The Malaysian government will begin testing direct-to-device satellite internet technology across multiple locations in Sabah as part of its second phase rollout under the National Digital Network Plan (JENDELA), Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil announced during a visit to Kota Kinabalu. The pilot programme represents a significant shift in how Malaysia approaches digital connectivity for its most remote regions, moving beyond traditional tower-based infrastructure that has historically proven difficult to deploy in geographically challenging terrain.
During a courtesy call on the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Musa Aman, Fahmi outlined the ministry's strategy for extending broadband access to areas where conventional telecommunications infrastructure remains impractical. The direct-to-device approach bypasses the need for ground-based installations by transmitting internet signals directly from orbiting satellites to mobile handsets, effectively leapfrogging the infrastructure bottlenecks that have constrained connectivity in East Malaysian states. The technology represents a pragmatic recognition that tower installation alone cannot meet the timeline and cost targets for comprehensive rural coverage.
JENDELA Phase II will encompass over 300 locations across Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia, with implementation strategies tailored to each region's specific characteristics. While some sites will continue the conventional tower installation approach, the majority of projects will employ either satellite internet or alternative technologies that eliminate the need for physical tower infrastructure. Fahmi acknowledged that traditional tower deployment faces inherent constraints, typically requiring a minimum of two years per project while encountering logistical challenges, environmental considerations, and cost escalations that can derail timelines.
The satellite internet trial addresses a critical gap in Malaysia's digital infrastructure. Rural and remote areas throughout Sabah, particularly those with established communities, have languished under connectivity constraints that perpetuate economic disadvantages. By deploying satellite-based solutions alongside conventional infrastructure, the government seeks to accelerate the timeline for achieving universal broadband coverage. This dual approach reflects a maturation in policy thinking—acknowledging that no single technology can efficiently serve Malaysia's diverse geographic and demographic landscape.
Complementing the satellite trials, the government is advancing the MADANI Submarine Cable Connection (SALAM) initiative, which Fahmi characterized as foundational to Sabah's digital economic development. The undersea cable project will establish new landing points and transmission corridors connecting critical hubs across both East Malaysian states. Rather than concentrating infrastructure at a single Tanjung Aru landing point near Kota Kinabalu, the expanded plan extends cable routes southward along Sabah's coastline to Tawau, with corresponding connections through Kuching and Miri in Sarawak.
This geographic expansion of submarine cable infrastructure carries significant economic implications for East Malaysia. By distributing landing points across multiple population centers and commercial hubs, the SALAM initiative distributes bandwidth capacity and reduces transmission bottlenecks that have traditionally concentrated data traffic through limited chokepoints. Faster, more stable internet services will enable Sabah and Sarawak to compete more effectively for digital economy opportunities, from cloud-based business services to remote employment sectors that increasingly characterize global labor markets.
Beyond infrastructure deployment, Fahmi emphasized the ministry's commitment to digital literacy as an essential complement to connectivity expansion. Enhanced internet access without corresponding public education invites a different category of vulnerability—one where marginalized populations, lacking familiarity with online safety practices, become disproportionately susceptible to fraud, scams, and criminal exploitation. The minister flagged concerning trends that have emerged nationally, with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) identifying over 2,000 fraudulent accounts within a five-to-six-week period.
These fake accounts operate across multiple malicious vectors. Some disseminate disinformation campaigns, while others promote explicit content or coordinate coordinated scam operations targeting vulnerable internet users. Online gambling solicitations, another major concern, particularly threaten younger and less experienced internet users. Fahmi did not minimize the likelihood that Sabah hosts a proportional share of such accounts, given the state's growing digital penetration and the portable nature of online fraud operations. The Ministry has committed MCMC resources to intensify detection and removal efforts, recognizing that cybersecurity must advance in parallel with connectivity infrastructure.
For Sabah specifically, these digital infrastructure investments arrive amid broader regional economic repositioning. The state has experienced historical disadvantages in competitive telecommunications pricing and service quality relative to Peninsular Malaysia, creating spillover effects throughout the economy. Businesses requiring reliable cloud connectivity for supply chain management, financial services, or customer relationship management have faced cost and latency penalties relative to competitors in more developed broadband regions. The convergence of satellite technology trials, submarine cable expansion, and digital literacy initiatives therefore addresses multiple layers of digital disadvantage simultaneously.
The JENDELA Phase II programme reflects Malaysia's recognition that achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to digital inclusion requires sustained, multi-faceted investment. Satellite internet trials represent technological pragmatism; submarine cable expansion addresses capacity constraints; and literacy initiatives acknowledge that infrastructure alone creates incomplete solutions. For Malaysia's East Malaysian states, which contain significant untapped economic potential constrained partly by digital infrastructure deficits, these coordinated initiatives may catalyze broader regional development.
Implementation success depends critically on adhering to stipulated timelines and budgets—parameters Fahmi explicitly committed the ministry to meeting. Given Malaysia's historical mixed record on infrastructure project delivery, this commitment warrants monitoring. Transparent project management, regular public reporting on milestones, and accountability mechanisms will determine whether JENDELA Phase II fulfills its potential as a transformative regional development initiative. The stakes extend beyond telecommunications; digital infrastructure parity between East and West Malaysia affects competitive positioning across multiple sectors and shapes long-term economic geography.
