RM2bil Madani submarine cable project strengthens nation’s digital network

Growing internet use, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing have increased demand for data transmission capacity, driving the development of the RM2 billion Madani Submarine Cable (Salam) project.

The project is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2027 and be completed by the fourth quarter of 2029, according to plans outlined by the finance ministry under Budget 2026.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the national strategic project, administered under its universal service provision (USP) framework, would boost the capacity and resilience of the country’s communications network while ensuring more stable, secure and reliable digital services.

Salam will comprise 10 cable landing stations connected by four submarine cable segments spanning about 5,582km, with three stations in Sarawak, five in Sabah and two in the peninsula.

Capacity, network resilience to take priority

Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) smart systems technology expert Amir Akramin Shafie said Malaysia already has the 1Malaysia people’s cable system (SKR1M), which was completed in 2017.

He said SKR1M was designed with an available capacity of 4 terabits per second (Tbps) and a maximum capacity of 12.8Tbps.

“However, growing internet use, high-definition streaming, e-commerce, AI and large-scale cloud computing have increased demand for data capacity.

“With the current growth in internet use, AI and large-scale cloud computing, that capacity is no longer sufficient,” he told FMT.

Amir said the SKR1M cable, which has been in service for almost 10 years, increasingly requires maintenance, and that Salam would provide additional routes to reduce dependence on a single system.

He said the alternative routes could be used if one cable was damaged, allowing network services to continue operating and ensuring more reliable connectivity.

Submarine cables carry most data traffic

Amir explained that submarine cables use fibre optics to transmit data through light signals, connecting locations across the seabed before linking to terrestrial networks.

He said these cables are capable of carrying vast amounts of data at speeds and levels of reliability that satellites would struggle to match.

Submarine fibre-optic cables generally carry about 95% of global data traffic, Amir said.

“However, building submarine cables does not mean every home or interior area will gain direct internet access.

“Data still needs to travel through terrestrial infrastructure, such as telecommunications networks and transmission towers, before reaching users, while satellites can help provide connectivity in remote areas that are difficult to reach through physical networks,” he said.

Connectivity vital for Sabah, Sarawak economies

Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah lecturer Firdausi Suffian said digital connectivity was now as important as the more traditional forms of basic infrastructure, such as roads, ports and electricity supply.

He said inadequate digital infrastructure could affect productivity, industrial competitiveness and investment opportunities in Sabah and Sarawak.

“The digital divide means being denied development opportunities,” he said.

“A lack of digital infrastructure could leave Sabah and Sarawak facing continued development disparities, particularly in productivity, industrial competitiveness and investment opportunities.”

Firdausi said more stable, high-capacity networks could support the growth of digital businesses, including e-commerce, while improving access to education, healthcare services and government services online.

With Asean’s digital economy potentially reaching US$2 trillion by 2030 under the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, stronger connectivity through Salam could help Malaysia, particularly Sabah and Sarawak, capture a larger share of regional digital trade and investment.

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