The yr since Malaysia started to get well from the pandemic has seen the nation make strides in enhancing digital connectivity.
When the pandemic revealed how Malaysians in rural areas couldn’t go surfing for work or schooling on account of a scarcity of connectivity, the Jendela Nationwide Digital Infrastructure Plan was put in place to deal with the hole.
One of many agenda was the sundown of the 3G community. First introduced in 2020, the shutdown was accomplished this yr, paving the way in which for enhancing and increasing 4G protection by way of the freed-up spectrum.
The street to 5G
Because the nation expanded its 4G protection, it additionally started shifting to the next-generation community, 5G, however hit velocity drops.
To recap: Digital Nasional Bhd was mandated by the federal government below former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be the one wholesale community mannequin for 5G deployment in Malaysia.
As a substitute of bidding for spectrum and constructing their very own towers, telcos have been compelled to enroll with the DNB to entry the 5G community.
The coverage change has led to delays in 5G adoption by telcos, with many looking for extra readability on the Reference Entry Supply (RAO).
In accordance with many studies on the time, the RAO “won’t allow inexpensive and high quality 5G companies” for each individuals and companies in Malaysia.
In October, it was introduced that 5 telcos specifically Celcom, Digi, Telekom Malaysia, U Cellular and YTL Communications had agreed to lease DNB’s 5G community. — Freepik
Considerations grew because the battle between DNB and telcos might have an effect on 5G rollout, however finally talks with telcos have been met with progress, and Celcom, Digi, Telekom Malaysia, U Cellular and YTL Communications have agreed to lease DNB’s 5G community. Since then, they’ve began providing 5G cell plans to customers.
Nonetheless, questions now stay over the destiny of DNB as new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated the federal government will evaluate plans for the state-owned 5G community, citing that it was not formulated in a clear method.
Talking of telecom information, there might not have been an even bigger story than the merger between Celcom and Digi.
On November 30, the entity CelcomDigi was born, changing into the most important telecommunications firm in Malaysia and is anticipated to serve roughly 20 million prospects.
In a press release, CelcomDigi stated it can put money into community growth and assist the expansion of Malaysia’s digital ecosystem.
Theft of non-public information
The nation, as in previous years, has been rocked by a number of information breaches.
In Could, a dataset containing the main points of 22.5 million Malaysians born between 1940 and 2004 was put up on the market on the darkish internet for US$10,000 (RM43,950).
The vendor claimed that the info was extracted from the Nationwide Registration Division (NRD) by way of MyIdentity, a centralized information sharing platform utilized by numerous authorities companies.
The next month, cyber safety professional Dr Suresh Ramasamy claimed that thousands and thousands of non-public data belonging to staff in Malaysia had been uncovered on the Public-Personal Program for Immunization In opposition to Covid-19 (Pikas) web site.
Pikas is an initiative of the Ministry of Worldwide Commerce and Business (MITI).
Will there be adjustments in the way in which authorities method information breaches? Fahmi stated the ministry would prioritize cyber safety points. — Bernama
In accordance with Suresh, CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) responded to his criticism a number of days later, saying the case was closed. The Pikas web site has additionally been briefly taken down.
In November, studies emerged that the private information of round 800,000 Malaysians – allegedly stolen from the MySPR web site – have been being supplied on the market on a web based discussion board for US$2,000 (RM9,240), which was later denied by the previous House Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in a report.
In mild of the info breach, consultants have known as for an overhaul of the Private Knowledge Safety Act 2010 (PDPA) to incorporate a more durable penalty and increase its protection to incorporate authorities companies, that are at present excluded.
In November final yr, studies emerged that information stolen from the MySPR web site was being offered on the darkish internet. This was later denied by Hamzah. – LOW BOON TAT/THE STAR.
Man about city
Internationally, it hasn’t escaped Tesla CEO and world’s richest man Elon Musk, who has dominated the headlines together with his plans to amass Twitter.
It began in April, when Musk introduced that he had purchased greater than 9% of shares in Twitter, making him the most important shareholder.
He was invited to affix the board however declined and as a substitute supplied to purchase the social media platform for US$44 billion (RM193.9 billion).
Twitter accepted the beautiful provide, just for Musk to again out, claiming he had issues about how the corporate handles spam or pretend accounts on the positioning.
Musk finally agreed to finish the takeover after Twitter took him to courtroom, finalizing the deal on October 27 and marking his reign with the tweet: “The chook is about free.”
Musk has dominated the headlines together with his plans to amass Twitter. — AFP
After changing into Twitter’s sole director, Musk fired CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, head of authorized, coverage and belief Vijaya Gadde.
He adopted that up by shedding about 50 p.c of the corporate’s 7,500 staff. Musk realized too late that he had fired too many individuals, at which level the Human Assets division tried to re-employ among the fired staff.
He additionally reneged on a promise to not shut an account that tracked the actions of his non-public jet.
The dearth of moderation has brought about the exodus of half of the platform’s high advertisers, whereas options like Mastodon and Hive Social are rising because of customers who desire a platform with out Musk.
Solely 2023 will inform if the bluebird will attain new heights or take a fair deeper dive.