KUALA LUMPUR – The telecommunications project involving Starlink satellites is a private initiative that does not involve government funds, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi (Lembah Pantai-PH) told the Dewan Rakyat today that the government is not funding the company or holding any shares.
“I would like to remind (the Dewan Rakyat) that Starlink is a private initiative and no government funds were used for the preparation of satellites or equipment.
“We (the government) do not own shares in the (Starlink) company. There are other companies with satellite technology that the government can benefit from.”
He added that it is not a monopoly, and the government welcomes the involvement of other telco companies to expand cost-effective internet services for the people to choose from.
Fahmi was responding to a supplementary question from Wan Razali Wan Nor (Kuantan-PN) regarding updates related to the Starlink network.
Meanwhile, the minister said projects under the National Digital Network Plan are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
“As of January 31 this year, 2,393 new towers of the planned 3,884 have been completed and are in operation.
“Additionally, 39,983 transmitter stations have been upgraded from the planned 40,214, and 3.32 million premises are equipped with optical fibre cables from the planned 4.19 million,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time.
“The government also implemented a preparation project using broadband wireless access, which was completed in 839 rural locations throughout the country.
“The provision of broadband service uses point of presence (PoP) fibre optic hubs.”
He said 658 PoPs of the planned 677 in Phase 1 and 335 PoPs of the 3,693 planned in Phase 2 have been completed as of March 15 this year. This involved 124,810 premises with optical connections.
Fahmi added that the PoP optical fibre installed near schools can be enjoyed by nearby residential and industrial areas as well.
The ministry has identified the needs of internet connections throughout the country and how they can be improved with emerging technologies that are being studied by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
Edwin Banta (Selangau-GPS) had asked the minister about alternative plans to increase broadband access in rural areas. – March 25, 2024