Starlink, Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX’s high-speed, low-latency broadband Internet provider, plans to expand its footprint in Malaysia in order to help the country increase its Internet penetration rate, particularly in rural areas. Starlink in Malaysia Will be Focused On Rural Area Internet Connectivity.
However, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, said the government was still considering several issues regarding Starlink’s (policy-related) proposals to introduce Internet service via satellites.
“The government has examined some of Starlink’s proposals so far.
“Starlink representatives will be in Malaysia next week to scrutinize these proposals, and we hope that this can be finalized soon because they are ready to come to Malaysia with these new technologies that will benefit the country’s economy,” he said.
After meeting with representatives from SpaceX and Starlink at the SpaceX headquarters here yesterday, Azmin spoke to journalists from Bernama and TV3.
He claimed that a Malaysian company based in Johor was already producing critical components for the Starlink satellites.
“Their (SpaceX and Starlink) goal is to see if this supply chain can be expanded among local companies because they need the support of a larger supply chain with this new investment.”
“In the near future, this will provide an opportunity for Malaysian companies to get involved in space technology,” he said.
He stated that Starlink’s presence is critical for Malaysia’s digital transformation agenda.
“I believe that with Starlink’s presence in Malaysia, Malaysia’s economic position in Southeast Asia and globally will be strengthened,” he said.
Arham Abdul Rahman, CEO of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), said talks with SpaceX and Starlink were in the “middle stages.”
“The companies recognize Malaysia’s potential, and the government is assisting them in realizing their proposed project in the country,” he explained.
Azmin met with Cue Health Inc, a healthcare technology company that develops portable diagnostic tests for home use, in addition to SpaceX and Starlink.
Azmin said the company had developed a medical device that could perform a variety of tests, including the Covid-19 test, using cutting-edge technology.
Since its inception in January 2015, the Starlink project has grown in scope, both in terms of projected availability and in terms of the number of satellites deployed.
The Federal Communications Commission, a US government agency, awarded SpaceX US$885 million in federal subsidies in December 2020 to help bring broadband connectivity to parts of the US with little to no internet connectivity.
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