SDG 9 (Indicator 9.C.1): Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology

Description

This indicator study (and its assessment) has two parts:

(i) the share of population using the internet (on any device) (%) and

(ii) mobile-cellular telephone penetration rate per 100 inhabitants.

The first indicator to evaluate the increased access to ICT and affordable internet is by measuring the share of the Malaysian population using the internet. Malaysia strives to become a high-income nation by leveraging the internet and other technologies. Evidence has shown that the inability to access computers or the Internet causes countries to lag.

The share of the population using the internet at the national level is 90.3% in 2019. Malaysia had made a significant stride in overall improvement from 76.0% in 2016. 

The second indicator is the proportion of the population covered by mobile networks i.e., the proportion of people who own a mobile phone (per 100 inhabitants) in Malaysia. The indicator is crucial as it reflects the social and virtual mobility of the population in accessing pertinent information related to the digital economy.

As for mobile-cellular telephone penetration rate per 100 inhabitants, Malaysia has achieved the target, both at the national and state levels. In combination with the share of the population using the internet, overall, the indicator has contributed to the improvement of Malaysia’s SDG 9 score.