Install-and-forget WIFI to connect to Sarawak's interior?

Many crazy ideas had been proposed by outsiders to connect Sarawak’s interior to the outside world. Latest is the `wifi village’ idea from the government. Previously there was a `philantropic’ idea to donate mobile phones to Sarawakians. However the better ideas seems to be SW radios.  WiFi village project turns into a farce	3Share
Sunday, 21 November 2010 13:58(Malaysian Mirror)
KUCHING – The people of Nanga Berkiok at Merurun, Julau cannot be blamed if they thought that the government’s ‘Kampung WiFi’ project recently implemented at Rumah Guntol was a mere publicity stunt.  A satellite dish which was installed in the longhouse last Sept 17 broke down less than a week later. Till today there is no news from the project master, the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry, or the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) that they would act on the problem. “We do not know what to do with the dish. Who shall we contact to take care of the problem? If it is about finding spare parts, shouldn’t the government have them ready?” longhouse chief, Guntol Janggu told The Borneo Post. He added that after the project was launched by Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim, the Internet and communication facilities worked well and the line was very clear. However, when a heavy thunderstorm hit the village three days later, the system broke down and the satellite dish had no signal since. Guntol also said that after the villagers reported the problem to the people concerned, two men from a government agency came days later and inspected the dish. “They took off something from the dish. For further inspection, they said. Till today, we have not received any update from the ministry and the dish just stands there like a white elephant,” he said.

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