KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (NNN-Bernama) — The newly-launched MEASAT-3d satellite is important for Malaysia to achieve its 100 per cent Internet coverage target before 2025 and improve the quality of its broadband services, Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa said.
He said this was because the services offered by the satellite can be fully utilised in a couple of months’ time.
“So, there are two important aspects relating to the launch of the satellite today. Firstly, it will enable us to achieve 100 per cent Internet coverage for all populated areas before 2025.
“And secondly, we will be able to improve the quality of broadband services, improve high-speed services to be as good as the fibre optic network that we are implementing in developed areas,” he told reporters when met after watching the live streaming of the launching ceremony at the World Trade Centre here early Thursday.
Malaysia, through MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd (MEASAT), launched the MEASAT-3d satellite into orbit on the Ariane-5 rocket from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, South America, at 5.50 am Malaysian time Thursday (6.50 pm local time on June 22).
MEASAT-3d, which is MEASAT’s eighth and most advanced satellite, costs RM1.2 billion (US$272.4 million) with a lifespan of 18 years and is expected to improve the communication services to Malaysia and regional countries.
It is also expected to bridge the digital connectivity gap and shape a better connectivity future for Malaysians in line with the government’s initiatives through the National Digital Network (JENDELA) plan.
Annuar said the launch was a historic development and very important to the government’s efforts to fully succeed and complete the implementation of the JENDELA programme and the Malaysian Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL).
He said the country had an expected Internet coverage of up to 97 per cent under the JENDELA 1 programme which connected populated areas using the fibre optic network method, while the remaining three per cent were in rural areas.
“We definitely require the use of satellite technology for the rural areas. We are already satellite technology now but the existing satellites are offering broadband services of low capacity and low speed…mostly less than 10 Mbps (megabyte per second), but MEASAT-3d satellite will be able of providing broadband services of between 35 Mbps to 100 Mbps to those areas,” he said.
Annuar said the MEASAT-3d satellite services would be available to Malaysians after the trial period was completed about a month from now.
He said Internet access to rural areas was already in the MyDIGITAL blueprint and his ministry had also prepared a roadmap to ensure Internet coverage reaches up to 100 per cent and an overall speed of at least 35 Mbps by 2025.
— NNN-BERNAMA
