The newly launched Sistem Kabel Rakyat 1Malaysia (SKR1M) submarine cable system will enhance Sarawak’s socio-economic development, especially as it aspires to transform through the digital economy, according Chief Minister YAB Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.
In his remarks during the launching ceremony of the cable system on 18 December 2017, he added that SKR1M, which has three landing points in Sarawak, namely Kuching, Bintulu and Miri, is part of the Malaysian Government’s initiative to increase and improve internet access availability and quality in Sarawak.
“With the availability of core backbone connectivity provided through SKR1M, I am confident that Sarawakians will be able to fully embrace a digital lifestyle and further boost the digital economy,” he said.
SKR1M, which has now started carrying commercial traffic connecting Peninsular Malaysia with Sabah and Sarawak, was established following a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) and the Malaysian Government through Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Built from 2015 to June 2017, it spans over 3,800 km with an initial capacity of four terabit per second (4 Tbps). It aims to enhance digital communication system between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak with the latest fibre optic submarine cable technology.
The cable system with state-of-the-art 100 gigabyte per second (Gbps) technology is capable of being upgraded to a minimum of 12.8 Tbps of design capacity, and lands at six landing points, which are Kuantan, Pahang; Mersing, Johor; Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; and the aforementioned locations in Sarawak.
