Last year, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced that Malaysia would begin a telecommunications pilot project in the middle of this year involving the use of LEO (low Earth orbit) satellites by the middle of this year.
Recently, it was reported that local telecommunications company Altel Group Sdn Bhd will collaborate with Chinese satellite company Zhejiang Geespace Technology to launch a LEO internet satellite network for local use and also Southeast Asian countries.
The combination of the two companies will be named ALTEL Digital, and will reportedly be located in Malaysia, including an operations control center and data center to ensure that it meets local operational safety standards.
Apart from operating this satellite internet service, ALTEL Digital is also expected to introduce TVET programs in higher learning institutions to produce more internet and satellite engineers, ensuring that the country has an adequate supply of manpower to develop this industry.
Datuk Fahmi Fadzil also said that ALTEL Digital will introduce four service branches, including satellite-based connectivity devices, high-precision location tracking, high-speed internet core network, and direct-to-cellular internet services.
It is expected that ALTEL Digital will begin operations as early as the fourth quarter of 2025.