| Azlan Othman |

THE Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) and the Authority for Info-Communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) are working together with Darussalam Assets and telecommunication companies (telcos), to execute a wholesale-retail transformation in placing Brunei among the digital leaders in the region.

As a result, Brunei consumers and businesses will benefit from faster speed, wider coverage and better choices, at more affordable prices. Realising the digital transformation agenda, such as achieving Smart Nation, Smart City, Smart Home, Smart Society through this public-private partnership, is part of the whole of the national approach towards accomplishing Brunei Vision 2035.

Embracing change is something that may be challenging to organisations or even individuals, but without change an entity may not be able to grasp future opportunities and gain an edge against competitors.

In an increasingly digital world, the demand for data-driven growth will soon make existing infrastructure and capabilities obsolete. Hence, it is critical for Brunei to upgrade its digital infrastructure to meet this challenge.

Since the announcement of the transformation in February, Unified National Networks Sdn Bhd (UNN) is working with telcos to combine their fixed and mobile networks, to be more resilient, and to provide better service quality in the short term, leading to a best-in-class high-speed broadband network for the future.

The networks are being consolidated and will be transferred to UNN by the end of this year. Coupled with investment in systems, technology and added spectrum, this will facilitate the transformation of the telcos to Salescos, with equal access to 4G networks and fibre-to-the-home broadband services.

UNN’s priority is to build a nationwide state-of-the-art, 5G-ready, fixed-mobile convergent wholesale network for Salescos to provide more innovative, faster and cheaper products and services on a retail basis to individuals and corporate customers.