Digital Divide Country Profile · Asia

Malaysia

Closing the digital divide, expanding meaningful connectivity, and advancing digital education and workforce participation.

National digital inclusion context

A portfolio-based view of access, capability, and outcomes.

This profile organizes the initiatives directly connected to Malaysia in the global research inventory. It follows the study's country-profile framework: national context, broadband infrastructure, inclusion practices, education and workforce connections, implementation actors, and intended contribution.

The documented portfolio emphasizes Not applicable, Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure, Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 4G/LTE. The profile treats infrastructure, affordability, capability, institutions, support, and outcomes as an interconnected system.

Portfolio pattern

What the documented response contains.

Counts reflect source-workbook tags. One initiative may appear in multiple infrastructure or technology categories.

Infrastructure and access

Not applicable3
Backbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile Infrastructure2
Fiber / Fixed Broadband Infrastructure2
Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure2
Mobile / Wireless Infrastructure2

Specific technologies

Artificial Intelligence (AI)3
4G/LTE2
Digital payments2
Satellite Broadband2
Wi-Fi2

Intervention classification

Neither explicitly identified7
Infrastructure and Specific Technology4
Specific Technology only3
Infrastructure only2
Community AI-literacy and digital-skills program1

Education and workforce

Connectivity becomes consequential through participation.

10 initiatives explicitly connect to education, K–12, or college/university contexts, and 10 connect to workforce development. Other investments may enable these outcomes indirectly.

Access

Networks, service availability, devices, and connection quality.

Capability

Skills, confidence, accessibility, navigation, and support.

Participation

Education, work, health, government, and civic opportunity.

Sustainability

Governance, operations, maintenance, funding, and learning.

Project and initiative portfolio

24 documented records

Every directly tagged record is shown with details and supporting URLs preserved from the research workbook.

Community access expansion

1 DUN 1 NADI expansion aspiration

Implementation · State constituencies nationwide

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Status / periodImplementationLocationState constituencies nationwidePopulationCommunities without nearby digital supportOrganizationsMCMC; Government of Malaysia

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Expansion of NADI footprint by state constituency

Community AI-literacy and digital-skills program

AI@NADI Negeri Sembilan Digital-Skills Programme

Active June 2026 · NADI centers across Negeri Sembilan

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Status / periodActive June 2026LocationNADI centers across Negeri SembilanPopulationResidents using community NADI centersOrganizationsNADI network and Negeri Sembilan programme partners

providing inclusive access to AI literacy and practical digital skills

Activities and approach: AI-literacy instruction and community digital-learning activities

AI-literacy and community digital-learning tools

EducationWorkforce

Small-business digitization / financial inclusion

BizKecil Microenterprise Digital Inclusion Platform

Underway in 2025 · Malaysia

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Status / periodUnderway in 2025LocationMalaysiaPopulationMicro and small businesses, petty traders and B40 entrepreneursOrganizationsPertama Digital BerhadFundingNot stated in source

Reduces small-business digital and financial barriers by bundling digital business tools, payments, stock ordering and access to assistance or finance.

Activities and approach: Digital onboarding; payments; stock ordering; business tools; government-aid onboarding; microenterprise support

Not applicableDigital paymentsdigital onboardingbusiness-management platform

Workforce

Remote broadband/public Wi-Fi

Broadband Wireless Access via Satellite – 839 Remote Locations

2021–ongoing · Rural/remote Sabah, Sarawak and Orang Asli settlements

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Status / period2021–ongoingLocationRural/remote Sabah, Sarawak and Orang Asli settlementsPopulationRemote communities and studentsOrganizationsMCMC; designated universal-service providers

Provides interim broadband in difficult terrain using free public Wi-Fi and satellite backhaul.

Activities and approach: Satellite broadband; public Wi-Fi

Satellite InfrastructurePublic Wi-Fi / Community Network InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureWi-Fi

Education

Rural 4G/5G and satellite broadband

JENDELA 2 Group 1 – 1,000 Rural and Remote Sites

2026–planned rollout · 1,000 sites nationwide; heavy Sabah/Sarawak share

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Status / period2026–planned rolloutLocation1,000 sites nationwide; heavy Sabah/Sarawak sharePopulationAbout 217,000 rural and remote residents within broader phaseOrganizationsMCMC; licensed providers

Uses fit-for-purpose 4G/5G, satellite Wi-Fi and neutral-host solutions to close residual coverage gaps.

Activities and approach: 4G/5G; satellite Wi-Fi; neutral host

Mobile / Wireless InfrastructureSatellite Infrastructure5G4G/LTE

Mobile broadband expansion

JENDELA Phase 1 – 1,661 Shared Rural/Underserved Towers

2020–2026 · Nationwide, with rural/remote focus

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Status / period2020–2026LocationNationwide, with rural/remote focusPopulationResidents in coverage-gap areasOrganizationsMCMC; mobile operators

Adds shared 4G infrastructure and improves coverage quality in underserved locations.

Activities and approach: 1,661 shared towers; 4G; RAN/MOCN sharing

Mobile / Wireless InfrastructureLast-Mile / Access Infrastructure4G/LTE

Higher-education device-access initiative

Johor MITRA 258-Undergraduate Laptop Distribution

Distribution reported June 2026 · Johor

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Status / periodDistribution reported June 2026LocationJohorPopulation258 disadvantaged undergraduate studentsOrganizationsMalaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA) and Johor programme partnersFunding258 laptops / undergraduate recipients

providing laptops so students from disadvantaged backgrounds are not excluded from digital learning

Activities and approach: Laptop distribution through the MITRA programme

Laptop computers

EducationCollege / universityWorkforce

School digital financial literacy

KOCEK Pintar Financial Literacy and Digital Inclusion Programme

Underway in 2025 · Underserved schools in Malaysia

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Status / periodUnderway in 2025LocationUnderserved schools in MalaysiaPopulationSchoolchildren in underserved communitiesOrganizationsPertama Digital Berhad; PINTAR Foundation; Malaysia Ministry of EducationFundingNot stated in source

Builds financial and digital literacy while introducing practical cashless tools in underserved schools.

Activities and approach: Cashless savings; financial literacy; school payment infrastructure; digital inclusion education

Not applicableDigital paymentscashless school transactions

EducationK–12

Digital inclusion initiative

Labuan Connect! Bridging Malaysia's Digital Divide - OpenGov Asia

Announced, active, or documented at source date · Malaysia

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Status / periodAnnounced, active, or documented at source dateLocationMalaysiaPopulationPeople and communities affected by digital exclusion

Builds digital capability and adoption support for people and communities affected by digital exclusion, addressing skills and participation barriers.

Activities and approach: Targeted digital inclusion activities described in the cited source

School broadband; digital competency; device equity; digital learning platform

Malaysia Education Blueprint 2026–2035 Digital Divide Implementation

National implementation framework announced July 2026 · Schools across Malaysia, including rural and underserved locations

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Status / periodNational implementation framework announced July 2026LocationSchools across Malaysia, including rural and underserved locationsPopulationStudents and teachers nationwide, with emphasis on reducing urban-rural access gapsOrganizationsMalaysia Ministry of EducationFundingNational school-system implementation; funding amount not stated

Targets infrastructure, devices, digital content and student competency together rather than treating school connectivity as a stand-alone issue.

Activities and approach: High-speed internet for schools; Digital Competency Score targets; DELIMa digital learning materials; equitable device and resource distribution

School BroadbandEnd-User DevicesDigital Learning PlatformHigh-speed internet

Women-focused digital, financial, entrepreneurial, and AI skills program

Malaysia EmpowerHER Digital Program

Active / national expansion · National initiative with training events in Malaysia

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Status / periodActive / national expansionLocationNational initiative with training events in MalaysiaPopulationAt least 2,000 women from B40 lower-income householdsOrganizationsDigital Nasional Berhad; Ministry of Digital; Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation; Maxis Berhad; SME CorpFundingAt least 2,000 women targeted; subsidized tools and government grant pathways

Combines skills, mentoring, tools, and financing information to help lower-income women build sustainable businesses and participate in the digital economy.

Activities and approach: Structured training; mentorship; subsidized digital tools; financial education; generative AI; digital branding; entrepreneurship support; guidance on government digitization grants

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

EducationWorkforce

AI skills and digital inclusion

MCMC–Microsoft AI Teach Programme at Universiti Sains Malaysia

Active / reported 2025 · Universiti Sains Malaysia

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Status / periodActive / reported 2025LocationUniversiti Sains MalaysiaPopulationB40 students and other learners needing AI skillsOrganizationsMalaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission; Microsoft; Universiti Sains MalaysiaFundingNot stated in source

Provides AI learning opportunities to lower-income students and supports more inclusive participation in Malaysia’s AI economy.

Activities and approach: AI education and hands-on learning

Not applicableArtificial intelligencedigital learning tools

EducationCollege / universityWorkforce

AI literacy and workforce skills

NADI AI community skills programs

Operational / 2026 · NADI centres

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Status / periodOperational / 2026LocationNADI centresPopulationCommunity members, microentrepreneurs and youthOrganizationsMCMC; NADI

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Practical AI training; income-generation use cases

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

EducationWorkforce

Safe digital participation

NADI Cybersecurity and Internet Safety Campaign

Operational / 2025-2026 · NADI communities

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Status / periodOperational / 2025-2026LocationNADI communitiesPopulationYouth, families and new internet usersOrganizationsMCMC; NADI

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Cybersecurity awareness; scam recognition; safe internet use

Digital entrepreneurship

NADI Entrepreneurship smart services

Operational · NADI centres nationwide

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Status / periodOperationalLocationNADI centres nationwidePopulationMicroentrepreneurs, women and youthOrganizationsMCMC; NADI partners

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: NADIpreneur; EmpowHER; Kidventure; eKelas Usahawan

Workforce

Basic digital literacy

NADI free basic ICT classes

Operational / 2026 · Local NADI centres

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Status / periodOperational / 2026LocationLocal NADI centresPopulationCommunity members and youthOrganizationsMCMC; NADI

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Free basic ICT instruction and practical digital-use coaching

Education

Assisted digital public-service access

NADI Government Initiatives / MyDigital ID assistance

Operational · NADI centres nationwide

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Status / periodOperationalLocationNADI centres nationwidePopulationPeople needing help accessing government programs and identityOrganizationsMCMC; NADI; government agencies

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Government information; MyDigital ID assistance; benefits and jobs information

Workforce

Digital skills and education

NADI Lifelong Learning smart services

Operational · NADI centres nationwide

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Status / periodOperationalLocationNADI centres nationwidePopulationUnderprivileged and marginalized learnersOrganizationsMCMC; NADI partners

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: ICT literacy; tuition; cybersecurity; AI; coding; vocational digital learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

EducationWorkforce

Community digital access

NADI nationwide community digital-access network

Operational / expanded 2024-2026 · Nationwide, rural and underserved communities

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Status / periodOperational / expanded 2024-2026LocationNationwide, rural and underserved communitiesPopulationRural, underserved and low-income communitiesOrganizationsMCMC; NADI operators

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: Shared internet access; local community digital hubs

Last-Mile / Access Infrastructure

Mobile community connectivity

NADI On Wheels mobile rural connectivity service

Operational / expanding · Rural and underserved communities

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Status / periodOperational / expandingLocationRural and underserved communitiesPopulationCommunities distant from fixed NADI centresOrganizationsMCMC; NADI

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: High-speed mobile internet; mobile digital services; outreach

Digital health inclusion

NADI Personal Wellbeing / eHealth smart services

Operational · Selected NADI centres

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Status / periodOperationalLocationSelected NADI centresPopulationCommunities with limited health-information accessOrganizationsMCMC; NADI partners

Closes a documented access, affordability, skills, institutional-capacity, or meaningful-use gap.

Activities and approach: eHealth awareness; health screening; Airdoc at selected centres

Rural fixed broadband

Rural Broadband (RBB) – 312 Exchange Upgrades

2015–2020 completed · 119 districts / 243 mukim

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Status / period2015–2020 completedLocation119 districts / 243 mukimPopulationRural and suburban householdsOrganizationsMCMC; Telekom Malaysia

Upgraded fixed network infrastructure in universal-service target areas.

Activities and approach: Fixed broadband; 146,280 ports

Fiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureTelecommunications / Broadband Infrastructure

National and East Malaysia backbone

SALAM/MADANI Submarine Cable

2026 budget implementation · Johor–Sabah–Sarawak

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Status / period2026 budget implementationLocationJohor–Sabah–SarawakPopulationResidents, businesses and service providersOrganizationsMCMC; Government of Malaysia

Adds 3,190 km of submarine fiber to strengthen national resilience and East Malaysia connectivity.

Activities and approach: Submarine fiber cable

Submarine / International Cable InfrastructureFiber / Fixed Broadband InfrastructureBackbone / Backhaul / Middle-Mile InfrastructureFiber/Fiber Optic

Rural fixed-wireless broadband deployment

Uma Lesong Rural Wireless Broadband Deployment

Deployment reported May 2026 · Uma Lesong rural community

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Status / periodDeployment reported May 2026LocationUma Lesong rural communityPopulationResidents and local institutions in the remote Uma Lesong communityOrganizationsEDOTCO; Digital; Uma Lesong community leadership

using a rural wireless model to provide a new community connection

Activities and approach: Fixed-wireless access deployment and local connectivity activation

Rural wireless broadband networkFixed wireless access

EducationWorkforce

Evidence boundary

Read the portfolio as a starting point, not a final verdict.

Project records document interventions and intended contributions; they do not alone prove nationwide coverage, causal impact, or durable closure.

Profiles will deepen as national statistics, policy documents, evaluations, and implementation evidence are incorporated. Source links allow inspection of underlying evidence.

Evidence and contextProfile Sources

These sources support the country-level demographic, geographic, and connectivity context. Sources tied to individual projects remain with their project records and are not repeated here.

Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). Malaysia. The World Factbook. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/malaysia/
International Telecommunication Union. (n.d.). ITU DataHub: Country ICT data. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://datahub.itu.int/
World Bank. (n.d.). Individuals using the Internet (% of population): Malaysia. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.ZS?locations=MY
World Bank. (n.d.). Population, total: Malaysia. World Development Indicators. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=MY

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