For the people of Sarawak, particularly those in rural areas, the launch of a new submarine cable to Singapore via Batam and a Tier IV data center in the state is a significant development that promises to improve their Internet connectivity. State Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi highlighted the importance of this infrastructure, saying that with the Batam Sarawak Internet cable system (Basics) and data center, issues like latency and disconnections will be a thing of the past. This means that individuals and communities who have been struggling with poor Internet connectivity will now have better access to online resources, communication, and opportunities.
The new submarine cable and data center are part of the state government’s plans to become a high-income economy by 2030, with a focus on digital adoption and data utilization to accelerate development. Datuk Julaihi Narawi emphasized that digitalization is key to transforming the economy and that technology is the wave of the future. He noted that without adopting future technologies, which depend on connectivity, it will be difficult to reach the next level of development. The launch of Basics and the data center is a major step towards achieving this goal.
Infrastructure and Capacity
The Basics submarine cable system consists of six fiber pairs with 80 wavelengths of 100 Gbps transmission capacity each, for a total system capacity of 48 Tbps. The 700km-long cable connects Sarawak to the regional telco hub of Singapore via Batam in Indonesia. According to PP Telecommunication Sdn Bhd (PPTEL) chief executive Jonathan Smith, this cable system is the first step in their vision to make Sarawak a viable option as a regional data hub alongside established players. The cable system significantly reduces the latency, or round-trip delay time, between Kuching and Singapore.
The data center in Santubong, near Kuching, is already operational and provides the landing point for Basics into Sarawak. It is the first data center in Malaysia to be certified as Tier IV by the Uptime Institute, meeting stringent requirements for infrastructure, security, energy usage, and redundancy. The data center and submarine cable system were privately developed by PPTEL, under its new corporate brand identity, Irix.
Partnerships and Future Plans
At the launch ceremony, PPTEL signed a corporate partnership agreement with Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (Sains) on utilizing the infrastructure. This partnership is expected to further enhance the development of digital infrastructure in Sarawak. With the launch of Basics and the data center, Sarawak is poised to become a major player in the regional digital landscape.
As the state continues to develop its digital infrastructure, it is likely that more opportunities will arise for individuals, businesses, and communities to benefit from improved Internet connectivity. The state government’s focus on digital adoption and data utilization is expected to drive economic growth and transformation in the coming years. As Sarawak moves forward with its digitalization plans, it will be important to watch how the new submarine cable and data center contribute to the state’s development and its goal of becoming a high-income economy by 2030.
Looking Ahead
As the people of Sarawak begin to experience the benefits of improved Internet connectivity, it will be interesting to see how the new submarine cable and data center impact the state’s economy and communities. With the state government’s commitment to digitalization and the private sector’s investment in infrastructure, Sarawak is well-positioned for growth and development in the years to come. As the state continues to move forward with its digitalization plans, it will be important to monitor progress and watch for new opportunities and challenges that arise. What to watch next is how the state government and private sector will work together to leverage the new infrastructure to drive economic growth and improve the lives of the people of Sarawak.
