KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 — RM1 billion will be taken from the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Universal Service Provision fund, to buy notebook computers for disadvantaged students as part of the National Broadband Initiative (NBI).

The allocation was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the launching of the NBI this evening.

The NBI aims to boost broadband penetration in the country to 50 per cent by the end of this year, from about 32 per cent at the end of last year.

“I am confident the 50 per cent target will be achieved,” said Najib.

Telekom Malaysia, which launched its high speed broadband service UniFi tonight, will also lower netbook and broadband packages from RM50 to RM38, with a further reduction to RM20 for under-served areas that qualify for the USP fund.

The other NBI programmes announced tonight include:

* 246 Community Broadband Centres nationwide, which will be named 1 Jalur Lebar. These would provide broadband services to 650,000 households, involving a total expenditure of RM60million.

* 138 Rakyat Internet Centres at Information premises nationwide to provide broadband access to 400,000 users.

* E-Kiosks at community centres and sub-district offices in 1,105 sub-districts nationwide, involving a total expenditure of RM40 million.

* Development of Public Cellular Coverage, with a total of 873 communication towers to be built, of which 278 will be in Sabah and 257 in Sarawak.

The new towers will boost the coverage of cellular services by over 100 per cent by end of 2010 and increase the use of portable broadband services or wireless broadband services.

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