Measat will continue to focus on East Malaysia
KUCHING: MEASAT Global Bhd (Measat) will continue to drive the benefits of high-speed broadband connectivity in East Malaysia by connecting the unserved and underserved Malaysians in rural areas.
The group will also focus on expanding the benefits of initiatives such as KampungDigital365.com that seeks to connect rural residents with the benefits of the digital economy.
“Through our track record of collaborating with and supporting state government efforts in our position as Malaysia’s Rural Broadband Service Provider, via our CONNECTme NOW service, we will also support the Sabah State Government’s aim to achieve 100 per cent internet coverage across the state by 2025 as well as help to enable the Sarawak State Government’s to surpass expectation of 93.6 per cent internet coverage in populated areas by 2025,” said its chief operating officer Yau Chyong Lim in an exclusive interview with The Borneo Post.
Yau said Measat also welcomed new developments in the regional space industry centred on East Malaysia, including proposals for an Asean Space Agency and the establishment of a satellite launchpad in Sabah, whereby the strategic location of Sabah on the equator offers distinct advantages in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness for space launches.
“Initiatives like these signify a collective commitment to advancing aerospace technology and exploration,” he affirmed. “Sabah’s potential to become the 16th satellite launchpad in the world is a testament to Malaysia’s growing role in the global space arena.”
“Such a facility not only holds promise for technological advancement but also presents significant economic opportunities, with the potential to spawn downstream industries and create high-paying jobs.
“We look forward to the outcome of the feasibility study and hope to witness the positive impact of these developments on the regional space industry and beyond.”
To note, Measat has had the unique privilege of being involved in the SpaceTech sector for more than 30 years.
Every year, the company participates in various local, regional and international initiatives as part of our ongoing efforts to promote SpaceTech in Malaysia, to help advance this sector and its benefits in the country and elevate Malaysia’s name internationally.
“Through participation in industry events, we aim to promote knowledge exchange and sharing of best practices among various stakeholders from different countries, as well as encourage crossborder partnerships to better create synergies to optimise our strengths and alleviate weaknesses by tapping on the strengths of potential partners,” he explained.
“For example, in 2023, when the annual Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC) Satellite Conference and Exhibition was held in Malaysia, MEASAT supported this event as the presenting sponsor, being the leading satellite solutions provider in the country.”
On an international level, Measat also participates in events with Malaysian government representatives and global policymakers, such as events organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), contributing our expertise and driving advancement in the industry.
When asked on their goals for this year, Yau affirmed that Measat remains committed to our goal of connecting the remaining three to five per cent of unconnected rural populations in Malaysia.
“However, our vision extends beyond mere connectivity. We aim to leverage satellite technology for transformative initiatives, such as advancing telehealth services, enhancing digital government programmes, and fostering digital banking solutions.
“By focusing on these areas, we aim to not only bridge the digital divide but also empower communities with comprehensive digital services.
“We aim to engage with governmental bodies to empower rural connectivity initiatives and position MEASAT as a valuable partner in national development aligned with government connectivity goals, such as via the KampungDigital365.com initiative.
“Meanwhile, we are also looking to expand our CONNECTme services regionally. Many of our neighbouring countries also face challenges in bringing internet connectivity to people living outside the urban areas, so our satellite broadband services aimed at connecting rural residents via affordable prepaid vouchers will be a great match for their needs.”
KUCHING: MEASAT Global Bhd (Measat) says it ‘warmly welcomes’ new entrants into the Malaysian market in the belief that they can add dynamism and contribute to spurring progress in our satellite technology ecosystem.
This comes after Starlink’s satellute-based broadband service began in Malaysia following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s meeting with Elon Musk on July 14 last year.
“We believe Starlink will not be the last foreign player to enter the Malaysian market, instead there will be many more new players providing cutting-edge solutions to come,” opined its chief operating officer Yau Chyong Lim in an interview with The Borneo Post.
“Since the entry of Starlink into Malaysia in 2023, we have seen their services as complementary to what Measat can offer.
“As the leading satellite solutions provider in Malaysia, we are open to working with other entities to deliver the benefits of satellite technology to our customers which include government agencies, commercial enterprises and rural residents via a diverse portfolio of solutions to meet evolving needs.”
On this basis, Yau said Measat officially signed with SpaceX in December 2023 to become the official authorised reseller for Starlink Hardware and Services in the markets that it serves.
This status enables Measat to solidify its position as a onestop provider for customers in pursuit of the most suitable satellite services and solutions that address their needs.
Meanwhile, Starlink will be able to benefit from Measat’s established market presence and strong on-ground customer service and technical support, including a 24x7 helpdesk operated by in-country personnel and onsite support and maintenance.
When asked about the current outlook of the satellite ecosystem in Malaysia, Yau said that prospects remained promising; particularly with the advancements in satellite technology.
“Satellites today offer much needed connectivity capability and play a significant role in enabling new possibilities such as the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0), the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence and 5G, as well as facilitating applications and services in remote and rural areas such as cellular backhaul, telemedicine, online learning and more.
“When satellite technology delivers reliable and affordable high-speed, low-latency internet to underserved regions of the world, we can achieve societal benefits, such as improving economic growth and income opportunities, improving access to education services, and reducing overall inequality between urban and rural residents.
“For Measat, our satellite solutions are focused on futurecentric applications that benefit residents of remote areas, such as for telemedicine services to improving healthcare access in remote areas, financial services such as through the KampungDigital365.com initiative that empowers rural residents with access to the digital economy.
“Using the High Throughput Satellite (HTS) capacity on our MEASAT-3d satellite, we are helping to close the digital gap by offering high-speed internet access even in hard-to-reach rural villages, via our CONNECTme NOW satellite broadband service, now serving nearly 4,000 rural and remote sites covering circa 500,000 Rakyat or 1/3 of unserved population nationwide.”
Yau said that satellites will continue supporting broadcasting, especially for critical networks that carry governmental channels and public messaging.
This is particularly relevant in satellite centric markets, where Internet connectivity is poor and, cable head-ends are distributed,
“In such cases, satellite broadcasting remains crucial to receiving linear channels, enabling the delivery of Pay TV services to subscribers, with Direct-to-Home (DTH) serving as rapid means for this delivery.
“Nevertheless, with the development of OTT technologies and platforms, MEASAT is looking at ways to leverage these technologies via our satellite broadband service CONNECTme, whereby we aim to overlay a video streaming service on our nationwide broadband network by 2025.”