KUCHING: In remote regions where fibre lines stop short and mobile towers rarely reach, Malaysia East Asia Satellite (MEASAT) is keeping energy sites online with satellite connectivity.
From powering construction sites to bringing telehealth to rural villages, the company is helping close the digital gap in underserved areas.
Sarawak Tribune had the opportunity to talk with MEASAT Chief Commercial Officer Ganendra Selvaraj on how the company is working with Sarawak-based partners to meet these challenges and support the state’s development goals.
SARAWAK TRIBUNE: What is MEASAT’s role in supporting remote energy sites and what kinds of projects can benefit?
Ganendra: Our mission is to enable communications through space technology and energy sites are no exception. These facilities need connectivity for remote operations management, centralised monitoring and even crew welfare.
We provide customised satellite services to support all of that, whether it is high-speed broadband or device-level monitoring. Our solutions are used across a wide range of facilities, including offshore platforms, upstream exploration and hydropower dam construction in very remote locations.
Do you also supply the energy to power your own connectivity systems in these remote areas?
Yes. Where there is no grid power, we use solar panels to power our communication equipment. That allows us to operate independently in off-grid areas while maintaining a clean energy footprint.
How does satellite connectivity improve monitoring and operations at energy sites?
In hard-to-reach areas, there is usually no fibre or 4G service. With satellite, we enable sensor and smart meter monitoring, IoT integration and corporate connectivity. This reduces fault response time, cuts down the need for physical site visits and improves operational efficiency.
How easy is it to deploy your systems in difficult terrain and what are the technical requirements?
Our equipment is compact and low power. Unlike mobile towers or fibre, we do not need extensive infrastructure. As long as we have line-of-sight to the sky, we can deploy the service. All our equipment is IP-based and can integrate with existing communications systems.
How do you maintain service reliability and security, especially in rural or isolated locations?
Satellites are resilient. It is not affected by natural disasters in the way ground-based infrastructure is. We also have a multi-orbit solution where we combine MEASAT with Starlink to increase uptime.
In terms of data security, our satellites are Malaysian-owned and controlled. We operate earth stations in Cyberjaya and Kuching to ensure data remains within the country. We use encryption and protocols like Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) to protect the data that runs through our network.
Is satellite connectivity more cost-effective for rural areas and what service models do you offer to meet different user needs?
In rural areas, definitely. Building mobile towers or laying fibre in places with no roads or power supply is not practical. Our solutions are faster to deploy and more economical for smaller, dispersed operations. We can set up services in a matter of hours or days, compared to months or years for traditional infrastructure.
What sort of pricing or service models do you offer?
We are highly flexible. Depending on the customer’s needs, we offer leased equipment, managed services, pay-as-you-use models or short-term deployments. For example, during the construction of a hydropower dam, we can provide a temporary leased solution until permanent infrastructure is in place.
If the customer needs more support or higher availability, we can tailor the package accordingly. If the requirement is minimal, we can customise something more basic at a lower cost.
Have you worked with any Sarawak-based energy companies or agencies?
Yes. One example is the Baleh Hydropower Project, where we provided CONNECTme NOW prepaid hotspot services through subcontractors engaged by Sinohydro and Gezhouba during the initial construction phase. This supported site coordination, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) telemetry transmission, and crew welfare in a location without reliable terrestrial network coverage.
We also support Sarawak Energy Berhad and Sarawak’s IT arm through our partners. We are working with the Sarawak Multimedia Authority and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC) on remote connectivity projects, and we support Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) Jalinan Digital Negara (JENDELA) programme in Sarawak and Sabah.
These efforts reflect our shared vision with the Sarawak Multimedia Authority to advance digital inclusion in underserved and unserved rural communities.
Are there plans to roll out services like CONNECTme and Sihat Xpress to rural Sarawak communities near energy sites?
Yes, we are expanding CONNECTme into rural Sarawak, including locations near energy facilities. Infrastructure has already been installed at several such sites and nearby villages.
As for Sihat Xpress, we are in discussions with the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak, Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), and local health authorities. Our aim is to use satellite connectivity to close healthcare gaps in line with Sarawak’s push to become a digitally inclusive state.
How do you position MEASAT’s efforts alongside Sarawak’s broader development plans, such as PCDS 2030?
There is strong alignment. Sarawak is focused on extending electricity access, and we are focused on bridging the digital divide. When you bring both power and connectivity to a place, you unlock new applications such as e-learning, telehealth and e-commerce.
This is why we are developing services like Sihat Xpress and Digital Village 365. In some areas, we even offer battery banks on a rental basis to help local communities without grid power. We welcome collaboration with energy providers who want to support community well-being near their facilities.
How is MEASAT approaching rollout across Borneo and is there a target timeline for full coverage?
We do not have a fixed deadline. Our goal is to complement government efforts and move in step with their direction. We hope that by aligning our approach with national and state-level initiatives, we can help reach 100 per cent coverage in the near future.
