RECENT ADVANCES in E-ACTIVITIES, INFORMATION SECURITY and PRIVACY

Bridging the Digital Divide via Wireless Technologies in Malaysia:

An Analysis at Central Region
ZAINI AMIR, NORIZAN ABDUL RAZAK, JAMALUDDIN AZIZ
E-Community Research Center
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
43600, Bangi UKM. Selangor
MALAYSIA
zaini.amir@gmail.com
ekomuniti@gmail.com

Abstract: One of the most striking changes in the use of technology is the explosive growth in the use of wireless
technology. Wireless networking has become more available, affordable, and easy to use. In Malaysia, the
applications and use of the information communication technology (ICT) and wireless technology have potential to
link Malaysian in all communities and empower them to access information and knowledge digitally no matter where
they are. This paper looks at the impact of wireless technology in selected urban and rural areas in the central region
of the country namely Perak, Selangor and Malacca. Findings from the study will be presented in two parts: firstly,
the general review of the wireless technology in terms of its access, applications and technology. Secondly, the impact
of wireless technology in terms of education, social, health and productivity. This is in line to supporting the
Malaysian government’s aspiration towards building the knowledge society by the year 2020.

Key-Words: wireless technology, digital divide, wireless networking, empowerment, knowledge society,
rural and urban areas

1 Introduction Malaysian community. For these purposes, about RM1

In recent years, wireless networking has become more
available, affordable and easy to use. In Malaysia, the
penetration and adoption of the wireless technologies is
experiencing an outstanding growth. Home users are
adopting wireless technology in great numbers. Laptop
users often find free access to wireless connections in
places like coffee shops, airports and hotel lobbies
because the wireless card is already pre-installed when
buying the laptop. The low rate of subscription fees to
the internet via broadband is also an encouraging factor
for the high adoption rate at the urban areas. However
there is still a very marked differences of the take up rate
of the urban and rural areas on the use of broadband and
mainly this is due to the fact that the infrastructure is
still not available to all the zones in Malaysia and also
the awareness and needs to use broadband at the rural
areas is still very low.
1.1 Broadband initiatives in Malaysia
The 8th Malaysia Plan (8MP), which covered the period
of 2001-2005 was primarily aimed at sustaining
economic growth and competitiveness in the face of
growing globalization and liberalization [1]. One of the
thrusts was to shift the growth strategy from input-driven
to knowledge-driven and productivity-driven. One of
the strategies of MP8 is to provide world class ICT
infrastructure and increase the e-participation of
billion has been allocated under the Plan to carry out
ICT programs and projects to increase the usage of ICT
among communities in rural areas. The diffusion and
usage of ICT within and across sectors is further
expanded as ICT has a strategic role in accelerating
economic growth. The 8th Malaysian Plan has been
completed and implemented and yet there are still areas
need to be focused in terms of assisting Malaysians to
have higher rate of using ICT in their daily lives.
Under the title “Mainstreaming Communication and
Information Technology in the 9th Malaysian Plan”
blueprint, the Government of Malaysia is committed
towards continuous improvement in addressing the
need of creating knowledge society [2]. In fact, the major
thrust for Malaysia to become a fully developed country
envisioned by the year 2020 is the creation of an
information rich, value added knowledge society
Thus in order to assist the higher take up of ICT, the
strategies adopted to achieve the vision for ubiquitous
computing within Malaysian society include wired and
wireless mode. The implementation of these strategies is
not only being carried out by the federal government
and the state governments, but also through a tripartite
partnership involving the private sector
telecommunication companies. The USP

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 RECENT ADVANCES in E-ACTIVITIES, INFORMATION SECURITY and PRIVACY

Communication Tower Project Program is an example 3 Sampling

of this public-private partnership providing cellular This study presents the findings of the survey conducted
coverage in the deprived areas due to their remoteness for the central region. Three states are categorized
and uneconomic locations. within this region namely Perak, Selangor and Malacca.
In total, ten locations were surveyed. The locations
The pervasiveness of ICT infrastructural development is selected are four in Selangor (two urban, and two rural)
currently being extended throughout the country and four in Perak (two urban, and two rural), and two in
covering the rural and even the remote areas. Malacca (two urban, and two rural). The findings
Substantial budget has been allocated under the 8th and discussed is based from 279 responses received. Table 1
9th Malaysia Plan for ICT facilities and services. A total tabulates the status of the survey.
of RM12.9 billion has been allocated for ICT projects
and programs in the 9th Malaysia Plan with 30% goes to Table 1
the rural and remote areas under the Bridging the Digital Locations and Status of Questionnaires
Divide initiatives [3]. This initiative aimed at providing Returned
equal access and opportunity for ICT facilities and
services to the citizens. This would enable wireless Locations Category Distributed Received
technologies in the form of communication towers, very Selangor
small aperture satellites (VSAT), Wimax and Wifi Bangi,Shah Urban 75 60
hotspots and transmitters to be installed in remote Alam
regions within reach by local communities. Banting Rural 75 40
Perak
In the wireless internet segment, one large scale project Teluk Intan, Urban 75 50
being rolled-out is the Kuala Lumpur Wireless Ipoh,
Metropolitan project (KLWMP). A joint venture Tanjung
between KL and local technology Green Packet the Malim
RM60m ($17.9m) KLWMP will develop a network of Tronoh Rural 75 29
2000 free wireless hotspots throughout the capital Malacca
within two years [4]. Phase one which is already under Bandar Urban 75 60
way calls for 1500 hotspots to be installed around the Melaka, Air
golden triangle area of Kuala Lumpur. Green packet Keroh
subsidiary Packet One will provide RM50m ($14.9m)
Serkam, Rural 75 40
for the initial phase, while telecommunications
Jeperun
regulator Malaysian Communications and Multimedia
TOTAL 279
Commission (MCMC) and Dewan Bandaraya Kuala
Lumpur will each invest in an additional RM5m
($1.5m) [5]. A total of 2008 registered hotspots were 3.1 Socio-demographics
present in the country through September 2008, the The total number of respondents representing the
largest concentration of which was located in Kuala central region is 279. The distribution of males and
Lumpur with 677, followed by Selangor with 428, females respondents is 53% and 46.9% respectively.
Perak with 203 and Penang with 122. At same time, Whereas, about 32.2% of the respondents are married
there were 346,000 hotspot subscriptions throughout and 67.8% are still single. Most of the respondents aged
the country, nearly double the 180,100 registered in the between 19 to 35 years old (49.9%), followed by those
first quarter of 2007[6]. aged more than 35 years old (46.9%), and less than
18 years old (3.2%). The ethnicity of the respondents are
Malays (59%); Indians (17%) and Chinese (24%)
2 A Research on the Impact of Wireless respectively and majority of the respondents hold
Technology Bachelor degree (55.5%).
A survey was conducted to gauge the take up rate and
adoption of wireless technologies among the users in the 4 Access and adoption of Wireless
central region. There were 279 respondents who filled Technology
up and responded to the surveys. The research is based When the respondents were being asked about their
on the quantitative research technique. A set of pattern of using wireless technology to access internet,
questionnaire was developed and validated by experts. more than half of the respondents (65.5%) claimed that
The interview protocol was designated to further elicit they used wireless mode to connect to internet. 56%
responses beyond the scope of quantitative data. accessed the internet through their computers using

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 RECENT ADVANCES in E-ACTIVITIES, INFORMATION SECURITY and PRIVACY
mobile modem and only 3% through their PDAs. The
data shows quite high adoption rate and this could be
due to the fact that the Central Region is also a very
high populated areas and have high economic
opportunities as compared to other parts of Malaysia.
The other 34.5% of the respondents who did not use
wireless to access internet may not have the need for it
or there may not have such facilities where they live for
example the semi urban and also urban poor areas.
4.1 Places of access
The findings suggested that, restaurants are the most
common place where wireless technology is accessed
(23%). The famous internet access restaurants are those
like Coffee Bean, Starbucks, and local fast food
restaurants which we called Restaurant 24 hours
operated by Indian Muslims. Of these respondents
81.8% indicate that they use this service free of charge,
and only 18.2% have to pay for it. The next most
common among the respondents are at the hotel lobbies
(22%). Most of the access to the internet at the hotel
lobbies are free but majority of the hotels in Malaysia
still charge for internet access in the rooms or meeting
rooms. The rate is usually about RM20 – RM50 per day.
Other common places are rest areas (R&R), libraries,
airports, e-community centres, and in-campus, schools
or workplaces. Figure 1 refers to the places where
wireless technology is commonly used.
Figure 1: Places of Access
Other Public
Places
6%
Libraries
6% Hotel
e- lobbies
22%
community
centers
18%
Restaurants
Rest Areas 23%
13%
Airports
12%
4.2 Wireless Technology Applications
The respondents were asked on the applications of the
wireless technology and two hundred and sixty (93.1%)
respondents claimed that they use it to transmit data
between communication devices (Table 1). The
communication devices include mobile phone (26.1%),
digital camera (21.3%), computer (6.9%), and PDAs
(2.5%).
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Table 1: Wireless Applications Usage
Application Frequency Percentage
Mobile phone 173 66.5
Digital camera 67 26.0
Computer 16 6.0
PDA 4 1.5
4.2.1 The Use of Bluetooth Technology
In the central region, more than half of the respondents
(70.8%) have utilized the benefits of wireless
headphone. Out of these respondents, most of them have
been using the Bluetooth technology (83.6%) and have
used wireless headphone. Ninety-one respondents
(32.6%) agree that they use printer with the support of
wireless devices. However, they did not specify the
detail of the wireless devices. Eighty-four respondents
(30.1%) confirm that they use mobile phone as a modem
to access internet, while 49.6% have used mobile phone
to access and surf the internet.
5 The Impact of Wireless Technology
In order to understand the impact of the wireless
technology towards the lifestyles of the respondents,
several questions were prepared and asked related to the
impact of wireless technology towards education, social,
health and productivity.
With regards to content accessed via internet most
respondents (90.5%) says that wireless technology
allows them to enjoy multimedia content online. Apart
from that, 81.6% say that they could download data
quicker, and 89.2% agree that they can get access to
Internet anytime anywhere at their convenience. Slightly
more than 84.1% respondents agree that they could surf
the internet at their convenience without having to worry
the time and duration of surfing. 68.7% said that they
could surf the internet 24 hours a day without having to
pay extra. In terms of costs, 81.5% agree that wireless
technology allow them to save more compared to normal
wired installation. This can help them in saving on
phone rentals and calls.
For educational purposes it has also been found that
wireless technology allows the respondents (93.8%) to
get access to internet to search for reference materials,
88.0% to films and attractive locations and 94.1%
respondents agree that they also get to know about
current news and latest issues.
Slightly more than 84% respondents agree that wireless
technology suits their lifestyles. Almost 91.2%
respondents say that they can communicate with their
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peers and friends and approximately 84.9% respondents Self-organization

agree that it helps them in their daily activities such as - check calendar 84.1
making appointments, schedules and calendars. They - make appointment 81.5
(79.7%) felt that now they could manage their schedules Security & Privacy
better. - aware of privacy issues 89.5
- more cautious on security 86.1
The impact of wireless technology within an
organization, 91.8% of the respondents agree that it will Thus from Table 2 we can conclude the highest impact
help organizations to become more efficient, and of wireless technology is to assist communications and
competitive. Roughly 93.0% agree that wireless also relationship followed by information search and self
technology allows a more efficient working space as organization. Even though the respondents felt that they
printing and transferring files can be done without are aware of the privacy issues but the way how to have
needing to be wired all the time and they felt more safe transactions and secured data in wireless
mobile as internet access can be done even at the environment must be taught more aggressively as their
corridor and also the meeting rooms. Apart from that, data are exposed to public when they are accessing
87.7% believe that it allows them to use the internet and internet at the public places.
92.3% agree that they can also check on information
immediately while working or holding meetings. 5.3 Health
This research also surveys respondents’ perception on
5.1 Education how wireless technology can assist them in the context
Majority of the respondents, 86.4% agree that the of health. Table 3 lists the purposes and ranks them. The
technology does motivate them in learning especially in findings suggest that majority of the respondents felt that
accessing materials in- campus and also off-campus. For the wireless technology as a resource to get some health
college students the wireless environment in campus tips. This is followed by to access health information,
does help them to download learning materials at time get online counseling services, get information on first
convenience for them and not restricted lab hours. For aid/emergency case, as medium for questions and
those who are not learning in institutions of higher answers, access information on types of medicine, as
learning, the wireless environment do help them in intermediary between specialists and patients, as
accessing educational materials for the lifelong learning medium for reporting emergency cases, as medium of
purposes 90%. Apart from improving the students’ warning of for epidemics, and as reminder on time for
learning, wireless technology is also found to improve medication.
learning opportunity of most respondents and 90.3% also
agree that it facilitates collaborative learning and Table 3: Purpose of Use in Health
encourage them to use various technological
applications. Purpose of use Percentage
As a resource for health tips 88.7
5.2 Social Access health information 88.5
In order to gauge the social impact of the use of wireless Get information on first aid/emergency 86.7
technology several questions were listed in the case
questionnaire and Table 2 lists them out accordingly. Get online counseling services 83.6
Access information on types of 83.1
Table 2: Impacts on Social Aspects medicine
As medium for questions and answers 81.1
Social aspects Percentage As intermediary between specialists and 78.7
Communication & relationship patients
- interact through Internet 93.6 As medium for reporting emergency 77.7
- add value to the relationship 93.2 cases
- socialize with friends
As medium of warning of for epidemics 76.2
80.8
As reminder on time for medication 72.1
Information search
- inculcate knowledge society values 92.8
- maximize Internet usage 83.8
Thus, these findings showed that the as the respondents
- assist search for premises and 85.1
are aware what the wireless technology can do for them
locations
in health context, real applications of the use is still low.

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The handphone has been widely used to convey
messages of the upcoming epidemics but public at large
are still skeptical whether to trust or not to trust
messages conveyed via phone unless it is from the
trustworthy sources. The communication between
specialist and patients usually in the hospitals or during
the consultation times and not many specialists would
like to be called or texted after clinical hours.
5.4 Productivity
The purposes of using wireless technology in the
productivity sector are ranked as follows: Most
respondents agree that wireless technology can help
them in widening their daily activities (81.5%),
facilitating discussion matters at any places (81.5%),
giving more self mobility (81.0%), and providing latest
economic information (79.8%). 75.5% of the
respondents mentioned that their production rates have
increased. However, thepercentage of increased in
profit, varies as the highest is between 61.0% to 80.0%.
They believe that the increase in demand may be due to
the use of wireless technology which facilitates effective
promotion, online transactions, business management,
access to relevant sites, and communication. Wireless
technology helps businessmen to promote their products
through internet advertisement and mobile phone
applications. In terms of business management, the
respondents believe that they can enhance their business
knowledge because wireless technology is a medium
that offers varieties of information resources, allows
online discussions (blog forum), permits the creation of
business networking/circle, and provides channel for
customers’ feedbacks.
In business activities, the respondents believe that they
manage to use the technology to improve their business
productivity through quick information dissemination.
Internet banking facilitates them in checking their
accounts, making and receiving payments, and stock
trading. There is a case where one of the respondents
involved in the advertisement business has managed to
improve his business circle through the use of wireless
technology. The e-mail technology assists him in his
business processes whereby the advertisement design
layout can be deliberated with his customers online
effectively. The use of the technology has boosted up
their business reputation and image as technology savvy.
For those who conduct businesses at home, wireless
technology facilitates them in promoting their products
and services as well as interacting with their current and
potential customers and clients.
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6 Conclusion
The study on the impact of wireless technologies
indicates that there is a positive response in the provision
of broadband technology [7]. This is highlighted with
the high take-up rate and positive adoption patterns on
the use of wireless communications among the
respondents in the central region. For home-based
setting, broadband should be made ready to produce a
higher take-up rate among the respondents. In realizing
value added knowledge societies, the public must be
made aware that many of the technological devices such
as mobile phones, PDAs, laptops can access internet and
information in a very efficient way anywhere and any
place. They need to be educated on the applications and
the security aspects of the use of wireless technologies
so that they could reap the maximum benefits. Since
PDAs, mobile phones, Bluetooth technologies are
actually cheaper, compared to owning a computer, the
community should be utilizing these gadgets to access
information and will be influential tools in bridging the
digital divide [8]. This findings will spearhead the needs
to develop more mobile content that can be accessed via
the handphones and as the basis for ensuring that the
subscription fees of mobile broadband is at the rate that
is affordable by the community at large. This will help
them access information beyond the wired environment
and beyond the locations of existing access points at
home, office and other places.
References:
[1] Dewan Rakyat 2001. Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001
2005) http://www.ids.org.my/planpolicy/focus.htm.
2001.
[2] Ninth Malaysia Plan 2006-2010: Mainstreaming
Information and Communications Technology
Economic Planning Unit © Malaysia Prime
Minister's Department, 2006, 53 pages.
[3] Economic Planning Unit. Ninth Malaysia Plan
(2006-2010), The Economic Planning Unit, Prime
Minister Department, Putrajaya,
http://www.epu.jpm.my/rm9/html/english.htm, 2006.
[4] KL the wireless online metropolitan, The Star
online, May 13, 2008.
[5] Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi, The
National Broadband Plan: Enabling High Speed
Under MyICMS 886,Percetakan Nasional Malaysia
Berhad, Putrajaya, 2006.
[6] The Report: Malaysia 2009 by Oxford business
group, 2009.
[7] Zaini Amir. Integrating Mobile Wireless
Technology in Higher Education for Life Long
Learning: Bridging the Digital Divide at Urban and
Rural Areas. LYICT 2008 Joint Open and Working
IFIP Conference: ICT and Learning for the Net
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Generation. 2008.
[8] Zaini Amir dan Norizan Abdul Razak. Impak
Teknologi Tanpa Wayar terhadap Masyarakat
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penyelia Telecenter, Malaysia, 2008.

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