Digital Inclusion through Internet Access in Malaysia

The government has made huge investments to provide access to ICT and the Internet to boost development initiatives from urban to rural areas. Through Universal Service Provision (USP) programme which make Internet more affordable and accessible to underserved, it is expected that the underserved people can use the opportunities to improve their wellbeing. This is done through broad initiative such as Internet Centre, Community Broadband Library, Community Wifi and providing Smart devices with Internet package. However, there is a percentage dropping of Community Access Facilities such as Internet Centre and Free Wifi Users observed from 2017 until 2020 (IUS MCMC ,2020). Later in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has landed which causing Movement Control Order (MCO) being implement. Internet access has become a necessity in the new normal life environment for working, learning, and conducting business from home. It is much more for those rural/urban-poor and remote communities who desire for all-inclusive digital facilities to meet the public's needs for basic amenities, health care, education, financial transactions, and government services. Purpose –This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of USP Fund programmes in meeting the underserved population's need for internet access and digital services in order to improve their quality of life and economic well-being. The USP Fund programmes would be more effective if these populations continued to participate and use the Internet through meaningful solutions tailored to their needs