MEASAT Global Berhad (MEASAT) which runs ConnectMe satellite broadband service has reached its 1,000 sites milestone with its deployment at Data Kakus in Sarawak. The satellite broadband provider focuses on providing communication and internet access to underserved rural communities where 4G coverage and fibre connectivity are not available.
With the ConnectMe Now service which was launched in 2019, rural communities can get quicker access to high-speed broadband with Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and High Throughput Satellite (HTS) technology. Unlike its normal satellite broadband offering, ConnectMe Now requires no upfront investment as the service is offered as a prepaid model. Communities are only required to pay for what they use with prepaid vouchers.
Peter Dano Amit, the head of the long house at Data Kakus said, “The satellite-based broadband services by MEASAT is an ideal and practical solution in providing connectivity to communities in these areas where infrastructure is a main challenge. In rural areas such as Data Kakus, it would take phenomenal efforts to fix terrestrial communication infrastructures as the massive pieces of equipment to set up the site need to be brought over the difficult terrain areas in off-road vehicles. It would be a strenuous journey and will take a much longer time to connect the cables and fix the connecting internet fibres underground.”
The ConnectMe Now service can be deployed in areas with a population of about 100 people that have no access to 4G coverage. A site can be up and running in just a matter of days and users can get connected through the WiFi access points that operate 24/7. For areas without a reliable power source, ConnectMe Now can be deployed with a solar-powered solution that comes with its own battery supply. The passes are priced at 1GB data for RM10 that’s valid for 30 days and 5GB data for RM40 that’s valid for 60 days.
According to MEASAT, ConnectMe Now has helped connect the unconnected Rakyat with over 100,000 connections nationwide in areas outside of 4G or terrestrial coverage. At the moment, its satellite broadband service can provide download speeds up to 30Mbps. With the upcoming launch of MEASAT-3d satellite, the service will be able to provide faster speeds of up to 100Mbps and it can help to support Malaysia’s 4G and 5G networks to deliver 100% coverage.
