THE State Government is confident of delivering information technology even to the remotest area, said Deputy CM-cum-Industrial Development Minister Datuk Tham Nyip Shen.

"If not by wire then wireless... we already have our satellite network and other forms of wireless network," he said.

While acknowledging that Sabah still has many areas that do not have basic infrastructure such as electricity, water and communication lines, Tham said the Government is making efforts to develop and expand the Sabahnet.

"We have to understand that Sabah only joined Malaysia not too long ago and in terms of development we are still catching up."

He said in areas where electricity is not readily available, the Government has in its rural programmes the solar power initiative to help bring development to the affected areas.

"I just hope that the Federal and State Governments will increase the allocation for this purpose to help develop this digital effort," he said.

He said the number of people in Sabah using ICT is still significantly small or 10 per cent of the total population of about 2.5 million.

"If we can connect Internet to all the schools in Sabah, I think we can increase the percentage but it would take time," he said.