Satellite broadband proposed for Bukit Semuja villages

A community satellite broadband pilot project has been proposed for Bukit Semuja constituency to address persistent internet connectivity problems in several villages.

Its assemblyman John Ilus said the initiative could provide an alternative for communities where hilly terrain obstructs signals from existing telecommunications towers.

He said the affected areas include Bedup, Kampung Rasau, Remun, Slabi, Koran-Sorak and Riih, where residents continue to experience weak reception, particularly inside their homes.

“We can build a telecommunications tower in an area. But for the villagers, the question is very simple: when they open their phone at home, is there a signal or not?” he said.

John said this when debating in support of the Supply (2027) Bill, 2026 at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today (Oct 15).

He called on the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) to conduct a technical assessment of the affected villages within three months.

He also proposed that a community satellite broadband pilot project be considered for Bukit Semuja, with subscription costs, power supply and maintenance requirements taken into account.

His third request was for broadband expansion efforts under Budget 2027 to include satellite-based solutions, particularly in areas beyond the reach of conventional towers.

John said low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite technology, such as Starlink, could provide a faster solution for remote settlements where constructing new telecommunications towers would be costly and time-consuming.

“For remote villages with a small number of houses, building a new tower takes a high cost and a long time. Low-earth-orbit, or LEO, satellites such as Starlink, which is also used in Jepak, can be installed quickly.

“The Standard Kit is now as low as RM400 in selected areas, with subscriptions from as low as RM135 a month.

“It is not a replacement for Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (SRBN), but a complement for areas that towers cannot reach,” he added.

He cited the RM5 million Connecting Jepak Programme, launched in August, which uses satellite broadband to serve 74 villages and longhouses facing connectivity difficulties.

John also acknowledged the state government’s efforts to improve connectivity, noting that all 618 Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunication (SMART) towers are operational, while statewide internet coverage has reached 94.5 per cent.

However, he stressed that improved coverage statistics did not necessarily mean every household enjoyed a reliable connection.

“The people do not judge internet progress by the number of towers or coverage figures, but by their own experience,” he said.