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In case you didn’t know, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has a satellite broadband service called Starlink. SpaceX has deployed over a thousand small satellites in low Earth orbit that promises to provide high-speed internet access with significantly lower latency compared to existing satellite providers.
Starlink is currently running as a beta service in select markets. Beta users can expect speeds of 50 Mbps to 150 Mbps with a latency of 20-40 ms. That’s pretty impressive, as typical satellite broadband latency is around 500ms. There are also no data limits during the beta program.
Beta Starlink customers will receive a kit consisting of the Starlink receiver, Wi-Fi router, power supply, cables, and mounting tripod. By default, the tripod mount allows you to install it at ground level, but there are options for ceiling installation. As reported by The Verge, the device costs $ 499 (about RM2020), while the monthly subscription fee costs $ 99 (about RM400).
In Malaysia, the service is not yet available and is scheduled for 2022. Interestingly, they are now allowing Malaysians to order by placing a full refundable deposit of USD 99 (approximately RM400) on their website.
If you are interested in registering, please note that it is unclear whether Starlink has received approval to operate as an Internet provider in Malaysia. To provide a commercial broadband service, SpaceX would need a network installation or service provider (NFP / NSP) license from the Malaysia Multimedia and Communications Commission.
At the time of writing, I could not find Space X or Starlink in MCMC’s license registry. This is important as these services are regulated and is to ensure that they do not cause interference to existing wireless services. Consumers are also likely to apply for an Appliance Assignment (AA) before the dish can be installed at their facility.
We have also contacted MCMC about the status of Starlink in Malaysia. We will update this post once we have received more details.
Currently, the nation’s leading satellite broadband provider is MEASAT’s ConnectMe, which currently offers download speeds of up to 30Mbps. ConnectMe will soon offer faster speeds of up to 100 Mbps once they launch MEASAT-3d, which is currently scheduled for 2022.
For home users, ConnectMe is priced at RM198 / mo for 60GB of quota and RM298 / mo for 100GB of quota. To address connectivity issues in rural areas, there is also a prepaid ConnectMe Now service that requires no upfront cost and users can subscribe using prepaid vouchers.
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