed service providers to promptly resolve commercial negotiations in high-priority areas within 10 business days.

In the event that these issues are not resolved within the stipulated timeline, service providers are required to escalate the issues to MCMC for resolution, it added.

MCMC said it will make an assessment on the matter and may issue a direction to service providers to comply.