The Communication and Multimedia Ministry will provide better broadband internet services for suburban residents under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), said its deputy minister Datuk Jailani Johari.

He said the facility with speeds between 20 and 100 megabits per second, will be implemented in stages.

He said the government was committed to the project, which among others, will meet the demands of suburban communities who require broadband access to be on par with those in urban areas.

He was speaking to reporters after closing the Economy and Consumerism Seminar for the Padang Besar parliamentary constituency at the Perlis Correctional Centre here Sunday.

According to Jailani, 1,000 new telecommunications towers had been planned under 11MP, which would be built in three phases - 400 in the first phase, 300 in the second, and another 300 in the third phase.

He said Perlis which had 33 towers, will see two more towers being built, and one them will be in Wang Kelian.

On 1Malaysia Internet Centres, he said a study showed that the expansion of broadband access was beneficial to rural communities, especially to learn, explore and grow their businesses.

Jailani urged the people to make full use of the facility, in which they also have the opportunity to learn to use computers as well as online trading, through the two full-time staff made available (at the 1Malaysia Internet Centres).