Field inspection: Teo (in red blouse) speaking to Tok Batin Salim Palon during her visit to the Orang Asli community in Perling. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: The government is planning to install more Starlink satellite Internet devices if the current testing stage is successful in providing coverage to rural areas, says Teo Nie Ching.
The Deputy Communications and Digital Minister said the ministry would also hold talks with the Health, Education and Rural and Regional Development ministries to expand its use to schools and health clinics, including those in Sabah and Sarawak.
“We are still waiting for feedback from the ministries. If this is proven successful, we might buy more units so that more areas would have access to the Internet,” she said after visiting the Kampung Orang Asli (KOA) Sungai Temon community in Perling yesterday.
Teo said the ministry bought 30 satellite Internet devices with “high-performance specifications” after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s virtual meeting with Starlink CEO Elon Musk in July.
“The devices are catered to community usage with each unit priced at RM11,613, and differ from Starlink devices for individual usage, which cost RM2,300.
“Once we get the order, we will immediately install it state by state, hopefully within one year.
“We are currently still at the testing or proof of concept stage where we are identifying the best locations to place the devices, including in Sabah and Sarawak,” she said.
She added that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) received 10 Starlink units, of which four had been installed.
MCMC has installed the devices at UiTM Kuala Pilah, KOA Kemensah in Gombak, Selangor, and KOA Tonggang in Tambun, Perak.
“The fourth device was installed in KOA Sungai Temon on Aug 30.
“The next installation programme is expected to be in Sarawak before the Malaysia Day celebration,” said Teo.
She also said the ministry would increase the coverage frequency at KOA Sungai Temon due to the frequency pollution between Malaysia and Singapore.
“The village is located right next to Singapore, and even our phones automatically switch to the Singapore line when we enter the village.
“To address this matter, we will increase our local frequency and perhaps, place more mesh nodes so that the Internet coverage is wider,” she said, adding that frequency pollution is normal between bordering nations.
