Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah likely expands coverage outside Kota Kinabalu. Where is the new location? Sandakan or Keningau?

 

Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah currently broadcasts in Kota Kinabalu with 1 frequency on 96.3MHz, transmitted from Bukit Karatong. It can be tuned in Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran, Donggongnon, Kuala Penyu, Kimanis, Bongawan, Beaufort, part of Menumbok, part of Kundasang, part of Kota Belud and part of Kota Marudu.

Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah can be tuned via online outside Kota Kinabalu.

On 8th September 2026, Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah released a teaser photo on its Facebook page with "Sampai Sana Pun Boleh Dengar? Akan Datang!" (Still can listen when you reach there? Coming soon)

From this post above, I predict that Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah will expand coverage outside Kota Kinabalu with additional transmitter. Regarding the location, it can be either Sandakan or Keningau.

==Sandakan==

If Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah launches Sandakan frequency by installing Bukit Trig transmitter, it can compete against Era FM Sabah. Regarding the coverage, Bukit Trig transmitter can reach Sandakan, Beluran, Telupid, Kinabatangan, Pamol, and part of Lahad Datu District, even some of locations in Tawau, Kunak and Semporna can receive weak signal from Bukit Trig tower. In terms of frequency availability, Sandakan has many empty slots.

* 96.9MHz

* 97.5MHz

* 98.3MHz

* 101.4MHz

* 103.8MHz

* 105.6MHz

* 106.5MHz

* 107.7MHz

==Keningau==

* Kupi-Kupi FM 96.3MHz from Bukit Karatong transmitter has no signal in Keningau, Tenom, Tambunan and Nabawan because these towns are blocked by Crocker Range. As Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah plays more KDMRB (Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, Rungus & Bajau) songs on the radio, together with Sabahan Malay songs, it also has potential of this radio station to launch Bukit Sigapon transmitter for Keningau. In terms of frequency, Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah can reuse now defunct radio station VOK FM 106.6MHz in Keningau. VOK FM was known as Voice of Kinabalu, it was launched on 16th September 2017, but it was closed somewhere in 2020 or 2021. VOK FM was only available in Keningau, Sabah on 106.6MHz, transmitted from Bukit Sigapon, it did not broadcast in Kota Kinabalu like other radio station. 

 

In Keningau, there are many empty frequency slots.

* 94.1MHz

* 95.3MHz 

* 96.7MHz

* 97.5MHz 

* 101.3MHz 

* 103.6MHz 

* 106.6MHz (formerly used by VOK FM) 

* 107.5MHz 

In terms of coverage, Bukit Trig in Sandakan reaches more coverage than Bukit Sigapon in Keningau. By generating the coverage map via Nautel RF Toolkit with 2kW transmitter power, Bukit Trig reaches 517k coverage population, meanwhile Bukit Sigapon only reaches 170k people.

 

By coverage areas,

1. Bukit Trig reaches Sandakan, Beluran, Telupid, Pamol and Kinabatangan, even it can overspill the signal to part of Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna, Ranau, Kundasang and Tawau.

2. Bukit Sigapon reaches only Keningau, Tenom, Tambunan, and part of Nabawan. Its overspill signal can reach until Ranau and Kundasang. 

 

From here, I predict that Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah will launch second transmitter in Bukit Trig for Sandakan Division, rather than Bukit Sigapon for Keningau due to coverage population. Its competitor Era FM Sabah doesn't even have Keningau frequency. In addition, VOK FM was failure to gain commercial revenue as the radio station only broadcasted in Keningau on FM 106.6MHz. 

 

It is unknown and confidential regarding the tuning frequency of Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah in Sandakan at the moment.

 

Kupi-Kupi FM Sabah will compete against Era FM Sabah in Sandakan Division if this radio station launches Sandakan frequency.