Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) will provide free wireless Internet access at all of its 39 airports by the end of next year, its managing director Bashir Ahmad said Tuesday.

Bashir made the remarks after launching the wireless Internet service in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

The MAHA spent about 25 million ringgit (6.75 million U.S. dollars) to upgrade the backbone network at KLIA, said Bashir.

"Currently, the expanded wireless services are available at the satellite building, contact pier, arrival and departure halls," he said.

After improving the Internet service in KLIA, the MAHB will start its work at the Kuala Lumpur low-cost carrier terminal and international airports in Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Penang by year-end and at domestic airports by the end of 2007.

The network upgrading in KLIA is timely as the international airport is expected to see a significant increase in traffic next year in conjunction with 2007 Visit Malaysia Year, said Bashir.

For the first six months of this year, the airport recorded some 4 percent increase in traffic, said Bashir.  

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2006)