It was recently reported that internet connectivity in populated areas across Malaysia has reached 99.75%, while 5G network coverage in these same areas stands at 90%.
Following the 2027 Budget, the Malaysian Ministry of Communications confirmed that RM5 billion will be allocated under the JENDELA program to address internet connectivity challenges for residents in rural and remote areas where obtaining such access has proven difficult.
Typically, local telecommunications companies rely on telecommunication towers and fiber-optic cables to connect the Malaysian population and inhabited areas to the internet via broadband, 4G, and 5G networks. However, a small number of Malaysians living in remote regions still struggle to secure a stable internet connection.
For these individuals, satellite internet services—such as Measat’s CONNECTMENOW and Starlink—have been utilized, though not on a widespread scale. With this latest investment, Minister of Communications Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil stated that a portion of the RM5 billion allocation will be used to increase high-speed internet coverage in populated areas from 99% to 100% over the next few years.
He noted that satellite internet services like Starlink, alongside the development of small-cell towers, will be leveraged for these remote locations, as well as for rural areas—such as Felda settlements—that currently lack access, particularly those situated along interior roads. At present, details regarding how these internet services—such as the use of the Starlink satellite network and the development of small-cell base stations—will be distributed remain unknown.
